What Are Reward Charts for Kids and How Do You Use Them?

A reward chart for kids is a simple tracking sheet where a child earns a sticker, star, checkmark, or point for a specific behavior, then trades those marks for a small reward. It works best for children around age 3 and up, for one or two clearly defined behaviors at a time, and for goals a child can realistically hit within a day or a week. Free Printable Behavior Charts for Kids offers free printable behavior charts, reward charts, chore charts, potty training charts, star charts, and reward coupons, so you can print a ready-made chart instead of designing one.

Reward chart vs. behavior chart

The two terms overlap, and many printables work as both. The practical difference is emphasis:

If your goal is "stop whining at bedtime," a behavior chart framing fits. If your goal is "brush teeth without a fight so you can earn a trip to the park," a reward chart framing fits. The site groups these under one collection, so you can pick whichever layout matches your goal.

Choosing the behavior to track

Pick one behavior, or at most two. A chart that tracks everything usually motivates nothing.

Make the target specific and observable:

• Instead of "be good," use "put shoes on before breakfast."
• Instead of "be nice to brother," use "use words instead of hitting."
• Instead of "do homework," use "start homework within 10 minutes of getting home."

The child should be able to tell, at a glance, whether the mark was earned. If you have to debate it, the target is too vague.

Setting the reward rules

Decide three numbers before you start: how many marks earn a reward, how often marks can be earned, and what the reward is.

• Marks needed: For ages 3–5, a reward after 3–5 marks keeps momentum. For ages 6–10, 5–10 marks over a week is often workable.
• Frequency: Daily marks suit young children; weekly totals suit older kids.
• Reward: Small and frequent beats large and rare. Extra story at bedtime, choosing dinner, a trip to the park, or a reward coupon all work. The site includes reward coupons for kids, which fit this step.

Write the rule on the chart itself so everyone, including other caregivers, applies it the same way.

Making or printing a chart

You do not need to build one from scratch. The site's collection includes free printable behavior charts, free reward charts, free chore charts, free potty charts, and star charts, plus charts searchable by character and charts for ages 3+.

A basic printable chart usually has:

• A row or column for the child's name
• The target behavior written at the top
• A grid of empty boxes for stickers, stars, or checkmarks
• A line stating how many marks earn the reward

If you prefer to make your own, a sheet of paper with a drawn grid works. Stickers suit younger children; checkmarks or points suit older ones. Keep the chart where the behavior happens — the bathroom for tooth brushing, the kitchen for chores — so marking it is immediate.

Running the chart day to day

1. Explain it once, in advance. Show the chart, state the behavior, state the reward, and let the child ask questions.
2. Mark it right away. A mark given hours later loses its connection to the behavior.
3. Pair the mark with specific praise. "You put your shoes on before breakfast — that's a star" teaches more than a silent sticker.
4. Give the reward as soon as it's earned. Delaying the payoff weakens the chart.
5. Stay consistent. If two adults are involved, both follow the same rule.

Common pitfalls

• Too many behaviors at once. Track one, add another only after the first is steady.
• Rewards that are too big or too far off. A child who needs 30 marks for a reward may quit before earning it.
• Taking marks away. Removing earned marks turns the chart into punishment and undermines its purpose.
• Rewarding a behavior the child already does consistently. Move the target to something that still needs work.
• Forgetting to mark. Missed marks teach the child the chart does not matter.

When your child loses interest or the behavior slips

Losing interest is normal, and it usually means the chart has done its job or needs a change.

• If the behavior is now automatic: retire the chart. You can bring it back for a new goal later.
• If the reward got boring: change the reward, not the behavior.
• If the goal got too hard: lower the number of marks needed, or split the behavior into a smaller step.
• If the chart itself is stale: switch format — a star chart, a chart with a favorite character, or reward coupons instead of a grid.
• If the behavior returns after a break: restart with the same simple rule rather than adding new ones.

For more guidance, the site links to its article on how to use behavior charts and to tips on motivating kids with behavior charts. If you cannot find a chart that fits your situation, the site invites you to contact them and they will try to make it for free.