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5 Tips for Printable Sticker Charts
Are you looking to use positive reinforcement to redirect behaviors? Printable sticker charts are just what you need!
Sticker charts can be a powerful tool to improve behavior, motivate and promote new habits, and increase productivity.
5 Ways to Use Printable Sticker Charts for Kids
Getting Started with Printable Sticker Charts
When getting started with using sticker charts, there are a few steps you should first consider.
First, identify the desired behavior or outcome.
Next, set clear expectations with the child. Then, establish a reward for filling up the sticker chart.
Last, and most importantly, be consistent and positive.
Let’s look closer at these steps:
- Identify the desired behavior or outcome: What behavior do you want your child to change? Is it staying in a designated area? An increase of work completion? Keeping an area clean and organized? Not interrupting while others are talking? Washing hands after using the restroom? Keeping hands to himself?
- Set clear expectation with the child: Take the time to go over the expectations and goal with the child. Actually sit them down one-on-one and have a conversation about changes that are coming. Rather than using an “enforcer” voice, be respectful and show empathy. Let them know it’s hard to achieve goals, but the more you practice the better you get.
- Establish a reward: This can be tricky. We don’t want our kids to be extrinsically motivated, but rewarding the small gains will yield a more positive outcome. Get creative with your rewards. For example, “when you earn __ stickers, you will get 5 minutes of coloring time with markers, a special lunch date, line leader for the day, game time (the game of your choice), a trip to the treasure box, etc”.
- Be consistent and positive: I know it’s hard! Some days are harder than others. The more consistent you are at rewarding each and every time you notice the target behavior, the more effective the printable sticker charts will be.
Ideas for Printable Sticker Charts
1. Positive Behavior:
Sticker charts are often used to reinforce positive behavior. More specifically, sticker charts are a common tool for kids at home and in classrooms.
Behaviors that are frequently targeted include: interrupting while others are speaking, staying in assigned area, keeping hands to self, following directions, waiting in line, etc.
Recently, my friend, Beth, expressed frustration over her kindergarten students constantly blurting out,
She, and her student teacher, chose to use my chevron sticker charts as a classroom management tool.
Together, they are modeling and rewarding kids for not interrupting others. Furthermore, she could also send home a printable sticker chart or daily behavior contract. This way, the parents can also reinforce positive behavior at home. You can grab your printable behavior contract below.
Chrissy E. said the behavior contract is “easy to use and a great way to communicate with parents“.
2. Hygiene Habits
Kids and hygiene don’t always go together.
As a teacher-mom, I will be the first to say most kids need to improve their hygiene habits. To help this problem, you can use sticker charts for habits such as washing hands, brushing teeth, potty training, etc.
3. Chores
Sticker charts are great for encouraging chores for kids.
For instance, when a chore is complete, they get positive reinforcement on their chart.
Chores for Kids at Home:
- Return toys or materials where they belong
- Empty bathroom and bedroom trash bins
- Make their bed
- Unpack and pack up the book bag before/after school
- Help unload dishwasher
- Put clothes away
- Walk the family pet
Jobs for Kids at School
- Carry the lunch bucket to the cafeteria
- Turn off the lights when leaving the classroom
- Sharpen pencils
- Empty table trash bins
- Run errands to the office
- Feed classroom pet
- Collect papers
- Question of the Day reader
4. Routines
Routines are important for young children. For instance, kids with established routines are more likely to be self-disciplined, and have a stronger sense of security.
Routines for kids include hanging up bookbags, when/where you complete homework, bedtime, transitions in the classroom, etc.
Parents, I’m sure many of you can understand the struggles of morning routines.
5. Reading Logs
Reward your little learners for reading.
Set a goal, such as 15 minutes a night, reading 2-3 short books with an adult, or reciting 3-5 nursery rhymes or poems a night.
As they complete the goal, let them pick their favorite sticker to add to their chart.
Types of Sticker Charts
There are endless types of printable sticker charts for kids.
I designed sticker charts with a 10 frame reward space. The frames give a clear visual representation – clearly showing how many opportunities they have to earn stickers.
No stickers? No worries! Simply have the students color in a themed graphic. In fact, most of my themed sticker charts come with black/white graphics inside each frame.
My themed sticker chart bundle includes dinosaurs, pirates, rainbows, hearts, Halloween, smiley emojis, ocean, shamrocks, chevron, owls, and superheros. In addition to sticker charts, you should try using chapstick for positive reinforcement. Here’s a hint – it’s ah-maz-ing!!!
Conclusion
In conclusion, printable sticker charts redirect negative behaviors and increase productivity through positive reinforcement.
Hang them on the fridge at home, or use tape them to a desk at school. Better yet, you could save paper and ink by laminating them and using dry erase markers to mark off each spot. They can be reusable even with stickers; they peel right off the lamination. Then, spruce it up and hang them with the kids favorite pattern or colored Scotch washi tape.
Get started with your positive behavior system today! You can purchase and download these colorful sticker charts, here.
Before you go, here are some blog posts you may enjoy:
100 Things to Do at Home with Kids
Using Chapstick for Positive Behavior
