Free Behavior Chart to Print

Parents and caregivers can try using a free behavior chart to print to help young children behave in acceptable ways.

Children respond well when behavior charts are used. They can see that they are working toward a goal. The chart provides a visual reminder of when they have behaved appropriately. Other people who see the chart will know how they are doing and can provide them with positive comments about their behavior. This kind of positive reinforcement will encourage the child to continue behaving well.

Since young children will be looking at the chart, you want to make sure that the one you choose is simple in design. The spaces should be large enough that you can place a mark, stamp, or a sticker on them when the child has behaved well. You might also want to let the child help with updating the chart. He or she can place the sticker in place or stamp the appropriate space (with help if necessary).

Since you want the child to be able to see the chart often, place it in a highly-visible area of your home. You may want to put it on your refrigerator or position it on a wall in a portion of the house where the child will pass by it often.

Depending on the behavior you are trying to track, you will need to decide how to make note of days when the child doesn't behave the way you want him or her to. You could choose to use a "sad face" sticker on those days or simply draw a line through that date on the chart.

Since young children have a short attention span, you don't want to create a situation where the child has to wait a long time before receiving something special for behaving well. The idea here is to keep the child motivated enough to keep trying, without allowing him or her to become frustrated. For very young children, give them a reward after behaving well for an hour to two. Preschoolers may be given something at the end of the day. School-aged children can look forward to getting their treat at the end of the week.

You can find free behavior charts to print on a number of websites. Here are some examples:

• FreeBehaviorCharts.com offers a number of options. You can choose the type of theme that your child will respond to. If he or she likes turtles, puppies, trucks, or butterflies, there are charts with these themes available. Other charts available involve connecting the dots and the child can track his or her progress across the page very easily.

• PaintedGold.com has some simple behavior charts on the site. Separate charts are available for preschoolers and school-aged children.

• ChartJungle.com has a very simple behavior chart for toddlers. It uses Happy Face/Sad Face images to indicate how the child behaved on a particular day. A space is provided for comments, as well.

Feel free to try different behavior charts to keep things interesting for your child. You may want to change the theme often so that they are not always looking at the same images on the chart. If you find that a particular chart seems to be working well, feel fee to continue with it. Your child will let you know when it's time for a change.

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