Reward chart maker
A sticker chart for one goal and one prize. Tap a space to add a star on screen, or print it blank and use real stickers.
Ava's reward chart
Brush teeth morning and night
Prize: Trip to the playground café
How to make a sticker chart that works
One behaviour at a time. A chart for "everything" dilutes the message. Pick the one habit that causes the most friction right now.
Reward quickly at first. A three-year-old's sense of time is short. Five stickers to a small prize works better than thirty to a big one. Once the habit sticks, stretch the goal.
Praise with the sticker. Say what they did: "You put your shoes away without being asked." Describing the behaviour tells a child exactly what to repeat. Pediatric guidance from the AAP's HealthyChildren.org stresses specific praise over general "good job".
Never take stickers away. Removing earned stickers turns a motivation tool into a punishment tool, and children quickly stop caring about the chart.
For several chores at once, the chore chart maker and the points-based chore tracker suit older children better.
Reward chart questions
What is the difference between a reward chart and a sticker chart?
They are the same idea: each time a child does the target behaviour they earn a mark (a sticker, star or stamp), and a set number of marks earns an agreed reward. "Sticker chart" usually means the physical version for younger children.
How many stickers should it take to earn a reward?
For 3–5 year olds, keep the first goal short, around 5 to 10 stickers, so the reward arrives within days. Older children can work towards 20 or 30. If a child loses interest, the goal is probably too far away.
What behaviours work best on a reward chart?
Pick one to three specific, observable behaviours ("brush teeth morning and night", "put shoes on the rack") rather than broad ones ("be good"). The American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren.org recommends praising the specific behaviour you want to see more of.
When should we stop using a reward chart?
Once the behaviour has become routine for a few weeks, move to a new target or phase stickers out gradually while keeping the praise. The aim is a habit, not a permanent payment.