How to Make Reward Charts for Kids

When you have trouble motivating your kids to do their homework, take out the trash or do the dishes, a reward chart is a motivational tool you can implement in your home. By creating this simple chart that you can hang on the wall in a prominent position, you can help your kids keep track of their obligations. Once they've taken charge of their tasks, you can reward them for a job well done.

Things You'll Need

  • Poster board
  • Magic marker
  • Ruler
  • Wallet-sized photos of your children
  • Images of children doing chores
  • Glue
  • Images of possible rewards

Instructions

    • 1

      Select a brightly colored piece of poster board to use for the chart. Fluorescent poster board is an eye-catching option that will draw your children's attention easily as they pass by the reward chart.

    • 2

      Use a magic marker to draw horizontal and vertical lines onto your chart. Write your children's names on the left-hand side of the poster board horizontally. Write the objectives your children are to meet across the top of the chart from left to right. Create enough lines to take your kids through an entire month of objectives.

    • 3

      Glue a wallet-sized school picture of each child beside his name on the reward chart. Locate magazine images of the chores to be accomplished, clip them out and glue them onto the chart as well. Look for pictures of kids sweeping the floor, working on homework and performing other simple tasks.

    • 4

      Select several sheets of colorful stickers that the kids can place next to their names under the appropriate task once they've completed it. Choose a different sheet of stickers for each child so she has her own identifier for what she's accomplished.

    • 5

      Decide on the reward that you'll offer at the end of each week, and place a picture of it on the chart in the appropriate position. Visual reinforcement will help your kids keep the goal in mind as they accomplish their tasks each week. Choose a picture of a family bowling, kids on horseback or a picture of a pizza.

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