How useful is a chart-and-sticker system for encouraging good behavior in children?

Is this just more busywork for parents? Or is it worth the extra effort?

Aviva: A system designed to motivate appropriate behavior is most effective when it is tailored to the child for whom it will be used. If your goal is to get your 3 year old to brush his teeth twice a day and the chart says "brush teeth a.m." and "brush teeth p.m." will he understand what he is supposed to do? Probably not. However, if you cut out a picture of a child brushing his teeth, cut out a pictures of the sun and the moon, and paste it all onto a piece of paper he will have a much better understanding of what you are trying to communicate. Have your child help, whenever possible. For example if your child loves to draw, color and decorate, then let her go crazy with a design on the chart - she will take pride in the creation. Yes, setting up a chart-and-sticker system may require a little extra effort from you in the beginning. You will probably need to coach your child with some ideas regarding what the chart will look like and where it will be as well as what types of behaviors you are trying to reinforce. Your child's age may also be a factor in how much implementation you need to do. However, once the system is in place, it should be the child who is excited about keeping it going! The greater role they play in setting it up and following it through, the greater impact it will have on them!

Devra: As with any parenting tool, effectiveness can only be determined once the tool is being utilized. Some children are responsive to stickers and charts, other kids aren't. Sometimes it has to do with the age of a child, sometimes it has to do with the personality of a child. Success of charts/stickers rely on the parent and/or caregiver who remembers to use them as well as how much your child *buys* into the system. Go ahead and try the chart for at least three weeks. If after 3 weeks there is no interest, ditching the chart and moving on to another tool makes sense. If your offspring shows even minimal interest/ progress consider adding on another three weeks. After 6 weeks, you will probably see the undesirable behaviors give way to some groundbreaking good times for everyone and,eventually, the behaviors will not be sticker dependent. Occasionally, you may have to up the ante for stickers/charts in case your child (and even you!) become bored or lose interest. It might be helpful to have a list of different things your child can earn if they accumulate an agreed amount of stickers or fill in the chart for an agreed amount of time. Not all of the payoffs need be monetary, remember, your child values YOU and the time you spend with them. Try to come up with some things you enjoy doing together, or even a new experience you both can share!