I’ve been thinking about trying behavior charts with my kids to help them learn responsibility around the house and with their daily routines. You know, the kind where they get stickers or points for completing tasks like making their bed, doing homework, or helping with chores.
I’m curious if anyone has experience with these. Do they actually work for building long-term responsibility, or do kids just become dependent on the rewards? Also wondering what age range works best for this approach.
I used behavior charts with both my kids from 7 to 12. They worked great at first - my youngest got so excited about stickers she’d remind me when I forgot to give her one!
They’re basically training wheels. Charts help build habits, but I phased out the visible rewards once my kids got used to the routine. Chores just became part of their day.
You can create dependency if you use charts too long. My older son once said he didn’t want to clean his room because there was “nothing in it for him.” That’s when I switched to connecting chores with natural consequences instead of rewards.
Charts work best for kids under 13. My teenagers responded way better to earning privileges like later bedtimes or weekend activities. Charts have their place, but they’re a stepping stone, not a permanent fix.
Charts work great for us! My 10 and 7-year-old have used them for everything from smoother mornings to remembering to feed the dog. They love the visual tracking and seeing their progress. I don’t keep them going forever though. Once the habit sticks, I just quietly ditch the chart. They don’t even notice since the routine’s already automatic by then. Ages 5-10 seem perfect for this approach. My youngest still gets excited about earning stars, while my older kid prefers earning screen time or choosing weekend activities. Either way, they’re learning that effort pays off!
My 5-year-old just started sorting socks and clearing their plate. I’m wondering if chore charts are too much at this age or if they’d actually help? Some days they love helping, other days they couldn’t care less. Anyone try charts with kids this young? How did you know they were ready for it?
My kid went through a phase where charts turned everything into a transaction. He’d ask what he’d get before lifting a finger around the house. Total backfire. What actually worked was turning tasks into puzzles or challenges. We’d time his laundry sorting or see if he could nail his morning routine without reminders. He’s way more motivated by competition than stickers or points.
We tried charts when my kids were 6 and 10. Great for building routines at first, but we had to ditch them after a few months. The kids started wanting rewards for everything, even brushing their teeth.
