Behavior charts are often a means of measuring a preschooler’s behavior during the school year. Each preschool does things a little differently in implementing their own behavior chart. Some schools will have the smiley face method where a frown indicates bad behavior. Others will use a color method where certain colors such as yellow show that your preschooler’s behavior was less than stellar. But whatever the method used to indicate how your preschooler was during the day, you can use these same methods to help your preschooler with their behavior at home.
Behavior charts are really based on the reward system. The idea is that with enough good behavior your preschooler will earn a special reward. Of course, bad behavior does earn some sort of consequences or a time out. It is often the hope of reward that helps motivate preschoolers to be on their best behavior both at school and at home. But the real goal of this system is to teach good behavior early on so that when they are older, they fall into the habit of good behavior.
You can set up your behavior chart in any way you like. While many choose to do this on a daily basis, you can break it up into different parts of the day such as morning and afternoon. Of course, it is essential that you keep your preschooler and their schedule in mind.
Pick a good symbol for both good and bad behavior. For example, your preschooler might put a sticker at the end of the day for a day that is relatively drama free. A yellow or different colored marker might be used to indicate a day that they had some problems. Then pick another color for when they are hard to deal with for the entire day.
It is important to recognize two things in regards to the behavior chart. Your preschooler will have some bad days. This is normal. They aren’t going to perfect and nor should you expect this. The other thing you should recognize is that you have to follow through on any promises made or any consequences that they have earned. This follow up is critical in order for the chart to be effective.
But before promising them the moon for being good all week, you really need to think about the rewards that you hand out. They don’t have to be expensive. You can do a simple things such as exchanging an old toy out for one they haven’t played with in a while. You can also grab a dollar item or reward them with their favorite snack. Keep it simple. You don’t have to break the bank providing these rewards.
Behavior charts can be used at home for preschoolers. Keep in mind that there will be days on which your preschooler just isn’t having a good day and that their behavior won’t be perfect all of the time.