Star chart for kids

The star charts

You get four star charts in this set. Each one is a one-page PDF in letter and A4, in a color version and an ink saving black outline version. Every chart has a blank name line and a reward line at the bottom.

The main charts have 10, 20 and 30 numbered star boxes. The weekly star chart has seven rows with five boxes per row, so you can use it for a single child or a small group.

The star boxes are drawn to fit a half inch foil star sticker. Print at 100 percent, not fit to page. If you print at the wrong scale, the sticker will hang over the box edge.

The star boxes are the only shapes on the page, so the child's eye goes straight to the sticker spot.

Which star chart for which age

Pick the chart by how long the child can wait for a payoff. A 3 year old needs a reward after one or two stars. A 9 year old can work toward a full row or a whole chart.

The age bands below are a starting point, not a rule. Watch the child's reaction and adjust the timing.

For a younger child, write the reward on the line in plain words: movie night, park trip, extra story. For an older child, let them write it themselves.

Gold stars and why they still work

A gold star is a reward in itself. The child does the task, peels the foil star, and presses it into the box. That small physical act is the the payoff, not just the promise of one later.

The foil star has a shine and a texture that a printed checkmark or a drawn smiley face does not. At 9, a child who has outgrown sticker books will still pick a gold star over a token or a tally mark.

Keep the star sheet in a drawer by the chart, not on the fridge. The child reaches for one star at a time, and the rest stay out of sight.

See the sticker paper and foil star options we use for these charts. The half inch star is the size that fits every box.

Setting it up

Set this up in five minutes tonight. You need a printer, a magnet or tape, and a sheet of star stickers.

Do not start with a list of five chores. Start with one habit you want to see every day.

1. Pick one habit, like making the bed or clearing the plate.
2. Write the reward on the line. Keep it small and immediate.
3. Print the chart at 100 percent, not fit to page.
4. Put the star sheet in a drawer next to the chart.
5. Give the first star tomorrow morning, not after a perfect week.

The first star should come fast. The child needs to see the link between the action and the sticker within a day.

For more on choosing the right reward, see the reward ideas list and the incentive chart vs reward chart guide.

Star chart for a whole family or a classroom

The weekly star chart works for more then one child. Write a name at the start of each row, then hand out stars along that row. Each child sees their own progress without competing for the same line.

For a classroom, use the same weekly chart but with a row per student. Post it at eye level and let each child place their own star.

The classroom star chart on the templates page has a larger grid for up to 20 names. The behavior charts page has other layouts if you need a different format.