Behavior chart for kids with ADHD

Why the usual chart fails and what to change

A chart that pays once on Friday asks a child with ADHD to wait too long. The week is too long and even the day is too long. So this chart shortens the interval to a few hours.

The printable scores four blocks a day: morning, midday, afternoon, and evening. Each block has one goal. The child earns points in a block, and those points turn into small rewards at lunch and at bedtime.

This page is about the chart and how to use it. It is not a medical tool. If you have questions about your child's care, talk to a professional.

The core idea is simple: a reward that lands the same day is a reward a child can feel. That is what keeps a child engaged.

The short-interval chart

The printable is a one-page PDF. It has four blocks a day across seven days, with a points column for each block. Their are two payout lines at the bottom: one for lunch and one for bedtime.

Score each block with 2 points, 1 point, or 0. Two points means the child did the goal without a reminder. One point means they did it with a reminder. Zero means the block did not happen.

Add the points at lunch and at bedtime. The payout lines show what the points buy at those times. The chart comes in letter and A4, in color and in an ink saving black outline version.

Print at 100 percent, not fit to page. The boxes fit a 1.5 inch round sticker or a 1/2 inch star sticker. There is a blank name line at the top.

An ADHD reward system that pays out twice a day

The payout schedule is what makes this chart different. You are not saving points for a distant prize. You are cashing them in within hours.

Keep the rewards small and immediate. A handful of goldfish, 10 minutes of a favorite show, or a sticker on a board. The point is the timing, not the size.

Here is a sample schedule for a school day.

The Sunday row is optional. If you use it, keep it modest. A trip to the library or a family movie works well.

You can swap the examples for anything your child loves. The key is to have the reward ready before the payout time. If you need ideas, browse our reward ideas page.

A token system for ADHD

A token system for ADHD is a board that shows progres in a physical way. The printable has 10 tokens and a picture of the reward at the end. The child earns tokens in minutes, not days.

Each token stands for a short completed task or a block done well. When the board fills up, the reward happens. This works because the child can see the tokens pile up.

Use the token board when the chart feels too abstract. It works well for children under 7, or for a specific setting like school.

For a classroom version, see our classroom behavior charts. For younger kids, the toddler and preschool charts are a good fit.

Mistakes that make the chart stop working

Most charts fizzle because of a few fixable errors. Check this list before you start and again after the first week.

1. Intervals too long: a week is too long, even a day can be too long.
2. More than one goal per block: pick one behavior per block.
3. Points taken away: never subtract earned points.
4. The reward not ready: have it at the table before payout time.
5. The chart out of sight: hang it where the child can see it.
6. No reset after a bad block: start fresh at the next block, no grudges.

If you avoid these, the chart has a real chance. If you slip, reset at the next block.

For more on how to frame rewards, read about positive reinforcement examples and the difference between positive and negative reinforcement. You can also see behavior chart examples for other styles.