Steps to create an effective behavior chart for your children
The behavior charts are very effective educational strategies for children to learn to behave well.
A behavior chart or chart is a very easy and effective behavior modification tool. You can create it at home at any time and kids love the immediate feedback you get with a reward system on their behavior chart to help them stay motivated and have good behavior.
The behavior chart you will never have to use to embarrass your children, for example, never say something like: ‘This week you only received a happy face, it is a shame!’. It is necessary that for the behavior table to work it is a pleasant and enriching experience for your children.
Next we are going to explain you with some steps that you must take into account so that you are able to create an effective behavior table for your children.
Index
1-IDENTIFY THE DESIRED BEHAVIOR
Instead of focusing on what you DO NOT want to happen, you should think about what you DO want to happen, that is, the desired behavior. You will have to choose the behavior to address first, it is best to start in a simple way, choosing up to 3 behaviors that you must address. Choosing too many behaviors at once can be confusing for your children.
The link text behaviors will have to be specific and very clear, if you say something as general as: ‘behave well’, it will not work because your child will not know exactly what that means. It is better to specify and say something like: ‘Play calmly with my sister’ or perhaps: ‘Gently pet the cat’.
2- DECIDE HOW OFTEN TO REWARD GOOD BEHAVIOR
A behavior chart does not focus on negative consequences, but rather positive ones or rewards. Think about how often your child needs feedback for good behavior. Younger children may need a sticker, a happy face, or a star to indicate their progress several times a day, but older children can wait until the end of the day for this.
In young children, you can reward him in the middle of the morning, late afternoon, or at night before bed. For this and to better structure the day, it is better that you divide the day into 3 different parts: before school , after school and before going to sleep. You may also decide that it is best to focus on the behavior for part of the day so that good results are more likely to be achieved and your little one is motivated.
3-IDENTIFY BIGGER REWARDS
Behavior charts can motivate a young child for a set amount of time, but most children need to trade those happy faces for bigger rewards, whether they be experiences or tangible rewards.
The rewards do not need to be expensive, there are many free ones and the experiences are always very effective (when the child chooses them, such as going out for an ice cream with the family, spending 15 more minutes playing a game, etc). Ask your child directly what rewards they prefer to earn and they will feel much more motivated to get them.
4- SET GOALS
You must create objectives on the list that will find out when your child will receive their reward. You may want to set a daily goal (also called challenges). For example: ‘If you have 3 happy faces today, we will play that game that you like so much after dinner.’
Older kids can wait a little longer for a reward. Consider a goal like, “If you have five stickers for doing your homework and schoolwork, we’ll go to the park on Friday afternoon.”
It is very important that you explain to your child what the behavior chart is and how it works. Praise is a good strategy to motivate children to master new skills. There will be times when you must readjust the content of the table both objectives and rewards to meet the specific needs.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.