A few weeks ago I received a package of kids craft supplies from CraftProjectIdeas.com, and I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to have the boys to make with them. The company’s craft material of the month is recycled cups, so I assumed we would probably make some goofy monster puppets out of party cups or something along those lines. My boys, however, had ideas of their own.
Sawyer gathered up a small sheet of foam core, a few clothespins, colored paper, glue, and the craft materials sent to us and immediately got to work on a project of his own. In his classroom at school they use a color coded clip chart to track the children’s behavior, and he thought that making our own version for home would be helpful. I love it when my kids are inspired to create something and to follow through with their own vision without any parental intervention. It’s so inspiring to ME to watch them create and work their magic!
A whirlwind of crafting activity (and mess!).
His final clip chart is very similar to the one used at his school – each child begins the day on “Ready to Listen” (green), and then they move their clip up or down periodically throughout the day according to their behavior. The goal is to have a “Red Day” (Outstanding), which results in a reward (in our case, staying up an extra 15 minutes after bedtime), so there are three increments to move your clip up to get to that. On the flip side, there are only two steps downward until the child receives a consequence (Purple – “Parent’s Choice”).
I really can’t believe how effective this has been for us! When my kids are in school, the first words out of their mouths after school are always “I was on {insert color} today!”, and we’re having the same results at home. It’s incredible how motivating it is for them! My husband is now greeted at the door by the boys telling him “their color.” I love it so much that I created a free printable for anyone else who’d like to try it in their home! Just print it out, glue it on to a piece of foam core board, trim, add a ribbon and hang up.
Easy peasy and totally useful! Of course, you could get fancy and decorate your clothespins with fabric or patterned paper too. Or glitter tape. Glitter tape is awesome. Now I’m thinking that I need to go back and add glitter tape to mine too.
Download your free printable COLOR CODED BEHAVIOR CHART today!
This is a really good idea, we homeschool so I could use this all year!
xo, Tanya
Thanks, Tanya! We’ve tried a lot of different methods and charts, but this one has really been a HUGE hit! 🙂
LOVE this! Thanks for sharing and inspiring me. Pinning 🙂
Thanks Meegan!
This looks easy and it is so cute. The irony here is that MY MOTHER sent me this link. Ha ha!
LOL you’ve got to love that! 🙂
Love that your kiddos came up with this on their own! In case you’re wondering, the original creator of this chart is Rick Morris of New Management — his website is http://www.newmanagement.com/. 🙂
Thanks for the link to the original source! My boys use this system in their school classroom, but I had no idea where it originated.
I have been having some behavior issues with my 4 year old and this seems like a great way up reward him and him get immediate satisfaction for good behavior! I’m going to set this up ASAP! Hope you will come link up at the Friday Follow Along at http://www.leahinspired.com
Thanks, Leah! This has been one of the ONLY behavior/chore/reward charts that all three of my boys respond well to – it’s been a lifesaver! Hopefully it will work well for you too! 🙂
Great idea! I would like to try this with my two Granddaughter’s whom I babysit. They are 5 and 2 and are going through a phase where they fight about everything and like to argue with Grandma! This could be a big help!
Thanks for sharing!
Lisa H.
Hope this helps, Lisa! 🙂
I think that I would flip the colors and red being the worst because you would be in hot water…
Who wouldn’t love to have you for a mom? Genius, your ideas.
Thank you so much for the sweet words, Grandma Linda! 🙂