Behavior reward charts are free printables created mainly by parents and teachers to promote positive behavior among children. They work on the basis of behavioral modification and use methods such as the ‘star chart,’ which entails rewarding positive behaviors with stars, stickers, or points.
These are saved in a container, and depending on the predetermined quantity, the child is given a big prize after attaining that level. The outlined method also ensures children’s motivation for positive behavior and their understanding of the importance of striving for specific goals.
Download Free Behavior Reward Chart Printable
Benefits of Behavior Reward Chart
Children behave in certain ways for various reasons, and one of those ways is through behavior reward charts. By visually mapping out desired behaviors and offering tangible rewards for accomplishing them, these charts provide multiple benefits:
Improved Behavioral Awareness
The students also realize that they are now on the other side of the equation regarding personal behavior, and the concept of cause and effect emerges more prominently. This awareness is essential in enabling people to be in a favorable position to learn self-regulation factors.
Enhanced Motivation
The realization that one is closer to getting a reward motivates children based on a visual depiction. The hope to gain something specific when a particular set of duties or desirable behavior is accomplished may be motivating.
Better Communication
Reward charts create opportunities for parents/educators and children to start conversations with each other. They are used to set expectations and goals and share achievements.
Development of Responsibility
This helps children learn to be more responsible for their actions as they work towards achieving the items specified on the chart. In the long run, it becomes possible to attain higher levels of intrinsic motivation as opposed to extrinsic motivation.
Strengthened Parent-Child Bond
In turn, the process of establishing objectives, achieving them, and then sharing the results may contribute to the formation of trust and mutual respect in the relationship between the parent and child.
Tips for Using a Behavior Reward Chart
The use of behaviour reward charts can benefit children by helping parents ensure proper behaviour. Nevertheless, certain precautions need to be taken when applying them to obtain such outcomes.
Here are some tips on using a behaviour reward chart effectively:
- Set Clear Goals: The addressed behaviour should be defined and pinpointed based on the behaviours or tasks one wishes to promote. Ensure that all goals are possible for the child and appropriate according to the child’s age. Hence, goal clarity assists in directing the child on what is expected of them.
- Be Consistent: Praise must be given special attention, as it establishes the subject’s positive behaviour as the norm. The chart should be used daily, and the behavior should be rewarded immediately after the event.
- Use Positive Reinforcement. The population focuses on a reward system rather than a punitive mechanism for non-adherence to population norms. Positive reinforcement means that the behaviour will be repeated in the future.
- Involve Your Child: Let your child choose the reward option or get his input on how you want to design the chart. It means that they are more interested in participating in those activities or events, which increases their readiness to participate in any given activity or event.
- Keep it Simple: If there are multiple goals to record, do not confuse the chart by listing the multiple rewards. Complex and cluttered charts could make following the chart difficult for the child.
- Be Patient and Encouraging: There is no shortcut to change and anyone who has set out to make a change knows this much. Be patient and give a lot of encouragement and make lots of positive comments so that your child works hard.
- Review and Adjust: It is important to revise this chart from time to time, discuss with your child the achieved or missed goal and, if necessary, change it or the respective encouragements and penalties. It also makes the system fun for the child and keeps him or her interested in interacting with the system.
Implementing the Behavior Reward Chart
The exciting part of using the Behavior Reward Chart is that it is a step by step procedure aimed at enhancing the appropriate behaviors among children. First of all, one has to distinguish and define the promoted behaviors at the beginning of the intervention. These behaviors should be described in positive terms like; “is able to submit homework on time or; does not need to be reminded to help with the house chores among others.
Some of the measures that may be implemented includes the following Once the above behaviors have been developed, the next process is to come up with an attractive chart that ought to be placed somewhere that is easily reachable by the child as well as noticeable. The positive behavior can be marked using stickers or markers.
First of all, one should always have clearly defined goals; second, one should always reward the child when he or she finishes with a particular goal. The rewards should be desirable to the child and might be additional playtime or a small toy or a short trip. Periodic assessment and alteration of the chart and behaviors will assist in continuing the child’s focus on the chart and adherence to positive behavior.
Pros and Cons of Using Behavior Reward Charts
For parents and teachers behavior reward charts have been widely used in regards to positive behavioral transformation among children. However, there are some disadvantages that can be associated with the employment of these charts too.
1. Advantages of Behavior Reward Chart
- Promotes Positive Behavior
- Bribes the children to embrace the right behaviors as defined by the society, teachers or parents.
- It enables the acquisition of new habits to be something one looks forward to rather than a chore.
- Boosts Self-Esteem
- In its turn, success and the subsequent rewards can positively influence the child’s self-esteem and self-image.
- It is a way of bringing out the progress’s physical appearance and enhancing a feeling of achievement.
- Improves Focus
- It enables young people to concentrate more on individual objectives; thus, it simplifies instructions given to them.
- It can be designed for specific behaviours that have to be changed or particular achievement that has to be made.
2. Disadvantages of Using the Behavior Reward Charts
- Dependency on External Rewards
- Externization of justice can lead children to have no interest in what they are doing but rather do it for the sake of being rewarded.
- It may demotivate people to participate in activities unless there is something in them for them.
- Possibility of Negative Competition
- If worked in a group, it may cause rivalry or jealousy among peer groups since everyone is trying to do his or her best.
- The possibility of lowered self-esteem is due to the child losing points as fast as others and being unable to earn them back quickly.
- Oversimplification of Behavior
- It tends to consider non-progressive practices without treating the root causes of certain conduct.
- It may be considered a short-term solution, mainly because it does not groom behaviours in the long run.
How to Create a Behavior Reward Chart
To those who are wondering, yes, making a behavior reward chart for children, students, and sometimes even grown-ups can be a good strategy. Here is your guide on how you can design a good reward system that will encourage employees and clients to act in the desired manner:
1. Identify Desired Behaviors
- Specify Behaviors: This involves ensuring you are very specific about the type of conduct you would want to foster. These should be clear, behavioural and quantifiable and can, for instance, be “submitting homework in time” or “doing dishes. ”
- Stay Positive: Less emphasis should be placed on doing what ‘not to’ and more on what should be done. This helps maintain a cheerful and positive environment, which motivates the workforce.
2. Choose a Chart Design
- Select a Format: You can choose between a flat chart download and a physical chart. Big physical charts may be more engaging to kids because they are more fun to touch.
- Design Creatively: The chart should be colourful and attractive, using stickers or topics that the individual or group being targeted is interested in.
3. Set Up the Reward System
- Short-Term Rewards: Organise yourself to reward your small achievements of the day or the week. These may be stickers, more time to play or a favourite snack, basically anything that the child would want.
- Long-Term Rewards: It is also useful to have a bigger reward for good behaviours combined for a longer period, say a week or a month. This could be a favourite place, toy, game, or any other activity that the child likes and looks forward to, such as a new toy.
4. Implement the Chart
- Position the Chart: The chart should be installed somewhere easily viewed to ensure people constantly engage with it. Any space where the participants can easily engage with one another, be it a house’s kitchen or a classroom, will do.
- Review the Chart: It is important to make the chart as exciting as possible and talk to the child or learner often about the progress recorded in it.
5. Regularly Update and Adapt
- Keep it Fresh: Thus, gradually modify the behaviours and reinforcers according to the individual’s progress and evolving preferences.
- Feedback Loop: Ask the child or the student to express his/her opinion on what has proven to be effective or any revision that would interest the child/student regarding the chart.
Designing the behavior reward chart may bring a feeling of achievement and assist in the maintenance of the proper actions among children.