How to Use a Reward Chart That Actually Works
If you've tried a reward chart before and it lasted about a week, you're not alone. Most charts don't fail because kids lose interest. They fail because of how the chart is set up. Here's how to make one work for kids ages 3 to 10.
1. Start with just 3–5 tasks
It's tempting to fix everything at once: make your bed, brush your teeth, no whining, feed the dog. Pick no more than five tasks to start. Choose a mix of things your child already does pretty well, so they get early wins, and one or two you really want to improve. You can add more once the habit sticks.
2. Make tasks visual and specific
"Be good" is hard for a 4-year-old to picture. "Put toys in the bin" is clear. Younger kids who can't read yet do best with picture tasks. That's why our "I Can Do It!" Reward Chart comes with 20 picture-based task pieces, like Get Dressed, Brush Teeth and Feed Pets, plus blank pieces for your family's own goals.
3. Let your child move the star
The best part of a reward chart is the moment a child marks their own success. When kids move the star themselves, they feel proud and in charge, and that pride motivates them more than any prize. Keep the chart at their eye level, on the fridge or a door, where they'll see it every day.
4. Choose rewards together
Ask your child what they'd like to work toward. Rewards don't have to cost money:
- An extra bedtime story
- Picking what's for dinner
- A trip to the park
- Staying up 15 minutes later on Friday
Set a clear goal, such as "10 stars = park trip," so they know exactly what they're working toward.
5. Praise the effort, not just the star
When your child completes a task, say what they did: "You made your bed all by yourself!" Specific praise teaches the habit. The star celebrates it.
6. Stay consistent for a few weeks
Habits take time. Check the chart together at the same time every day, maybe after dinner or at bedtime. If you miss a day, don't throw it out. Just pick back up.
7. Swap tasks as your child grows
Once a task becomes automatic, celebrate it and swap in a new one. A chart with interchangeable pieces can grow with your child from preschool through elementary school. Our supplemental packs add tasks for school subjects, chores, exercise and more.
Bonus: one chart, many uses
The same approach works for potty training, morning and after-school routines, tooth brushing and classroom behavior. Our full line of reward and behavior charts covers all of them.
Ready to start? The ‘I Can Do It!’ Reward Chart makes it easy, and fun, to build habits that last.
The "I Can Do It!" Reward Chart is made in the USA by Kenson Kids, a North Carolina company started by two moms who needed a better way to bring out the best in their own kids.