How to Make a Potty Training Reward Chart

Rewards for potty training

Rewarding your child for potty training is something highly recommended by most child experts. The key is to find your child's currency (what motivates them) and then reward them for going on the potty.

Things You'll Need

• Paper or poster board
• Markers
• Printer
• Stars or stickers
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Decide where you are going to put the potty training reward chart; this will determine how big to make the chart.

2. Gather the proper materials. This includes paper or poster board, pens or markers, a ruler and some decorative items to make the chart as kid-friendly looking as possible.

3. Write the days of the week at the top of the chart, starting with a blank space, then continuing with Sunday. You can write in different color markers or make lines in various colors.

4. Draw a line under the days of the week horizontally across the entire page. Draw lines vertically down the page with each day of the week in a separate column. Your chart should now look like a grid.

5. Number your weeks. Leaving that first space before the days of the week should leave you with an empty column. Still leaving the first blank empty, number your weeks vertically down the left side of the page. Start with Week One, then Week Two and continue with the number of weeks you wish to chart.

6. Hang your chart. Now your chart should be complete and you must decide where to put it. Putting it as close to the potty as possible is recommended because then your child will be able to easily find it and get there quickly after using the potty. The bathroom door is the perfect spot.

7. Decide what to use on the chart to indicate that your child has gone to the potty. Stickers and stars are highly recommended. In fact, you can use the stickers when your child pees on the potty and use the stars for poops on the potty. Once you have a week full of stickers or stars, reward your child in some way for a job well done.

Tips & Warnings

• Make certain to pick out age-appropriate rewards and let your child help to pick out these rewards.

• Posting the potty chart close to the potty is key so your child can see his progress every time he goes to the potty.

• Don't buy rewards that are too expensive. Remember you may be potty training for a long time and this can get costly.

• Don't be too hard on your child if there are not a lot of stars or stickers during the first few weeks. Every child is different and they all train at their own pace.

References

• The Mayo Clinic: Potty Training