Free printable reward charts for kids

What a reward chart is for

A rewards chart is for one habit, not ten. Pick a single behavior like putting pajamas on or clearing the plate, and run it for 2 to 6 weeks. The sticker goes on within a minute of the behavior, so the child connects the two.

The reward is written first, in the child's words, on the bottom line. That line is what keeps the chart alive when the novelty fades. Hang the chart at the child's eye level, on the fridge or a bedroom door.

A reward chart diffres from a chore chart and a behavior chart. A chore chart tracks daily jobs with no reward line. A behavior chart tracks a rule like no hitting. A reward chart trades a specific action for a specific prize.

There is a longer guide on this: Reward chart ideas: 30 goals and rewards by age.

Reward chart rewards: what to write on the line

The reward line is not for a parent's guess. Ask your child what they want, then write their words: "one movie night" or "pick a new book." Keep the prize small, concrete, and doable tonight or this weekend.

Age changes what works. A 3 year old wants a tiny, immediate prize. A 9 year old can wait a few days. The table below matches rewards to ages, and the reward ideas page has more examples.

Write the reward on the line before the first sticker. Read it aloud together each morning. If the reward stops working, change it, but keep the same habit on the chart.

Setting the chart up in one evening

You can have a chart on the wall tonight. Follow these five steps and keep the first sticker for tomorrow morning.

1. Pick one habit and name it in one short phrase, like "brush teeth without a fuss." 2. Agree the reward with your child and write it on the bottom line. 3. Print a chart from the templates page in six colors, letter or A4. 4. Hang it at eye level in the room where the habit happens. 5. Give the first sticker tomorrow after the behavior, within a minute.

Do not wait for a perfect week. Start with one sticker and build from there.

Reward charts by job

Different habits need diferent chart shapes. The sticker chart has 10 to 100 boxes for a single habit. The star chart uses star stickers for younger kids.

The bedtime chart covers the whole evening routine. The homework chart tracks one subject at a time. The reading chart rewards minutes or pages.

The themed charts include space, dinosaur, and princess. Pick a theme your child already loves, so the chart feels like a treat.

Stickers for a reward chart

Every chart fits a 1.5 inch round sticker or a 1/2 inch star sticker. Let your child pick the sheet at the store or online. The choice is half the fun.

The sign-up builder prints the child's name on a sticker sheet, a star chart, and a chore chart. Those name stickers make the first sticker special. See the stickers page for the exact sizes that fit.

Printing, hanging and ending the chart

Print at 100 percent, not "fit to page," so the boxes stay the right size for the stickers. Letter and A4 versions are free on every chart page. The ink saving version has black outlines and no color fill.

Laminate the chart and use dry-erase markers for a reusable version. Run one chart per child, never a shared chart. When the habit is solid, fade the chart to every other day, then stop.

Some kids want a bigger chart next, like the 100 box sticker chart. Others are done, and that is fine. End the chart with a small celebration, not a lecture.