homework chart for parents

Printable Homework Charts

Susie is an experienced writer and educator with a master's degree in education and another in education/library media. She has written on various health topics.

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Free printable homework charts help kids at any grade level in a public, private, or homeschool setting get organized and stay on task. Kids with any organizational style can find a homework chart that will work for them without a lot of extra effort.

LoveToKnow Printable Homework Charts

Start the school year off right by printing enough homework charts to get your child through the entire year. Teachers can also use them to organize and plan their homework assignments in advance. Click on the image of the chart that works best for you to download and print. If you need help downloading the charts, check out these helpful tips .

7 Printable Time Management Charts for Better Organization

Simple Weekly Homework Checklist

Children in preschool and kindergarten can use this simple weekly homework chart to write in their one assignment for each day of the week. A check box after each day can be used by kids to check when the assignment is complete or for parents to initial that the work is done.

Fun and Easy Homework Chart

Little kids will love the fun graphics on this list-style homework chart. This printable is great for kids who don't get assignments on a daily basis because it only features sections for the subject or task and completion. One page might last you a day, week, or month depending on when homework is assigned.

Homework Chart List

Keep track of homework assignments based on the date they were assigned with this list-style homework chart. Kids can write in the date, subject, and assignment then indicate when a project or task is complete.

Homework Assignment List

Kids in a self-directed learning environment can use the printable homework assignment list to keep track of assignments. There is a space to write the subject, assignment, and completion date so kids can stay organized even when they don't have deadlines.

Homework Chart by Subject

A weekly homework chart separated out by subject helps keep older kids in upper elementary and middle school organized. Simply write in your assignments for each subject with the date they are due. As you complete each homework task, you can check off the box to indicate it's finished.

Homework Chart for Teachers

Teachers at any grade level who want to involve parents in homework time can use this homework chart for teachers and parents. Parents and teachers can keep tabs on long-term projects from week to week by having kids check the "in progress" box to show they've started it.

Purpose of Printable Homework Charts

Why should you use printable charts ? Structure, organization, and immediate feedback are just a few reasons why weekly homework charts may be the answer to your prayers regarding your child's academic performance. You can take away privileges, ground them, and use other forms of punishment, but until you help your child solve his or her organizational issues, you're really not solving the problem. Some ways a homework chart can help your child include:

Keep assignments organized long-term
Stay motivated to complete homework
Feel a sense of accomplishment when checking off assignments
Reinforce positive child behavior and promote responsibility
Commit assignments to memory through the act of writing them down

Homework Chart Ideas

Homework charts are easy to find and print, but they aren't always easy to use. Keep in mind that if you focus too much on the chart, however, your child may begin to resent it. You want this to be a positive experience, not a negative one! Help your child create a new habit and make the most of these organizational tools using creative means>

Create a notebook filled with homework charts that serve as an instant checklist for kids, parents, and teachers to access and review.
Assign one color for each subject by printing each chart in a different color or using a colored pencil to color in the subjects.
Attach a file folder or magnetic clip to your refrigerator and place each week's homework chart in the folder or on the clip so it's seen daily.
Add a reward system like putting star stickers next to work completed then offer a reward like going to dinner or a movie for a certain number of stars.
Address any consequences for failing to use the homework chart adequately such as limiting TV time.
Review the charts at the end of each week with your child to emphasize the importance of organization and reinforce topics.

Success Through Organization

Kids' lives are busy and it's easy to forget about things like small homework assignments. Give your kids the tools they need to succeed in school such as homework charts and other organizational tools.

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Make A Homework Chart To Keep Your Child On Track!

Inside: Make a homework chart to keep your child organized and stress-free. It can even increase overall motivation to get work done on time!

Doing your homework after school is a right of passage. To this day, it remains a key educational component and a common part of a kid’s after school routine. But homework can quickly fall to the wayside in lieu of hanging out with friends, watching TV, and finding snacks in the kitchen. That’s where a homework chart comes in!

Most kids have a hard time finding the energy and motivation to get homework done. Then, the parent has to step in to ensure that the work actually gets done before the next school day. But with a homework chart, you can keep everything on track and actually improve motivation.

Better yet, you may never have to ask them to do their homework again!

Whether you’re just trying to get organized, looking for a solution to help a struggling child, or want to start off the school year strong, creating your own homework chart will kickstart a great education.

Note: You can download a printable PDF homework tracker chart to try to use with your kids here (click the link, enter your name and email and it’ll be sent to you in a few minutes.)

Why do kids struggle with homework.

You’ve probably heard it time and time again: that audible groan your kids make when you say it’s homework time. But how exactly did homework become the least favorite activity of every kid’s day?

Lack of motivation. Oftentimes, kids don’t understand why they need to continue to do more homework after a full day at school. They want all remaining hours of the day to be dedicated to relaxation and fun.
Lack of a good work environment. If a child doesn’t have a great place to do homework, they’re less likely to do it. Working from the couch, bed, or messy dining room table is going to have the same effect as a desk.
Time management. Even adults struggle with keeping up with everything on their to-do lists. Kids are still learning how to fit everything in and need a hand figuring out their personal schedules.
Too many distractions. The dog squeaks its ball, Mom does the dishes, the sister watches TV, and Dad mows the lawn. How is a kid supposed to get anything done!?
Mood swings. Kids have many big emotions and often don’t know how to handle them. When they don’t want to do homework, the mood just worsens until getting any homework done is completely off the table.

How can a homework chart help?

A homework chart may not fix all of the issues above, but it certainly helps quite a few of them! Time management is the most obvious fix as parents and kids can map out everything they need to get done and organize it over the course of the week.

Motivation may play the biggest factor in not wanting to do homework . Adding a homework chart allows them to visualize their goals for the day and week. When kids have a goal, they’re much more likely to resist the distractions and temptations that can arise during homework time.

When kids get involved in making their homework chart, it helps them assume more responsibility and control over their schedule. Kids really appreciate it when they feel heard and like to have input on how they spend their day. Yes, they need to do homework, but a chart allows them to fill in part of their day’s activities.

How to make a homework chart

Making a homework chart is going to look different for every child depending on their needs, age, and schedule. Below are some of the best tips to keep in mind when making a homework chart with your child.

Choose your planner type

The first step you will want to take is deciding which type of planner will work best for your kids. You can break up the homework chart by month, week, or daily. Young kids will have less homework and might only need a monthly chart. However, older kids may even need a daily homework chart where they can keep track of time.

If you’re unsure, weekly is the best place to start! It works well for every age group and allows you to set priorities and get organized for the week ahead.

A homework chart with subjects included is also another great option. In this case, you list out the days of the week on top as well as all the subjects down the side. This allows you to have room every day for each subject.

For the little ones, you can even make a giant visual schedule to hand on the wall. In this case, their day will probably look exactly the same every day. The visual schedule allows them to know what tasks to get done in the day amongst all the playing, napping, and eating!

Ask for their input

Kids are much more likely to get work done if they feel like it was their idea. So let it be their idea!

Make the homework chart together. At first, you may need to help guide them and teach them how to prioritize tasks. Eventually, they will become so good at it that you might not even need to help!

Letting them self-regulate their schedule and gain a little bit of independence will make them feel much more motivated and even accomplished.

Also ask them when they would like to do their homework, especially if you’re including times in their homework chart. They might have a preference. Some may want to do it right after school to get it over with while others would prefer dinner after they’ve eaten and had a break.

Note upcoming tasks

Homework charts try to avoid procrastination. In a homework chart, you will want to include immediate and regular homework. But, you also want to plan ahead for upcoming tasks and larger assignments. Learning to juggle multiple assignments with different due dates is a highly valuable skill for kids to learn as they get older.

Kids can learn how to prioritize their work. What needs to get done right now? What can I do to get ahead for the future? If I don’t have work due tomorrow, what can I work on instead?

Try to include a notes section on your homework chart so that you can list all your upcoming tasks. The last thing you want to happen is a mad rush over a sudden due date! Then both you and your child will be up past midnight gluing a solar system diorama together.

Make the homework chart visible

Place the homework chart in a place that makes it easy for everyone in the house to see it. Yes, everyone ! This can help keep the distractions to a minimum.

If everyone in the house knows when it’s homework time, then they know not to bug the working kid with other tasks or conversations.

Keep noise and distractions to a minimum during these hours. The child may not even be reachable during this time!

This also allows you to keep track of their work and make sure they are sticking to the schedule. You can help keep them accountable or make adjustments when necessary.

Offer rewards

A reward incentive may be the answer for kids who really struggle to get their homework done despite how often you remind them. Allow them to cross off the tasks in their homework chart or the day itself to show that they got everything done. If they get everything done in a week (or day, month, whatever you decide), then they can get a reward.

You know what kind of reward would work best for your kids. It could be getting their allowance, a sticker as a reward, their favorite snack, or an end-of-the-week activity such as a movie night.

Personalize it

To keep your kids engaged with their homework chart, ask them to personalize it! When making the homework chart, bring out all the craft supplies.

Use fun paper, stationery, stickers, pencil crayons, and more to customize the chart.

The fun colors can also help to keep the homework chart more organized. Use different colored inks for different subjects and tasks.

When you make a homework chart with your kids, ask them to set a goal for the week. Kids need to have personal meaning with their homework. If they view it as an important part of their day and something with purpose, they are much more likely to get it done.

When setting a goal, include one short-term one for the week. It can be studying for an upcoming math test , getting the first part of a project done, finishing a book, etc. Rather than just relying on individual tasks, they can see how a little bit of work a day helps accomplish something larger.

In addition to a short-term goal, they should have a long-term goal. How is their homework helping them reach their personal goals? Will homework improve their grades for college? Will learning French allow them to travel and spend time in France one day?

Setting a goal can help to enhance this responsibility and motivation. Their homework will become more interesting and relevant to them and they will have more initiative to do it on their own.

FREE PRINTABLE: Download a printable PDF homework tracker chart for your child to use

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homework charts

July 27, 2018 By Katie 3 Comments

Back to school brings mixed emotions in my home. For the kids, of course, it’s mostly sadness that the hazy lazy days of a hot summer have come and gone. It’s back to school and “too much homework” as they always say. For myself, as a Mom of a growing brood, there are the pros: first day of school signs and pictures, cute back to school clothes, quieter and more productive days, etc. But with the start of school, there is also the realization that I only get so many fun summers with my little ones before they want to hang out with their friends more than Mom. 😪 I also know that those clothes and supplies can cost a small fortune and with school comes endless homework, extracurricular activities, and the endless stream of paperwork and dates and times to remember for each child. Yep, definitely a mixed bag!

Of all the mixed emotions there is a constant that always seems to be a source of frustration in our home: homework. When it comes to homework I’m very, very comfortably between the tiger moms and the free-rangers, who respectively are strict disciplinarians who want sky-high academic results at all times and parents content to let their kids learn by doing and being independent as possible.

I’m not saying any of the either of the above approaches are more correct than the other, to each their own and every child needs to be parented in the way that suits them best. But I’m definitely not going to lose it if my kids miss a day of homework. Neither am I going to let them just play every day. Balance in all things is my philosophy. I’d assume most Moms rest in this cozy middle area with me. 🙂

In order to find the balance between too much and too little homework, I’ve spent some time creating homework charts, checklists, and planners for a variety of situations. ( I’ll be adding more and more over time so check back if you don’t see the one you want. Or leave a comment and I might be able to squeeze in some time to create new ones based off reader feedback.). You may also like these printable first day of school signs and bedtime routine charts too. #justsayin.

I hope one of the ones below, whether you use rewards or eschew them, works for your family and each specific child no matter what parenting style you use in your home! Just click on the text links below each preview image to download your PDF and then print your preferred hw chart for your home.

WEEKLY HOMEWORK CHARTS

Below are a variety of weekly homework charts and planners. While they vary a little bit most of them allow some combination of assignments or class, days of the week, dates, due dates, daily reading tracking, and some form of completion in the form of a checkbox or otherwise. I hope these weekly homework planners make life easier this year!

RAINBOW WEEKLY HOMEWORK CHART

MONOCHROMATIC WEEKLY HOMEWORK CHART

SUBJECT/ASSIGNMENT/DUE DATE/CHECKBOX HOMEWORK CHART

DAILY/WEEKLY HOMEWORK CHART

WEEKLY 8-SUBJECT HOMEWORK CHART

WEEKLY HOMEWORK CHART FOR KIDS

HOMEWORK REWARD CHARTS

The charts below are set up for monthly tracking BUT just because they are monthly homework charts doesn’t mean you can’t set rewards at the daily or weekly level. I’ve always found it to be more effective when I tailor the rewards to each child and subject. Sometimes they need a reward on a daily basis (really struggling to form a good habit), sometimes on a weekly basis and sometimes the reward is such that they better do their homework for an entire month if I’m holding up my end of the bargain! So, whether you use these as a homework sticker chart or simply use checkmarks or something else entirely, hopefully, you’ll find a method that will work for your child! Even better if we can inspire them to love learning and the reward chart becomes a temporary aid to unlock a lifetime of learning!

MY MONTHLY HOMEWORK REWARD CHART

kids monthly homework rewards chart with printable gold stars!

GOLD STAR HOMEWORK REWARDS CHART

FILL-IN-THE-STARS MONTHLY HOMEWORK REWARD CHART

KIDS MONTHLY HOMEWORK LOG

KIDS HOMEWORK AND REWARD CHART

If you’re feeling generous, I’d love a re-pin (or a pin of the image below) or facebook share if you have a second. But, as always, no obligation.

Reader Interactions

[…] since you’re here, don’t miss out on these free printable bedtime routine charts and homework charts/planners as things settle back into the normal day to day school routine. You also won’t want to miss […]

[…] use some of that coveted nightly free time to take requests. 🙂 Make sure you check out these printable homework charts and first day of school printables while you’re getting ready for the school […]

[…] with it so many things to keep track of – the papers! The schedules! The shopping lists! The homework and assignments! All of the meal planning for the crazy busy […]

Behavior Charts

These customizable behavior charts are available for free to Empowering Parents readers. Each chart includes detailed instructions on how to use them with your child. Click here to read the accompanying article with more details about how to use these charts most effectively.

Download them today, print as many copies as you need on your printer, and start using them right away to assist with getting your child to do chores or homework and help correct any behavior issues you are struggling with.

Click on the links below to get more details about each chart and to download the charts in PDF format.

Chore Chart for Children

Use this chore schedule to help motivate your child to complete multiple chores or specific tasks.

Advanced Homework Chart

A more advanced homework chart for pre-teens and teens. Track their progress on specific homework-related tasks such as using an assignment notebook and turning in work on time.

Behavior Chart for Preschool Kids

This chart is designed for younger children in the preschool to early elementary range. Use it to help motivate them to practice one specific behavior, such as sharing or saying “please” and “thank you.”

Multiple Behavior Chart for Kids

This chart is great for morning or evening routines or any other multi-step process you need your child to work on-like cleaning his or her room.

Simple Homework Chart

A homework chart for younger kids or special needs children. This will help you and your child track his or her daily and weekly progress.

Single Behavior Chart for Kids

Use this chart to motivate your child to practice one specific good behavior or to do things the first time he’s asked.

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[FREE PRINTABLE] Homework Chart

By Chelsea Foy

It’s back to school time, and for lots of us that means it’s time to get kids excited about homework! Okay, if not excited then at least…organized. And if that’s your goal, I’ve got just the thing for you. This quick printable homework chart is the perfect tool to help kids keep track of all of their schoolwork and whether or not it’s been done. It’s customizable, so you can add different classes or subjects, and even has plenty of space for extracurriculars . If you need a little boost to get the school year started, print out a few of these and help your kiddo get to work!

printable-homework-chart-school-supplies

printer and printer paper or card stock
printable homework chart

Instructions:

Step 1 : Download and print the homework chart on card stock or plain paper.

Step 2 : Help your child fill out the chart. Begin with the week’s dates at the top, and fill in all school subjects along the left hand side. As the week progresses, have your child write each assignment in the corresponding box. Once the assignment has been done, there’s a check box to mark off so they know it’s completed at a glance. If there’s no homework in a certain subject, write “None.”

Step 3 : Fill in any extra boxes as you see fit—those are a great place for extracurriculars like music, sports, and so on.

Step 4 : If you child has required reading, fill in that column with minutes or materials read.

Step 5 : Enjoy the organization and have a great school year!

More DIY Homework Aids:

12 Inspiring Homework Area Ideas to Steal
Get Your Child Organized for Getting Homework Done
3 Tips for Making Homework Time Hassle Free

Chelsea Foy is a blogger by day and a musical theatre performer by night. Her blog, Lovely Indeed , focuses on a DIY lifestyle and all of the happiness that comes along with it. Chelsea recently co-authored Make Your Day , a digital crafting book, and is proud to have had her projects featured on HGTV, Buzzfeed, Babble, Apartment Therapy, Huffington Post, and more. Chelsea resides in Los Angeles with her most adorable husband Ryan, where they spend their time diligently becoming familiar with every shop, restaurant, beach, and flea market within a 50-mile radius.

Printable Homework Charts for Teachers & Students

Classroom Homework Charts Introduction

Inspire your students to complete and turn in their homework by using our printable Homework Charts in your classroom. These homework charts work especially well with students who are reluctant to do homework or have a tendency to forget to turn it in. You can also share special Homework Charts with parents to help them with the challenge of homework completion at home. Just share this link .

Aim High Midde High School Homework Chart (Fillable)

Chore charts, behavior charts, potty charts, and much more

Behavior charts, award certificates, feelings charts, and much more

Selecting a Homework Chart for Your Students

When selecting a Homework Chart, consider whether you want to track homework for one subject or many subjects. If you want to track homework for a single subject, use a Homework Chart that requires five repetitions, one for each day of the week Monday through Friday. If you want to track homework for several subject areas, choose one of the weekly Homework Charts which looks more like a calendar grid and has space for days of the week, as well as headings at the top for each subject area.

Using Our Printable Homework Charts

Using a Homework Chart can help take the stress out of the parental role of making sure homework is completed. When a child or teen understands what is expected and can see the chart posted as a reminder, it can provide a needed nudge. Others need more than a nudge(!) and will need expectations clearly outlined in order to receive an incentive reward.

Keep it Interesting

Watch for new opportunities to celebrate your students’ homework successes. Look for students who are making progress, even if there’s still a lot of room for improvement. Remember that baby steps are cause for celebration, too. Start with simple expectations and grow from there. Aim to keep things fresh, adjusting goals, using new incentives and selecting different charts from our collection.

Enjoy and Have Fun!

If you like using our Classroom Homework Charts, then please use our social share buttons to tell your friends and family about them.

Be sure to check out all of the other charts and printables we offer on our site by navigating our menu. We also suggest for you to follow us on Pinterest for more helpful goodies! We regularly post behavior charts and other useful behavioral tools to our followers.

If you have any ideas on new charts that you would like to see us offer, then please send us a note . We would love to hear from you!

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Homework chart

by: The GreatSchools Editorial Team | Updated: June 22, 2016

Print article

For some children, a homework chart that shows their progress completing their work each day can be motivating.

To use this chart, have your child check off (or put a star or sticker) every time she’s finished an assignment.

To motivate your child even more, decide on some sort of reward for finishing homework on time, like an outing with a parent or extra time to do something of her choice (such as watching a favorite TV show).

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Homework Charts Track

Printable Homework charts are a straightforward tool to help you and your child stay organized with school assignments and deadlines. By visually mapping out tasks, due dates, and progress, these charts encourage self-discipline and responsibility in young learners. They can serve as a daily reminder of what needs to be completed, offering a sense of achievement as each item is checked off.

This not only supports time management skills but also boosts motivation and reduces the stress associated with forgotten homework or last-minute rushes to meet deadlines.

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Homework Charts

Weekly Behavior Chart

Behavior charts for teens, kids homework chart.

Weekly Homework Charts
Homework Reward Charts for Kids
Homework and Chore Charts
Homework Activity Log Sheet

Tracking your child's behavior weekly with a chart helps identify patterns and areas needing improvement. By setting clear goals and rewards, it fosters a positive reinforcement cycle, leading to better behavior management and a structured way for children to see their progress.

Utilizing printable behavior charts for teens supports them in developing responsibility and self-awareness. These charts allow for setting specific goals, tracking accomplishments, and facilitating communication between parents and teens about expectations and achievements.

A printable homework chart for kids can simplify the task management process, helping them to stay organized and prioritize their assignments. It serves as a visual reminder of their responsibilities and encourages a routine, which can enhance their time management skills and academic performance.

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Free Printable Behavior Charts and Reward Charts for Kids!

Behavior charts for homework and school, free printable school behavior charts.

Behavior Charts for School! Whether it's remembering what to put in a backpack or using a daily assignment sheet, we've got a behavior chart to help. For younger kids, it might be our School Bus Safetly printable, and for older kids our Homework Checklist. And don't forget to check our Parenting Articles for some great tips such as When Kids Don't Want to Go to School , Bedtime Arguments and Homework or Homework Strategies for Parents and Kids .

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Homework Charts: Track Test Dates

Classroom and School Test Schedules

These homework charts are great for keeping track of upcoming tests and allow kids to list homework assignments for each subject. Homework charts are great tools for children to use so they stay organized and on track with their school work.

Before you go, check this out!

We have lots more on the site to show you. You've only seen one page. Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time.

How to use reward charts effectively for homework

Out of desperation, I started using reward charts when my daughter started school. It was like pulling teeth to get her to do homework.

It was as if the word homework was code for tantrums. As soon as we said ‘Homework Time’ the tantrum started.

Often it took us half an hour to calm her down and convince her she needed to get her homework done!

I explained that if she skipped the tantrum and started her homework right away she would be done in half the time, but I only succeeded in making myself blue in the face.

The thought of doing homework made her feel so frustrated and overwhelmed that logic was of no use.

Since we started using reward charts we have almost completely eliminated the angry explosions.

It took some trial and error to find a system that actually worked. Some of the most recommended ideas just didn’t work for us.

My daughter was later diagnosed with ADD and dyslexia which contributed to her outbursts.

The reward charts got a thumbs up from my son as well as my daughter. He was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of eight.

He is now thirteen and finally understands the realities of needing to get homework done in order to pass his class in school.

I believe reward charts for homework and other specific behaviors can help any child.

Associating something positive with Homework (or other desired behaviors) can help change the child’s response.

Often Kids have negative emotions associated with tasks we (the parents) ask of them.

It’s as if children go on autopilot and every time we say homework or brush our teeth they give us an automated negative response.

The purpose of a reward chart is to push the restart button and help the child think before responding.

Why use reward charts?

I wondered this myself when I was searching for a solution for my daughter’s homework tantrums.

It all boils down to raising dopamine levels so when they hear ’ Let’s do homework’ or ’It’s time for bed’ they associate it with a reward.

Psychologists and doctors speculate that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or attention deficit disorder (ADD) may have low levels of dopamine or problems with the dopamine transporters.

‘’Dopamine levels can affect a person’s mood, attention, motivation, and movement. Dopamine also regulates the brain’s reward system, with its levels increasing in the brain when a person experiences something pleasurable. . .’’ writes Shannon Johnson for Medical News Today

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325499

Children who have low dopamine levels need an external motivator to provide them with the same ‘Reward’ or ‘Sense of Satisfaction’ that children without a diagnosis experience naturally.

In other words, a reward, or the anticipation of a reward, can give kids with ADD/ADHD the raised dopamine levels that children without an ADD/ADHD diagnosis may experience naturally from simply completing their homework and knowing it was a job well done.

https://www.healthline.com/health/dopamine-effects#definition

This is where the ‘Reward Chart’ comes in. It gives them something to look forward to when the homework is done (or another desired behavior is successfully completed).

From now on I will use homework for my standard example.

The hope is that the child’s brain will begin to associate this external reward with homework, which triggers a dopamine release and a feeling of pleasure when they are asked to do their homework.

We want this positive feeling to replace the feeling of panic, anger, and inadequacy that causes outbursts whenever homework is mentioned.

We made up our own reward chart system which we call The Reward Chart Game.

Think of the reward chart as an ongoing board game. Your child is one of the players.

You can choose to have a second made-up character for your child to compete with if he/she finds this extra motivating (more on that later). You are the administrator or banker in the game.

How to make the ‘Chart’ or ‘Board’ for The Reward Chart Game

I am explaining this first because you need a mental picture in order to understand The Reward Game.

In a nutshell, we simply drew a road, divided it up into sections, wrote where to start and stop, added small prizes along the way, and a bigger Prize at the end.

It doesn’t need to be more complicated or artistic than the charts I made. Your kids will be interested in the prizes, not how the chart looks.

You will need to ask your child if they want to earn smileys on their own or if they want to compete with an imaginary character.

That will determine how you draw your chart. We used the chart on the left for my youngest daughter to compete against the poop monster and get to the potty on time.

If you want to make it look more like a ‘Real’ board game buy a bigger piece of thick paper, draw your ‘Road’ and let your child decorate the empty spaces with drawings or magazine clippings.

Another alternative is to use the board from an incomplete board game you have around the house.

You will need to customize the board with small drawings of prizes along the ‘Road’ and a big prize at the end.

You can check out the links below from rewardcharts4kids.com. These charts will work for younger kids probably ages two to four.

The charts only have ten to thirteen places to put smileys. (In other words 10 to 13 opportunities for your child to exhibit good behavior.)

You will need to add the smaller rewards on some of the numbers and draw a big present or prize at the end.

https://www.rewardcharts4kids.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/indian-reward-chart.jpg

https://www.rewardcharts4kids.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/spongebobrewardchart-12steps.PDF

https://www.rewardcharts4kids.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Reward-Charts-Spiderman-2.jpg

You can play The Reward Game in two different ways.

1 Play the Reward Game against an imaginary competitor.

When my daughter was younger she had trouble making it to the bathroom on time. We came up with the idea to have her compete with the poop monster

We made a chart with two parallel roads. One road was for the Poop and Pee monster who got smileys when she didn’t make it to the bathroom on time.

The other road was for my daughter. When she made it to the potty, and she had dry underwear, she got smileys.

She is extremely competitive and the poop monster motivated her.

The first time we made the chart she got two smiles every time she had a bowel movement in the toilet and one smiley every time she urinated in the toilet.

The second time around she got only one smiley for pooping or peeing. She won both times and we never needed to make the third chart.

If you are using the chart for an older child they could compete against the whining monster, the lazy monster, the homework-eating monster, or any other idea you have for a made-up competitor.

Make sure the rules are clear before you start. Your child needs to know how to earn a smiley, and he/she should know under what circumstances the monster gets a smiley.

It may be when the child whines (Behaves in a certain way) or when something doesn’t get done (Lack of behavior).

This is for you to decide, but if the rules are wishy-washy and you give the monster smiles whenever you feel like it your child may give up because he/she will not see a clear way to win.

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CHILD WINS!!! Don’t cheat, but set the rules slanted in their favor.

The point is to motivate your child to do well and show them that changing their behavior can be fun. Feeling frustrated about losing to the ‘Monster’ will probably not accomplish this goal.

Remember the first time my daughter did the chart she got two smileys when the ‘Monster’ got one.

When she got her confidence up and she knew she could beat the monster we gave her a harder challenge.

The goal is for your child to get so good at the new behavior that you can either phase the Reward Game out completely or start using it for new behaviors.

2 Play the Reward Game with one competitor.

The objective is to get from start to stop collecting small rewards in between and a bigger prize at the end.

Tell your child what behavior you want them to work on. If it’s homework let them know how to behave when doing their homework in order to earn smiles on their chart.

When your child exhibits the desired behavior, for instance doing homework on time without whining and arguing,

He/She gets to draw a smiley on the next section of the road. (alternative; use stickers)

Our daughter wanted to do this herself so it became her responsibility to make sure that she drew on the chart whenever she met the goal.

He/she will collect prizes along the way to keep motivation up.

When your child is not competing against anyone else you don’t need to worry about them winning, but you do need to make realistic goals so your child feels that he or she is making progress.

If it takes too long to complete the whole chart your child may give up altogether.

Be realistic about how long it will take and make sure you have enough small prizes along the way.

When they have completed the first chart you may need to make a second chart that is a bit harder for the child.

The idea is to phase the chart out. When you feel that your son or daughter has mastered a particular behavior you can choose a new behavior for the next chart.

Implementing the prize system for The Reward Chart Game.

On the pictures of small candies and small amounts of money 10 cents up to 1 dollar I suggest you tape the candy and the money directly on the chart.

This will eliminate the need for you to stop what you’re doing or ask your child to wait if they need a prize when you are momentarily inaccessible.

You can add as many of these small prizes as you need to keep your child’s motivation up.

Some of the road sections on the chart should have pictures of presents on them. When your child lands on these they get to pick something from the family store .

The ‘End Prize’ can come from the store as well, unless you decide something else ahead of time.

My husband and I bought a bunch of cheap toys, games, puzzles, fun socks, craft kits, barbies, and small to medium legos which we made into a mini-store.

We divided the toys into categories of small, medium, and large. In other words, cheapest toys, cheap toys, and toys that cost a little more (legos, barbies, craft kits). You can also use pictures of experiences the child can pick from instead of toys.

When they landed on a small package in the middle of the chart they got to pick a toy or experience from the corresponding category. My kids thought this was fun.

If you don’t want to spend the money upfront, have your child help you cut out pictures from toy catalogs and group them in price categories, or make a ‘Store’ out of pictures of experiences and eliminate the toys altogether.

Make sure that all the toys/things in the store are items you are willing to buy as soon as your child finishes his/her chart.

Don’t forget that your child needs to want the prizes on the chart for this to work.

Discuss with your child what kinds of toys or other rewards they would like to have.

Rewards can be money, ice cream, candy, or other yummy healthy snacks, going swimming, taking a hike, going to the park, video game time, and seeing a movie as well as toys.

(Source) https://www.amotherthing.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Princess-Reward-Chart.pdf

How to use a reward chart effectively

Here are some rules for using The Reward Chart Game effectively

One Reward Chart per behavior

Make a separate Reward Chart Game for each behavior. If you want to work on three behaviors for example Potty training, smooth bedtimes, and proper dinner etiquette make three rewards charts.

Hang up the ‘Chart’ or ‘Board’ where they are used.

It will be much easier to remember to draw smileys on the chart if the chart is right where you need it.

Put each ‘Chart’ or ‘Board’ where your child performs that particular task. Potty charts should be in the bathroom, A manners chart on the fridge, and a bedtime chart in the bedroom.

Only use three Reward charts at a time.

Three reward charts = three behaviors

Decide ahead of time what behaviors to work on. Don’t pick more than three or it will be confusing for your child.

If you feel your child has many behaviors to work on, move on to three new behaviors after they have completed the first three Reward Chart Games.

The ‘End Prize’ must be something your child wants to recieve.

It may seem obvious, that the ‘End Prize’ must be something that the child wants to receive.

Parent’s often think they know what their children want to receive, but often they are wrong. Ask your child what they would like as a prize.

Trying to make a reward chart with a prize of ‘Mowing the lawn’ would be like trying to motivate yourself to go on a diet with a prize of anchovies after two months of hard work!

A goal of eating anything you want for Easter dinner would be a much more motivating reward.

Print out pictures to represent the non-toy items in the store. You can either buy some things for your store or cut out pictures for the store.

If you think your child has too many toys you can eliminate the toys from the chart and have pictures of experiences for the prizes in your store.

Just make sure you have things in the store that will motivate your child.

If your child says that he/she forgot to put two smiles on the chart yesterday. Give him/her the benefit of the doubt.

If they honestly did forget and you refuse to give him the smilies you are undermining the whole concept of the reward chart by refusing.

This will cause your child to quickly lose motivation.

If you think your child is not being honest give them the smileys anyway without making a big deal out of it.

Then you can silently keep a closer eye on the rest of the proceedings.

Siblings should not have identical rewards charts.

The older the child, the longer the road should be .

Our daughter is now ten and we have started using a simpler method where we fill an 8×10 paper (an A4) with squares and you start in the left-hand corner and follow the chart down to the bottom.

We do this because she is big enough to handle a whole paper full of squares, and we don’t have to buy a piece of paper to make a ‘Road’ out of the squares.

As long as she has small prizes along the way to keep motivation up this works well.

Smileys earned when you are out of the house should be given right away.

Keep stickers in your purse for smaller children and give them out immediately.

Older kids can keep track of how many smiles they need to draw when they get at home on their phone, or you can SMS them each time they earn a smiley when you are out and about.

You may need to remind them to actually draw the smiles /Put the stickers on when you get home

The child should win when playing against the monster

In order to keep your child motivated, set the rules in their favor when they play with an imaginary adversary.

You may need to give your child 2 smiles for going to bed without fussing and give the monster one smiley or frowny face when the child has a fit before bed.

Let him/her win rather easily the first time.

The second time you play The Reward Chart Game for the same behavior makes it harder for your child. The second time may be both your child and the monster get the same amount of smilies.

The second time they already have the confidence to beat the monster and they have been practicing better behavior so it should be easy to beat the monster with their new skills.

I hope that this gives you some new inspiration to be creative with your reward charts.

Check out my post on ADHD and school What every teacher should know about the ADHD child

For more information and reading tips check out our favorite resources page https://theadhdminimalist.com/our-favourite-resources/.

If you have questions or comments please email me at [email protected]

Annie Eklöv

Originally from the USA, I moved to Sweden in 2004 when I married a Swede. My husband and I have three kids two of which have ADHD and Dyslexia diagnoses.

homework chart for parents

How to use reward charts effectively for homework

Why use reward charts?

We made up our own reward chart system which we call The Reward Chart Game.

How to make the ‘Chart’ or ‘Board’ for The Reward Chart Game

You can play The Reward Game in two different ways.

Implementing the prize system for The Reward Chart Game.

How to use a reward chart effectively

One Reward Chart per behavior

Hang up the ‘Chart’ or ‘Board’ where they are used.

Only use three Reward charts at a time.

The ‘End Prize’ must be something your child wants to recieve.

If your child says that he/she forgot to put two smiles on the chart yesterday. Give him/her the benefit of the doubt.

Siblings should not have identical rewards charts.

Smileys earned when you are out of the house should be given right away.

The child should win when playing against the monster

Check out my post on ADHD and school What every teacher should know about the ADHD child

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Homework Charts: Track Test Dates

How to use reward charts effectively for homework

Why use reward charts?

We made up our own reward chart system which we call The Reward Chart Game.

How to make the ‘Chart’ or ‘Board’ for The Reward Chart Game

You can play The Reward Game in two different ways.

Implementing the prize system for The Reward Chart Game.

How to use a reward chart effectively

One Reward Chart per behavior

Hang up the ‘Chart’ or ‘Board’ where they are used.

Only use three Reward charts at a time.