Behavior Charts: Worth the Reward?

After more than a year of schedule changes, working from home with kids, giving in to tantrums as a temporary solution, and unintentionally rewarding negative behavior, our house was in need of a reset. We needed something positive to motivate good behavior. I fell back on a tool I’d used with both boys during potty-training- the reward chart.

I got a great chart off Amazon (this one) with interchangeable tasks that the boys and I chose together. They each decided on a goal and a reward, like choosing a dessert outing or a round of mini golf. The first week was full of chart excitement! Each task they accomplished and star they stuck on was welcomed with joy and pride.

They both earned more than 25 out of 40 stars, reaching their goal. The next week, we set out to start again and chose new tasks. I asked them their goals.

That’s when I caught a glimpse of the differences in their personalities. I suddenly remembered how my approach to potty-training each of them the exact same way had completely different results.

Big B suggested moving his goal to the very maximum. He wanted perfection. Then, Little B looked up at me and asked, “can I just do ten?”

We’ve been doing the reward charts on and off for about three months now and that pretty much sums up how it’s going. Big B likes to check each of his boxes. Little B seems more satisfied in the process, choosing only tasks he enjoys like watering plants, and shrugging his shoulders when they don’t get done.

If you’re considering a reward chart to influence your little one’s behavior for the better, I would love to tell you that ours have been a resounding success. Truth is, it all depends on the kid.