Behavior Charts

You as a parent know your child better than anyone in the world. If you are aware that your child has chased off a few babysitters, or tends to be a little on the challenging side, be prepared. A behavioral chart is a great visual way for your child, your babysitter and yourself to keep track of progress and digression of behavior. With a piece of posterboard, make a grid. Label the days of the week that your child is to be watched by the babysitter. Then for each good behavior you want them to demonstrate, give the sitter a sticker to put on the chart for that day. Once your child has reached a predetermined number of stickers, they should be earning a reward. It can be as simple as ice cream or a trip to the zoo. In order for the chart to take effect, you must be vigilant about its use. If you do not check it when you get home to see how your child did, your child will not care about it either. If your sitter is not on top of adding stickers in the moment your child does well, your child will no longer be motivated by it. Consistency and cooperation can make the difference in worrying when you leave your child with a sitter and coming home to a happy, well-behaved child.