Melissa & Doug's Responsibility Chart
-- Product Review

Has your little one hit the terrible two’s yet? When my son turned two, I wondered what all the hype was about. He was curious and into everything, but this was nothing new and nothing I couldn’t handle. Either the terrible two’s weren’t that terrible or my son was going to skip them altogether. Oh, how naive I was! When my son was around two and a half, I knew we had arrived – there was no mistaking it! He’s three now, and still in this “terrible” stage. I’ve heard from plenty of mothers that they think it should be called the “terrible three’s.” They’ve assured me that somewhere between the age of three and a half and four, the little angel I once knew will show his face again.

Something that has helped my son and I have happier days together is the Melissa & Doug Responsibility Chart. The wooden chart includes a variety of magnets that list different “chores” for your big boy or girl, as well as some blank magnets so you can customize it for your child’s unique needs. My favorite magnets say “no whining,” “keep your hands to yourself,” “put toys away,” and “share.” On one of the blank magnets, I wrote, “stay in my own bed.” (This one has helped us all have better nights!)

Each day, your child can put a magnetic smiley face next to the “responsibilities” he or she has achieved. Since my son loves computer games, I let him play one short computer game for each smiley face he earns. Some parents have told me the smiley faces were incentive enough for their child. Others have their kids turn in the smiley faces for various treats or rewards.

I started using this chart a month or two after my son turned two and a half. It took him a couple weeks to catch on to the idea. Even though he didn’t understand it at first, we continued to complete our chart every day. To my surprise, one day he asked if he could pick up his toys to earn a smiley face. He’s loved the chart ever since.

Have any of you tried a responsibility chart with your toddler? At what age did you start, and have you had any success?

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