Have you ever used a star chart to reward great behavior from your little one/s?
It’s a FABULOUS way to encourage good habits in a nurturing and positive way. So, of course, we had to create a REALLY cute reward chart. It’s an ice-cream reward chart, and you can use an ice-cream as a reward (how fitting eh?) Or another reward that suits your child and their behavior. And because we generally get a bit carried away, you also get gorgeous gold glitter crafting paper with your free chart. With an SVG star cut out template! What’s an SVG? Well, if you have one, you will know it’s a home die cutting machine. If you don’t, do NOT stress, that’s an order! Just go and buy some good ol’ fashioned gold star stickers!
Child psychologist Amy Przeworski (who writes for Psychology Today) has a few recommendations to use to make your star / reward chart system super fun, positive and effective!
- Use your star chart for specific things only (e.g. making your bed before school)
- Communicate what these things are very clearly with your child so there is no confusion
- Identify what the prize will be before starting – if you want to you can give a choice so the child has some input e.g. would you like an ice-cream sundae or a waffle?
- Make sure the prize and behavior is achievable, ideally within 1 week for younger kids – a prize of an iPad after 100 stars is too long for young children.
- Hang the chart in a prominent place where your kiddo can be proud of it.
- Try and make sure the behavior is immediately rewarded by going to the chart to add the star, and reinforcing why they are getting the star
Most of all, have fun! Who doesn’t want a chart full of gold stars that they have earned? In fact, I might just download one for myself, and give myself gold stars every time I choose the salad option! 🙂
And pin to your board of kid’s stuff so you don’t lose it!
