Every child needs some system of learning right from wrong and being praised for doing good things or behaving in the correct way. One way of doing this is with reward charts which can be used for many different things. Radical Reward Charts aims to provide something a bit different from the normal ‘star’ type of reward chart.
All our Radical Reward Charts have a 20 step progress route. We have found that 20 steps offers the best timeframe for receiving their reward, without having to dish out rewards too often or too infrequently. Younger children can be given a ‘half way’ marker reward when they reach 10!
The Radical Reward Charts are designed by artist Vita Bosque-Greene and use images from nature to add an educational element to the chart. This also gives a talking point with the child to discuss the various creatures that we spot on the chart. I chose ‘Orrible Ocean and Reedy River for my two, particularly as they love underwater wildlife and we visit our National Marine Aquarium regularly being members. It gives them something to look for that they recognise and also helped them learn the names of new creatures they didn’t giving them something to learn. Here they are just yesterday gazing into one of the many underwater tanks at the aquarium that they adore to sit and watch.
When I put the reward charts up on the wall, they were both intrigued and immediately drawn to the little laminate cut out of themselves which they couldn’t wait to place on the chart. I explained that they could move up each time they did something good, helped out or for general good behaviour.
The Radical Reward Charts were placed in the hallway so that they were constantly walking past them which hopefully reminded them to behave. I also stuck a small chocolate bar at the top of the chart for when they reach number 20 as an incentive to get there.
Rather than the numbers being in a straight line they are staggered across the chart moving slowly up to start with bigger gaps as you got further up. The only issue I found is that with having two charts side by side the ‘Orrible Oceans chart moves up more slowly than Reedy River and Mister B couldn’t understand why he was only a quarter of the way up at number 10 whereas Miss M’s number 10 was half way up the page.
Once we had used the charts for a few days they soon got the hang of how they worked and were keen to move up throughout the day. It was an easy for them to move themselves up and they loved seeing their little image on the chart. We’ve definitely seen some improvement in their behaviour or doing things we ask them when we prompt them that they may earn a move upwards.
I think Radical Reward Charts are a good concept, something a little bit different from the normal charts around especially with the laminated image of your child that comes from an image you provide. They do cost £14 per chart which does include delivery although I feel this is a little on the high side for a paper chart. The paper is of high quality though with a slight glossiness giving it a nice finish and you can use the chart again and again each time the child reaches number 20.
My children are enjoying using them and have picked out many creatures they know from the aquarium. They are now asking what they can do to move up the charts each day so this can only be seen as successful and a chart that works. Let’s hope the improved behaviour continues.
All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions. We are not paid for reviews although we do receive the product to try out and enable us to write the review.
