Traffic Light Behavior Chart {+ Free Printable!}

Craft a Traffic Light-themed behavior chart for kids! Explore creative DIY ideas on our blog. ? #BehaviorChart #CraftingWithKids

 

Today is kind of more of a DIY project, but for those of you lacking the patience (or desire) to make it yourself, I threw a printable version in at the end for you. 🙂

 

So, bit of back story: I got this idea last year when J was in preschool. The school he was at utilized a Color Scheme for monitoring behavior in the kids, and it was working really well! J was the first one to shout from the rooftops that he was “on green all day!” or “I got pink today!” (which I believe was excellent or something.)

We were having some issues at home with tantrums and whining, so I thought we’d carry this plan over to after school as well. I didn’t have the patience or the memory for all the various colors the school used, but I could manage the basics: red, yellow, green.

I wanted to make it a visual system for J as well, so I created a Traffic Light Behavior Chart to help him stay accountable!

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I’m sure no one is shocked when I say I made this on my Cricut, since I make nearly EVERYTHING on my Cricut {as evidenced here… and here… and here too.}

If you don’t have a Cricut, you can still totally do this! You could use my free printable, or you could print out a traffic light and trace it onto the card stock! I got my traffic light cut from the Disney Pixar Cars Cartridge.

(See how I date myself?? That was back in the days of Cricut having cartridges!!)

 Now you can get the Disney images and SO MUCH MORE with Cricut Design Space!

 

 

I set up all the layers in the craft room software, but I only cut the black backing and the grey stoplight outline. I didn’t really feel like running three more colored sheets through when I had a perfectly good circle punch available.

 

 

I already had a large assortment of chipboard letters in my stash, so I found a “J” and glued a small magnet to the back of it. This works great for us since J is always pointing out the letters of his name wherever we go {“‘J’ for me!”} and I knew he’d like it. When H is old enough to understand, we just have to add his letter! You could also use different colored magnets, whatever you think your kids will like, or identify with.

 

 

And there you have it! It has worked amazingly well, in that J is devastated at the idea of being “moved to yellow”. Oftentimes the mere threat of yellow is enough to curb his bad behavior.

Oh but I’m not finished!

We don’t really like having to punish bad behavior, so we try to use positive influence instead. Now, I’m not saying that we {or anyone should} praise the little darlings for every little thing under the sun. I want my kids to know what  truly outstanding behavior is and is rewarded with. Doing chores is not one of them; doing extra chores without  being asked has potential.

Note: All parents have opinions.  These are the parameters we work off of. I’m not really a “mommy blogger” in the sense that I don’t focus on raising kids on my blog, but I do share our personal stories from time to time – like now – and would appreciate if any dissenting opinions were kept cordial or silent. 🙂

Anyhoo, there was one extra benefit that J’s school utilized in their color chart that I did adopt: Role Model. J goes wild at the possibility of being on Role Model, and I like the positive idea of its message. Since I’d already made the traffic light, I had to create an extra circle we could stick on top to represent when J had achieved that most desirable of statuses.

 

 

Done deal! We’ve been using this for over a year now, and it works so well that my BFF asked me for one for HER kids!

Don’t worry, I didn’t forget you non-crafty/insanely busy parents! Here is the link to the free printable behavior chart you can use instead!

 

What kind of positive modifications have you found that work for your kids or grandkids?

 

 

If you like my free printable Traffic Light Behavior Chart, be sure to check out the rest of my Freebies!