Behaviour Charts For Toddlers
Unfortunately children are not born with the ability to recognise right from wrong and good behaviour from bad behaviour. This is something your child will learn over time.
Once your child starts to become a toddler, they will start to push boundaries as they discover what they can and cannot get away with.
Once your toddler starts pushing the boundaries, you need to have guidelines in place so your toddler can learn what is socially acceptable and what is not (it is much easier to teach a toddler right from wrong, if they haven’t learnt it by the time they become a teenager, you will have problems).
Behaviour charts or reward charts are a great way to encourage good behaviour from your toddler and help them to understand when they are doing well and when their behaviour is not acceptable.
What are reward charts?
Rewards charts (also known as star charts) are used to recognise and reward your toddler’s good behaviour.
When your toddler behaves well you praise your toddler and record the good behaviour by putting a sticker on your toddlers behaviour chart.
When your toddler reaches the required amount of stickers, you should reward your toddler with a prize for their good behaviour.
The reward does not have to be big, it could simply be that you take them to the park as their special treat, or give them a new toy, or even just a couple of penny sweets.
Why reward charts for kids work
Rewards charts are really simple to implement and work really well because your toddler loves to receive positive praise.
If your toddler does something and you give them attention and praise for it, they will try and repeat that action to get more praise from you. This positive reinforcement will help your toddler to learn what they are and are not allowed to do.
How sticker charts are used
The design of your sticker chart
When you design your toddlers star chart, you should choose a design with approximately ten steps on it before your toddler gets their reward. This presents a challenge for your toddler, but is not to unreachable.
To capture your toddler’s interest, you should make or print out a design that your toddler will be interested in. For example, have it brightly coloured, with their name on it, or allow your toddler to colour it in.
Explain the reward chart to your toddler
Sit your toddler down and explain the chart to them. Explain (in simple terms that your toddler will understand) that when they behave well (explain what behaviour you expect) you will give them a sticker to put on their reward chart.
When they have filled in all the stickers, they get a reward (name the reward and make sure you give it to your toddler as soon as they have filled in the chart).
Help your toddler to understand the behaviour chart
It may take a little while for your toddler to get to grips with the chart, so don’t expect any over night miracles.
If after a couple of weeks your toddler has not grasped the general concept of the reward chart, you may wish to wait a few months and then try again.
