I posted this on the main forum with no luck, I'll try here again, maybe it's more appropriate:

For those of you who use them I have few questions:
what age is the best to start using reward charts? my trio is 2 years and half in few days. I read somewhere to start and set just a couple of "goals" (behaviors) not too easy to achieve, not too hard either...(???), by now my kids understand most of our routine and know when something they did is bad or good. so I wonder if just a couple of goals would be too little.
Checking out some web sites, I saw that a part of them suggest to put a goal after, let's say, 10 good behaviors, some others divide the charts by days, weeks or months. I'm not sure which one of them is the best.
if anyone of you use them and have had good "results" can please share some hints??
Thanks!
Valeria

mamma to
Niccolo' 08 Aug2004
Vera, Alessandro, Leonardo 02 Oct2007
www.nikandthetrip.wordpress.com

I'm not sure if this answers your questions but this is what we do:
I make a chart with about 20 squares on it and choose one behavior to focus on till it's full. So right now we are working on saying, "Yes", or "OK Mom" when they are asked to do something. If they say, ok, and they obey right when I ask them, they get a sticker for their chart. When they fill up their charts they get a reward. (they also lose stickers for bad behavior).
Does that help?

Grateful mother of seven, 8 and under:
B 8/02
B 9/03
GBG 3/06 at 35 weeks
GB 12/08 at 38 weeks

We started reward charts at age 3. They were better able to grasp the idea of a reward at the end of an entire week of completed chores AND they were able to place their sticker on their charts (in the right place) on their own.

Each child has a poster board with their name on it. The left column down has a list of chores (and the key thing is that they can do all of these chores on their own, with the exception of maybe one or two). I have found that if the chore chart has things that you have to help them with, then I have found with 3, the chore chart only makes it about a week or so and then I am too exhausted to keep up with it.

Anyway, our chores listed (with a picture) are:
1) go potty and put on underwear (they wear a pull up at night, so this is the first thing they do in the a.m.)

2) Clear Dishes (they have to clear their dishes after their meal- scrape their plate and put it in the sink).

3) Get Dressed (I lay out clothes and the chore isn't finished until they have brushed hair and teeth)

4) Make Bed (I just ask that there covers and pillow be ON their bed and not on the floor)

5) Pick up Toys

6) Help Mikah/ Feed Dog/ Feed Bunnies (These 3 chores are assigned 1 to each child and we rotate them)

I have the days of the week listed across the top, the chart is a grid then of chores(top to bottom) and days of the week (across top). The child puts a sticker in the box once the chore is completed. The charts last us a month as each week we have a different type of sticker. (So for example, after 4 weeks, there would be (in theory) 4 different stickers in each box).

I have one DS that LOVES his chore chart. He is super focused and loves the structure. My other DS just likes the excitement of it. DD is actually not very motivated by it, but the "group effect" helps her along. And a surprise at the end of a good week has gotten her more into it as well.

My DD (Mikah) who is 20 months old has a chore chart as well with her name on it. Her items are to "Obey" and "Help".... she is not old enough to "get it" but she likes getting to put stars on her chart too.

ETA:
In my opinion and experience, 2 1/2 might be too young for a chore chart (and too much work for you to keep up as a mode of positive reinforcement. Like PP mentioned, I would have a few behaviors that you want to encourage and reward them immediately with something tangible (like a cracker or cheerio, verbal praise, hug). So asking them to put all of their books away and then erupting into applause when they do it. Asking them to carry their plate to the kitchen and then giving them a sticker, a hug, a cheerio, etc. I think giving the tangible reward will be more effective at this age and drive home the behavior. A little older and they will be able to grasp that the sticker reward that goes on the chart is actually a reward. Does that make sense?
Im sure this is way more than you were looking for!
Good luck!

Tiffany
BBG @ 31.4 weeks
on 11/27/06
3.11
3.6
2.14



baby girl born on 7/24/08