5 ways to use a sticker chart to motivate your child

Let’s face it — all kids love stickers! This is great news for us parents because sticker charts make for a powerful parenting tool.

Schools often use this type of reward system to teach positive reinforcement to kids. Actually, a sticker chart is a really excellent way to aid some of the milestones and behaviour stumps that we come across at home too.

We all need a little help from time to time. Using a sticker chart can give our kids the extra motivation they need to get a grip on something new, to overcome a challenge or just to be more helpful with chores.

To help you mums and dads out, we’ve put together some ideas for how to use a sticker chart to motivate your child… plus, tips on how you can make your very own DIY chart.

1. Potty training

Some kids find potty training to be a real challenge, and even a little scary. Using stickers to praise your child each time they manage to use the potty can be really encouraging for them.

Make it fun by assigning a different colour, shape or patterned sticker for a "pee-pee" and another for a "poo-poo."

Mark out the days of the week on your chart, and add in a column for morning and evening. When they get more confident, you can add in a dry-night column too!

With a sticker chart, potty training has never been so much fun!

2. Dealing with a fussy eater

Having gone through this myself with my little boy, I understand that there is nothing more challenging than having a child who’s going through a fussy eater stage.

You spend hours in the kitchen, following countless "sure-thing" recipes — only to find it spat out or thrown on the floor in total disgust!

Well, for times such as these, a sticker chart can be really helpful! Using one may make dinner time a fun event — and less stressful for all of you.

Create a chart with pictures showing different types of food – like carrots, broccoli, noodles, rice, chicken, pork and fish. Then, have your kids find out what is in their food and place a sticker on the matching picture after they have eaten it. They’ll love doing this for sure!

Luckily, for most kids, the fussy stage is just that – a stage – and before you know it, there will be empty plates at mealtimes again.

3. Encouraging good behaviour

If your little one has suddenly turned to the "no" monster overnight – stay calm. Don’t panic.

Instead, use a sticker chart to help reward them for doing things without a fuss — things like taking a bath, brushing their teeth or putting their toys back in the box.

If you already have a routine in place, you can write it on the chart and each time your little one completes one of the tasks, they can place a sticker against it. They’ll love being able to add 2 or 3 stickers after they have gotten ready for bed.

Alternatively, on those really tough days, create a mini-chart and talk it through with them. It can become part of their routine that day and they will be excited to complete all the tasks.

Stick with it and you’ll see the results!

4. Doing homework

Your kid doesn’t have to be struggling at school for this to work. Rewarding good students is just as effective!

Perhaps they managed to complete their homework without help or their marks have improved. Use a sticker chart to ‘reward’ them for their efforts!

When we show our kids that we value their progress at school, they will be encouraged to keep up the good work.

Mark a chart with subjects that your kid usually gets homework for and match up the days of the week that they bring it home. Use any type of sticker and when they have completed their homework, they can place a sticker on the chart.

Reward them further by allowing them to play afterwards – all work and no play is never any fun!

5. Inspiring helping hands

Kids often see chores as a real drag. It’s important that they understand the need to help out, but it can be a real challenge getting them to take part.

Sticker charts are a useful way to outline the chores you expect them to help with. Create a chart that shows the tasks you’d like them to do, such as tidying their bedroom or helping you load the washing machine.

Mark down the chores that need to be done and allow your kid the freedom to update the sticker chart as and when they help out, or complete a task on their own.

Not feeling pressured to do something can make a world of difference to actually doing it!

How to make your own sticker chart

The best sticker charts are DIY ones, so get your creative head on! If you look online, there are loads of resources to get ideas from but remember it doesn’t have to be a masterpiece!

Sit down with your kids and create one together – it’ll really get them interested in the task, making it feel like a special project you are working on together.

What you’ll need:

Stickers Find these at any bargain store or supermarket. They don’t have to have any messages written on them such as ‘Well done’ or ‘Excellent’ — they can simply be your kid’s favourite cartoon character, fun pictures or colourful shapes. Card/Paper Go for either A1 or A3 size, or tape together 4 pieces of A4 card. Card will be more durable but paper can work too. If you can’t get hold of some card, cut up an empty box and use one plain side! Design your sticker chart

This will depend on what you are using it for but it’s all part of the fun! Use felt tip pens or markers so that the writing or pictures will show up from a distance.

Things to remember

Stickers are great for kids of any age! There are many other reasons to motivate your kid using a sticker chart — from each time they learn a new word, to spelling, reading and helping out with a new sibling, and more!

Here are a few things to remember before you start:

Place your sticker chart somewhere visible to your child. For example, fix it to a wall in your main living area or on their bedroom wall. Leave it there, even when you are not focusing on the task, as it will be inspirational for them. Let your child place the sticker in the correct box when the time comes and always be enthusiastic about it! Never use the chart as a bribe or in judgement. It is something for them to be proud of — no matter how many stickers they have ‘achieved.’ It’s important to see it as a fun way to show progress and not for them to feel like they MUST have a sticker in all the boxes to have been successful.

Written by

Nancy Emery

Potty traininghomeworkcraftsfussy eatersticker chartmotivation tipskids and choresgood behviour