Magnetic Behavior Chart (Printable)

After K was born in June, I decided several things needed some major organization.  We'll call it left over pregnancy adrenaline.  One of those things was a behavior chart for my 4 year old.  I had hemmed and hawed about making one for a long time.  Even in my educated teacher mind, there was something lurking in the background that made me feel if he used a chart, he was a ill behaved child.  Which, in my well educated teacher brain, I very well know is untrue.

Firstly, he's mostly a great kid.
Secondly, I know that the best discipline techniques involve frequent, positive rewards.

What I came up with was a system for rewarding the good behaviors.  We printed the chart out each week and displayed it so we could keep track of his new and improved behavior. This was working fine, except for the fact that, from time to time, we'd go a few days at the beginning of a week without a chart to  display because the sleep deprived mommy would forget to print a new one out.

Behavior Chart2

6 months later . . . it's finally been made in re-usable, magnet form.  A one time printing deal.  Never again will this (still) sleep deprived mommy forget.

Above is a copy for your personal use.  Feel free to download and alter it for your family's expected behaviors.

We've decided to keep ours on the side of the refrigerator right next to Aunt E and Uncle T.  I'll let you know how that goes.  Toddler S has a tendency to move things.

In order to make one of your own, simply pick up some Avery magnet sheets.  Download the chart, place your magnet sheet paper side down, and print away.

After printing ours, I realized I wanted a bit more color.  Your copy included rainbow colored numbers.

Cut apart the pieces and place them on a metal surface.

See Kyra, we are using our clothespin magnets.  I love them because they hold papers and photos especially well.

For now, we're keeping our extra pieces in a zip-lock baggie.  I like that this allows us to see inside so C, can be the one to place the pieces on at the end of the day as we discuss how things went.

If you don't want it to take up space on your refrigerator, simple hang an old metal cookie in your child's room.  Not sure how to do this?  See this great tutorial for cookie sheet calendars: Scraps From My Table

Here's how our system works:  At the end of each day, C and I assess how the day went.  Which face does each goal deserve?  Smiley = great, Line Face = okay, Frown Face = not so great.  For our 4 year old, the basic "three strikes and your out" rule applies.  We count up the smiley faces and then assign  a number to that day's "bank".  At the end of the week, we total up each "bank" to find the weekly score.  25-35 Smiles a week earn C, 1 to 2 dollars in his reward jar.  When were out and about he's allowed to use his money to pay for a toy or treat.  He's really starting to get that his good behavior is rewarded and that if he wants a bigger toy he needs to save up.

C loves his chart.  He smiles every time he hears the clink of money in the jar and is always so proud when he hands his own money to the cashier.  I love that he knows exactly what behavior is expected, were using math every day, and as he masters each goal they're easy to alter.



*** Update **** Scrib has recently made some changes to downloading policies.  I blog about the things I do, hoping they will help some one else and do not agree with some one else making money from something I've created and made available for FREE.  So, if you are looking to download the printables above, please see this updated post with the new links to FREE Google documents.