Kids love positive feedback! Here you will find loads of great resources for helping your child learn by rewarding him or her for good behavior, including links to great printable reward charts, related items and books, and even a video on how to make potty training reward charts.

A reward chart is a tool used with kids to reinforce positive behavior. The parent sets a goal for the child to work towards, and he will receive a reward once the task is complete or the behavior has been met. The reward chart help both the child and the parent; the child is able to watch his or her progress and the parent accomplishes positive behavior modification.

To use a reward chart, decide upon the behavior you would like to elicit, or the task you would like your child to complete. With each positive action, your child receives a mark on the chart. When the goal has been reached, your child gets rewarded.

Reward charts are perfect for toddlers, young children and also older kids. As they grow older, the rewards should change to become age appropriate. For instance, a toddler might receive crayons for a job well done, whereas an older child might get to go to a sleepover at his or her friend's house as a reward.

• Tooth brushing
• Homework
• Good manners
• Potty training
• Household Chores
• Sharing
• Listening
• Empathy
• Respecting others

When your child works hard to do something that you want him to do, such as finishing homework, completing a chore or having good manners, you want to reinforce his or her good behavior. While rewards sometime come in the form of a treat, or a new toy, there are better choices.

Giving your child praise and positive attention is more effective than something such as a new toy, because after a while, the child will expect to receive these rewards each time he or she does something positive. Of course, once in a while, a treat is ok, but they should be used in moderation.

In addition, praising the child on the spot reinforces the good behavior right away and establishes a connection between his or her good behavior and your praise.

If your child has done something especially great, you might want to indulge in an extra special reward. There are many to choose from, but in general, try to give something meaningful, rather than a piece of candy. 

Some great ideas for rewarding your child for positive behavior are:

• a new book
• stickers
• pencils
• inexpensive party favors
• crayons
• a trip to the movies or other appropriate outing
•  new toothbrush
• favorite meal