Quick Craft Post: Reward Chart

I made this reward chart about 18 months ago, if not longer…. and I have sent pictures of it to friends over time. I decided I should really do a “quick craft post” for you! I made it in less than 10 minutes from things around the house:

This is how a super simple DIY reward chart REALLY worked for us. Some great tips on how to get kids to change their behaviour (one behaviour at a time!) DIY reward chart!

All I did was cut out rectangles, squares and triangles and 5 bunnies. I stuck the side of rectangle down, so the bunny slots in (see white marks):

diy reward chart

When Red Ted is good, he gets one bunny “from the boat” and it goes in the house…

  • To kick start it off and help him understand that there is a reward in sight, I put 2 bunnies in the house and he got his 3rd bunny relatively easily (I wasn’t too strict). As he started getting the hang of the chart, I enforced the rules more strictly. We used it whenever we need to “fix” a behaviour. At the moment, we are getting him to stay in bed in the mornings until he can her The Englishman’s alarm clock go off (rather than get up at 5:45am and try and wake us all up)… we have used it for going to bed nicely in the evening and for tidying up. Right now he is interested in money, so he will get 10p once all 5 bunnies are in the house, but he will get to choose between the 10p or the treat box.

We have also used this reward chart for chores. The basis of the chore is that Red Ted “chooses” to do the chore. I don’t force him, but remind him, that if he “chooses” to do the chore he gets his reward bunny. I am hoping that by making it a choice, there is less whining and reluctance about “having” to help. So far it is quite successful. Red Ted will help me with the laundry most of the time. Then we have periods of 2-3 weeks when he doesn’t help at all. He then remembers the treat box (or sees his sister succeeding in getting a treat) and is spurned on again to help. I think the choice is key to us.

I think this chart works well as (for us):

  • It is simple, there is not too much going on (I have seen shop bought charts where you have to get 30 stars or more for a variety of different behaviours – all very confusing)
  • He saw rewards quickly at first and gets to choose something from the treat box.
  • It is big and fun and it has one of his favourite animals (bunnies) – I have seen people scribble a messy table on a piece of paper and stick it on the fridge – not pretty – not fun. Doesn’t work (so well).
  • We use it consistently for 2-3 weeks at a time. Once the behaviour is fixed we put it away.

I can highly recommend making and using a reward chart!!!

Now you have had a go at reward charts, you may also find this chore chart for kids useful too!