Behavior and Chore Charts in the Command Center

My husband and I sat down this weekend to make a behavior and chore chart for the kids that rewarded them with allowance and more (or less) “screen” time.  (Screen time can be TV, computer, iPads, iPhones, and/or tablets.)

Creating this project definitely combined the Organizer, Teacher, Mother, and Crafter in me!  And I think it is just what my family needed.

We started with the behavior chart.  I got this idea from my daughters Kindergarten classroom.  This is very similar to what her teacher uses.  Each day, the kids start on “Green” and have the chance to move up or down.  

If they stay on green, they get one star for the day (more on stars later), and get to use screens at 6:00 the next day.  If they go up a color, they earn more stars.  Blue = 2 star, Purple = 3 stars, and Sparkle = 4 stars.  If they go down, they loose screen time and don’t get any stars.  Yellow = screens at 7:00, Red = no screens at all (grounded from screens).  

They can only move one space at a time.  If they move down, they can always move back up at some point during the day and vice versa.  Where they end up at the end of the day determines their color for that day.  

Chores

Their regular chores do not earn them any stars.  However, they can move up on the behavior chart for doing their chores without being asked, not complaining, etc.  They can also move down on the chart for not doing chores, complaining, etc.  My biggest problem with chores was the attitude and so far this is helping. :)

Regular chores for them during school days and weekends are:

• Get Dressed
• Brush Teeth
• Comb Hair
• Feed the Dog
• Dishes away from the dishwasher
• Toys put away
• Rooms Clean
• Dishes on the counter after dinner (one child)
• Vacuum under the table (other child)
• Homework
• Shower

If they do extra chores, they can earn extra stars.  Extra chores are:

• Clean Baseboards (2 stars each room)
• Wipe Bathroom surfaces (1 star)
• Fill Water Bottles (1 star)
• Help Make Dinner (1 star)
• Get School Snack (1 star)
• Water Garden (1 star)
• Get Mail (1 star)
• Make Bed (1 star)
• Vacuum Couches (2 stars)
• Vacuum Floor (1 star)

Stars

Now here is the fun, rewarding part!  When the weekend comes they get to use their stars.  5 starts will earn them either $1 allowance OR 1 extra hour of extra screen time.  

The current screen time for weekdays is after 6:00.  But only if their homework and chores are done and they have already taken a shower.  On the weekends they can have screens from 9:00 - noon or after 6:00 (if we are home).

They can earn one star a day for doing well in school.  Each child has a behavior plan in their classrooms.  If they get a positive report in their folder or agenda, they get one star.  The second way to earn stars is from the behavior chart at home, or doing extra chores.

Modifications

Disclaimer for the kids:  Mommy and Daddy have the right to change this policy at ANY TIME.  We did actually said that to them at the family meeting to discuss this new plan. :)

Also, when the summer comes and they are not in school, chores and screen usage will change.  

Crafting

Next came the fun part for Mommy... creating the chart and bulletin board to add to our command center. 

I used only items that I had in the house.  I could probably go crazy shopping and make things super amazing, but I did what I could with what I had.

The color behavior chart started with a piece of yellow paper.  Then I cut and glued on the other colors.  That is it!  I used spray glue to get an even application.  

The magnets for the color chart are plain magnets that I had on the fridge.  I printed a K and R on copy paper and cut them in a circle.  I used Mod Podge to glue them on the magnets and used another layer of Mod Podge on the top for a shiny finish. 

The bulletin board is a plain one I had found at Goodwill for Christmas Cards and birthday cards.  I painted the outside so it wasn’t a plain brown.  I used a red and brown mixture to make the maroon color that matches some of the decor in our house.    I added a layer of sparky paint for fun.  :)  

I used scrapbook paper as a background.  I slid the paper under the edges of the wooden boarder so that I didn’t have to glue it or tack it on.  Once I put all the other items on the board... it is not going to move!

I have a section to mark how many stars they get each day.  It is a quarter sheet of paper over a sparkly piece of paper.  That way it will be easy to replace and I can even use recycled paper.  

For every 5 stars, they get a thumb tack with a colored star on it.  That way, on Saturday, they know how many dollars or hours they have earned. 

The bottom corned of the bulletin board is for our weekly calendar.  I use Cozi calendar so all I have to do is print it on the weekend and pin it to the board.  Click here to check out Cozi.  Cozi also has an App.

To post the “extra chores” I used wooden clothes pin and painted one side of it the same color as the border on the bulletin board.  I also added a layer of sparkly paint after it dried.  I printed the chore list on copy paper and used Mod Podge to glue them on the clothes pins.  Then another layer of Mod Podge on the top.  

The stars show how many stars they earn for that particular chore.

I used some yellow flower ribbon to separate some of the sections and left one area free for extra things.  Currently there is an invitation to a birthday party this weekend on it.  

We have been using this plan for 5 days now.  So far so good!  And it is not much work to keep it up.  My favorite part is when they get to move up to another color for doing good things.  

I hope this helps you to create your own!