Kids Charts

Kids charts have been used by parents for a great many years to help them with their children. Kids charts include a variety of charts which parents can use to incent children to use good behavior and develop better habits. Charts such as chore charts, goal charts, and behavior charts are just a few of the charts available to print for free.

Kids Charts are Great Behavior Tool

• Ease of Tracking. Writing down what the child is expected to do helps both parent and child keep track of the child's duties. This also allows both parent and child to plan ahead for anything that requires time and effort on the part of both, such as homework. The chore chart also allows both parent and child to see what hasn't been done on a given day.
• Visual Positive Reinforcement. The most typical type of marking off what the child has accomplished is the use of shiny metallic stars. Along with praise during the process of applying the star to the chart gives the child visual positive reinforcement. This works very well when using behavior charts with children with behavioral problems.
• Positive Participation of Both Parties. With the use of chore charts, both parents and children can choose and write down the chores the child is expected to do on a given day. This gives the child a sense of empowerment and the parent a sense of satisfaction when a mutual agreement is reached. This is motivation for the child to do the chores agreed upon. This can also be used with behavioral charts but it's not guaranteed the child will be as cooperative.

Behavior Charts should be used to help build the child's self esteem and provide positive reinforcement for acceptable behavior. They are not meant to be used to punish the child for missed chores or unacceptable behavior. Once the charts are created, they should be left where the child can see them but not interfere with them in any way. Methods of marking the chart should be such that only the parent can use them so the child cannot "sneak" in a marked chore/behavior etc. The various charts all have the same objective: direct and motivate kids to be accountable and responsible for completing tasks on their own. The chart the parent uses, depends upon the task or behavior upon which the parent is focusing, and the age and maturity level of the child. Children have many needs, and charts and rewards programs can help meet these needs:

• The need to feel trusted. By being allowed to choose their chores, behaviors etc to be included on the chart used, the child will feel trusted by their parent. They will feel empowered and will be more eager to participate in the choosing process.
• Not just listened to but heard. By discussing the chores, behaviors, etc being decided on, parents meet this need in spades. This builds a positive rapport between parent and child as well as encouraging open dialogue that could very well continue on for the rest of the child's life.
• Inclusion in the family unit. Chores that relate to the rest of the family, such as the laundry, dishes, feeding of pets, etc. give the child a sense of inclusion in the family as a unit especially if the chores are done in relation to a chore a parent or other sibling is doing at the same time such as dishes. The parent/sibling washes dishes and the chart child dries or puts away the dishes away. This promotes family unity in conjunction with the first two needs.
• Sense of independence By being allowed to choose their own chores/behaviors etc, the child feels a sense of independence while still having boundaries. They know what is expected of them because they helped choose their chores/behaviors as well as making their own suggestions regarding them, and they are more willing to try to meet those expectations.

Ways to use the charts in conjunction with a points and reward behavior program.

• Reinforce Certain Behaviors. Use charts to highlight a small subset of rules the parent is working on in Kid Pointz. For example, the parent may have 10 rules set up but wants their child to hone in on a few chores that they repeatedly forget to do. In that case, setting up a chore chart for that child will help reinforce what needs to be done, and when.
• Set up an Manage Goals. The parent may use points for weekly goal objectives (keep your room clean for a week, or complete the weekly chores without being asked) and use a chart of specific tasks such as each chore that needs to be completed, or specific aspects about cleaning their room (make the bed, pick up the toys, etc.)
• Age. Points systems works best for age 4 and older. The parent may have some kids in the family on the points and reward program, but prefer to use a chart for their younger child. Using the chart with the younger child will make them feel included and at the same time start them on a path to good behavior. Just as younger kids respond well to charts, the opposite is true for older kids. Older kids won’t want the embarrassment of having a chart hanging in their room when their friends come over. This is where the Kid Pointz program is perfect because it lets the parent set up tasks and behaviors in a confidential setting accessible by only them and their child and anyone else the parent authorizes.

So go head and use the method that works best for your child: a chart, points, or a combination of both.