Parenting Toddlers

Reward charts are a good way for children to see the effects of their behavior. Toddlers are concrete thinkers for the most part, and the visual reinforcement of a reward chart is a great tool. They will also love coloring in the different parts if you have a chart like the one from Super Nanny above. This chart can be downloaded here. There are also pirate and space charts.

There are a lot of ways to use these charts, which are geared for children age three to five, so it’s at the older end of the toddler spectrum. Super Nanny gives some tips on how to use them:

1) Think about the behaviour you would like to address with your child. The younger the child, the more focused you should be: a preschooler reward chart will work best when you just centre on one or two things you’d like to work on. Older children could handle a longer list, alongside a number of privileges which they gain or lose accordingly.

2) Find a quiet time to sit down with your child and explain the reward chart. Stress that this is not a punishment, but an opportunity for mum and dad to say ‘well done’! Explain that when she achieves the goals you’ve set out for her, she will move up the chart, but she can also move down the chart. Let her choose her final reward from a range of approved options.

3) Your motivation will be the key to making her reward chart a success: keep your tone light and positive when you praise her and have a ‘halfway mark’ which you celebrate with a small treat, so she feels she’s really getting somewhere.

4) She’s there! Make a big deal about her getting to the top of the chart, and, whether it’s a day out or a new book, make sure she gets her reward promptly: she’s earned it.

An example: I think I’ll use the chart because Peanut and I are starting to do some preschool workbook activities. She wasn’t able to get into preschool because the slots were all full up. (We’re on a waiting list, so there is a bit of hope). Anyway, we could use the chart to reward her doing one activity in the book per day. When she has done five, she can get a little treat. Ten can see like a lot for a toddler, so breaking it up into halves is a great way to reinforce behavior. At ten, she can get a bigger treat. I’m not into spending a lot of money - frugality is one of my main concerns when it comes to my family. So a halfway treat could be a trip to the fun playground. We don’t usually go there because it’s a huge process with the baby, but I could sneak out with Peanut for an hour or so when her father’s home to watch the Little Guy. For a big treat, we could have a fun day, go to the beach, or whatever she’d like. It’s a good way to get in some quality time as well.

You can use it for whatever behavior(s) you’d like to focus on, even potty training. The key is to make it fun for your child and something that he/she will want to work for. You can use Super Nanny’s templates and print them or you can make your own using paper, a chalkboard, or a white board. Try what you think will work for your child.

Does anyone use reward charts? Have you found them to be effective? Tell us about your experience!