Sticker reward chart ideas

Sticker charts fail for predictable reasons: too many targets, rewards too far away, and stickers taken back as a punishment.

One behaviour, a reward within reach, and stickers that never get removed. That is the whole system.

Setting it up

• Pick one behaviour, phrased as the thing you want, not the thing you don't.
• Five to ten stickers to a reward for under-fives; ten to twenty for school age.
• Put the chart where the child can see it without asking.
• Let them choose the stickers - it doubles the interest for free.

Behaviours that work well

• Getting dressed before breakfast.
• Teeth brushed without a reminder.
• Shoes and bag by the door the night before.
• Ten minutes of reading, or one page of practice.
• Kind hands, for a specific ongoing issue.

Rewards worth earning

• Choosing the film, the dinner or the walk.
• An extra story at bedtime, or ten minutes later up.
• A trip to the park, the library or the swimming pool.
• A small pocket-money purchase rather than a big toy.

Why charts stop working

• Never take stickers away. It turns the chart into a punishment and it collapses.
• If the reward is thirty stickers away, it is not a reward, it is a rumour.
• Retire the chart once the habit sticks, and say clearly that they have grown out of it.
• If it has not worked in two weeks, the target is wrong, not the child.

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How to write it so it lands

• One behaviour at a time, phrased positively.
• Keep the reward within a week's reach.
• Retire the chart on purpose once the habit is there.

Where to shop next

• Printable reward chart
• Teacher end of year gifts
• What to write in a teacher end of year card
• Class party ideas
• Sleepover games
• Sleepover party planning
• Pocket money gift ideas
• End of term class gift ideas
• Kids and school guides
• Printable school and party sheets
• All guides
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas

Frequently asked questions

How many stickers should a reward chart have?

Five to ten for under-fives and ten to twenty for school age. Any further away and the reward stops motivating.

Should you take stickers away for bad behaviour?

No. Removing earned stickers turns the chart into a punishment system and it stops working almost immediately.

What age do sticker charts work for?

Roughly two to eight. Older children usually respond better to a points total or a simple agreement.