Christmas behavior chart: a countdown to the 25th

The countdown chart

The printable is a one-page PDF with 24 sticker boxes, one for each day of December. It has a blank name line so your child can write their name at the top. You get letter and A4 sizes, plus a color version and an ink saving version.

Print at 100 percent, not fit to page, so the boxes stay the right size for a 1.5 inch round sticker or a 1/2 inch star sticker. Hang it somewhere you will both see every morning: on the fridge, inside a cabinet door, or by the breakfast table.

If you need more ideas for charts that work all year, browse the behavior charts page. For a simple first chart, the smiley face chart is a good place to start.

For more on this, read Is rewarding good behavior bribery?.

• 24 sticker boxes, one per day
• Name line for the child
• Letter and A4 sizes
• Color and ink saving versions
• Fits 1.5 inch round or 1/2 inch star stickers

Why a Christmas chart should not threaten

The naughty list problem is simple: if the chart says no presents, December becomes a month of anxiety. A christmas behavior chart should never threaten. The stickers only add up, they never subtract.

On a bad day, say something like, Tomorrow is a fresh day. Then put no sticker on the box and leave it empty. The 25th is not on the line, so your child can always earn a sticker tomorrow.

Instead of a threat, use a small daily reward from a jar. You can find lots of no-cost reward ideas on our reward ideas page.

Using it with the whole family

Give each child their own chart. At bedtime, sit together and decide if the day was a good day. A good day means trying hard, even if not everything went perfectly.

When the day earns a sticker, the child picks a small reward from a jar. Fill the jar with slips of paper: hang a decoration, sing a song, read one extra story. Keep it simple and immediate.

On the 24th, the full chart is it's own reward. Count the stickers together and talk about the good days. If you want a chart that works beyond December, the star chart is a solid option.

Christmas behavior chart ideas

One chart can take many shapes. Here are eight ways to adapt the countdown idea, all using the same free printable or a simple variation.

• A tree chart with an ornament per day
• A Santa letter about the chart
• A kindness row that earns extra stickers
• The sticker on a paper chain
• A candy-free advent with small toys
• Siblings sharing one chart
• A chart that counts acts of help
• A chart that ends with a family movie night

For a chart that focuses on a single behavior, see the printable behavior charts page. If you want to print extra copies for siblings, the downloads page has all the files.