How to make a reward chart that actually motivates
A reward chart works best with one to three clear goals, a short time frame, and a reward the child or class chose. Pick a sticker chart for younger children, a weekly goals chart for older ones, and print a fresh one each week.
No account needed to edit. AI needs a free account (20 AI uses a month).
Templates to start from
Sticker chart
50 sticker spots and a “When I fill my chart, I get…” box.
Reward chart
Weekly goals chart
Goals down the side, Monday to Friday across the top.
Reward chart
Behaviour tracker
One goal, tracked through the week.
Reward chart
Reward punch cards
Eight cards per page to punch or stamp.
Reward chart
Team points
Colour a box each time a team earns a point.
Reward chart
Classroom jobs
A weekly rota of class jobs.
Reward chart
What makes a reward chart work
- Few goals: one to three at a time. A chart with ten goals becomes background noise.
- Positive and specific wording: “Hands to myself in line”, “Read for 15 minutes”.
- Short time frames: a day or a week for young children; a sticker should be earnable today.
- Immediate feedback: add the sticker or tick straight away, with a word of praise.
- A reward the child cares about, agreed in advance.
- An end point: when the habit sticks, retire the goal and choose a new one.
Reward ideas that cost little
| At school | At home |
|---|---|
| Choose the class game or song | Pick dinner or a weekend activity |
| Extra free reading or drawing time | 15 minutes later bedtime on Friday |
| Sit with a friend for a day | Choose the family film |
| Be the teacher's helper | A trip to the park or library |
| Positive note or call home | Special time one-to-one with a parent |
Which chart for which age
- Ages 3–6: a sticker chart with a small number of spots before a reward; you can cover some spots to make the goal shorter.
- Ages 6–10: a weekly goals chart with ticks for each day and a reward at the end of the week.
- Ages 10+: a behaviour or skill tracker the student fills in, with a goal they set themselves.
- Whole class: team points or a class goal (a thermometer or path), so everyone works toward one reward.
Common mistakes
- Taking stickers away. Keep the chart about earning; deal with problems separately.
- Rewards that are too far off or too big to keep giving.
- Changing the rules halfway through the week.
- Comparing children's charts in public. Keep individual charts private where possible.
How to make it in CatalogProFlow
- Choose the chartSticker chart for ages 3–7, weekly goals for 7–11, punch cards or team points for a whole class.
- Write the goalsClick each goal and type it as something the child does: “Start work within 2 minutes”, not “Don't waste time”.
- Set the rewardType the agreed reward into the goal box at the bottom, so it's in front of the child all week.
- Or let AI draft itPress AI design, choose the grade and type the focus (for example “getting ready in the morning”). It writes five short, positive goals you can edit.
- Print a stackPrint several copies so you can start a fresh chart each week. Download a PNG free with an account, or a print-ready PDF with Teacher Pro or a one-time $2.99 unlock for that design. You can also print straight from the PDF on any home or school printer.
Questions
What should I put on a reward chart?
One to three specific, positive goals, a space to mark each success (stickers, ticks or stamps) and the reward the child earns when the chart is full.
How many stickers before a reward?
Few enough to reach in a day or a week. Young children may need a reward after 5–10 stickers; older children can work toward a weekly goal.
Do reward charts work for older children?
Yes, with a different look: a weekly goal tracker or skill tracker the student fills in and helps design tends to suit ages 10 and up.
What size do reward charts print at?
They open at US Letter landscape (11 × 8.5 in); use your printer's “fit to page” setting for A4.
Related guides
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- Homeschool weekly planner: a free template and a simple routineAn editable homeschool weekly planner with subjects by day, plus reading logs, reward charts and homework trackers.