Behaviour Charts for Your special needs child

Behaviour or Rewards  charts are a great way ways of getting children to do what you want. But if you have a special needs child, like i do, then you probably know that your child doesn't respond to the normal point chart. However when i took it down to his level and we focused on less tasks suddenly he started to get it...finally  it was working... It is still is a work in progress but he is starting to put his clothes in the laundry and putting out the rubbish.... a miracle in our house....

 To get your special needs child involved (actually any child really) allow them  creative license like gluing on pictures of tasks, or colouring a chart in... Maybe they can come up with the behaviour's to go on the chart......

To make it simple and easy for your special ones to understand though there are a few things you need to consider

•    you need to focus on the positive and only reward that behaviour. Don't apply blame for item's not checked. .This is only at this stage about your child     getting things right
  

•  Dont make it too hard to earn rewards.Its no good putting things on a chart that ur child cant do.... add things they  do already and a few they do sometimes, ...Try to keep the chart basic to start as it can feel overwhelming to some   children (my son likes a diary where he puts stickers on with every good behaviour...he likes to carry it with him)

•  sit and discuss the chart at night together ...Be positive ...Let your child know that u can see that they are working hard

•  Make the chart kid friendly ... use happy faces or stickers Or put coins in a jar instead. (my son picks his own stickers at the shop...he picks which sticker he wants when he has earned one...The speech therapist also has stickers he earns after a good session)

• If you, like me, have a child who struggles at school then Reward good school behavior. Ask for a behavior report every day, if your child has a bad day though, don't add it to the chart.
  

• Don't make reward impossible to get... Be positive about success, not negative . Have a step ladder of rewards so that  its interesting... the reward must be desirable to your child. (In our house Money doesn't work for master 5 so i have to use things he  loves to do.....we use things like swimming at the local pool, lunch at the canteen, a slurpie when out)

•  Check the chart on a regular basis. Abilities change... Add new chores as your child improves ..and take away what they accomplish
  

It is said that Four to six weeks can change one or two specific behavior problems. Charts work for kids as they take pride in a full page showing good behavior. After a few weeks of using the rewards chart you can both take time off and check how well your special child is doing.If you see a problem start up then go back to the chart

I have added links to free Reward chart sites and there are some wonderful charts for preschoolers and older kids... some are Nice and basic and there are a few a little more in depth.....You can print these up free of charge.... Definately worth a look