Potty training chart and rewards

Printable Potty-Training Charts and Reward Ideas

5 min readUpdated January 10, 2024
Potty training is a major milestone in a child's development, but it can be challenging for parents and toddlers. That's where potty-training reward charts come in! These tools can help motivate little ones and make the journey fun. We'll explore different types of charts and how to use them effectively. Whether your toddler is a beginner or you’re looking to add more excitement, keep reading to learn all about potty training charts and how to reward your little one for their hard work, plus, we have some adorable and free printable charts available for download.

An Introduction to Potty-Training Charts

If your little one is ready to start potty training or they’re already on their journey and you’re finding motivating your child challenging, consider introducing a reward system. One such method that has proven to be beneficial for numerous parents is the use of a potty-training chart.
A potty-training chart serves as a tangible record of your little one’s accomplishments and habits throughout their potty-training journey. Every time they make significant progress or use the potty successfully, you can decorate the chart with a shiny star or a bright sticker, offering your emerging potty star some well-deserved applause and encouragement for their hard-earned triumphs.
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Potty-Training Chart Benefits

Your encouragement, support, and patience may be all that’s needed to keep your little one on track with potty training. But sometimes, a gentle and fun incentive like a potty-training chart might help the process. Here are some benefits of using a potty-training chart:
  • Providing positive reinforcement. Positive rewards and praise for good behaviour can lead to your child repeating this behaviour. If your toddler associates the potty with something positive, such as receiving another sticker on their potty-training chart, they may be happy to use the potty.
  • Boosting self-esteem. Positive reinforcement for good behaviour and small successes can help increase your child’s self-esteem. It may help them become more aware when they’ve done something good and give them a sense of pride in their achievements. Visualising their progress on a chart can further encourage them.
  • Tracking success. This approach is advantageous for both you and your little one. The chart enables you to monitor their development and spot any recurring patterns in their potty-training conduct, such as the specific times during the day when they're successfully using the potty. In addition, your tot gets to see a visual representation of their sterling efforts! You can utilise this data when chatting with your child’s doctor or health visitor.
  • Offering immediate rewards. Receiving a sticker or gold star on their chart can make a big difference to your toddler. This simple reward system links using the potty with the joy of getting a sticker right away. While a sticker or star may seem trivial to adults, it's a jubilant achievement and an alluring reward for your little one. By keeping the reward small and simple, we ensure the focus remains on mastering the skill of using the potty. We're not just giving them stickers; we're encouraging their growth and celebrating their potty-training journey.
Small but consistent rewards can motivate and empower your child, making potty training a more positive experience. Let's cheer on these little steps towards big milestones!

How to Encourage Potty Training Using a Chart

If you’re wondering how to encourage or reward potty training, one of the splendid features of potty-training charts is the ability to tailor them to suit your taste or the age of your little one. For instance, you might decide to award your youngster a sticker each time they successfully utilise the loo, or maybe you hand one over after a complete ‘dry day’. Some parents may opt to dish out stickers for every little triumph their toddler accomplishes, like requesting to use the potty, sitting on it, or washing their own hands.
For a great number of tots, simply placing a sticker or a shiny star on their potty-training chart is a reward in and of itself! Additionally, some parents might choose to give a small treat after a certain number of stickers are collected or dry days have been achieved. You could also adapt the objectives for older children, or as the potty-training advances, such as aiming towards ‘big kid’ pants.

How to Introduce a Potty-Training Reward Chart

Here are some tips for introducing a potty-training chart to your little one:
  1. Customize your potty-training chart or stickers based on your child’s interests, e.g., dinosaurs, fairy tales, cars, etc. This will make it more exciting for them!
  2. Introduce the chart to your child and explain the system.
  3. Display the chart in a prominent place and where your child can easily see it. This will act as a reminder and allow them (and you) to see their own progress.
  4. Gently encourage and remind them throughout the day to use the potty, and recognise toilet cues, or you may even find having a toilet routine helpful.
  5. Reinforce and be consistent with the way you use the potty-training chart. Allowing your little one to add the sticker to their chart themselves may add to the excitement and better reinforce the connection between using the potty and receiving the reward.
  6. Review the goals as your little one grows and easily achieves their target. Perhaps you want to gradually add new goals to their rewards chart.

Potty-Training Reward Ideas

As mentioned above, the potty-training chart and stickers may be enough of a reward for your little one! The excitement they get from watching their chart fill up over the week may be all the encouragement they need. However, if your child needs a little extra incentive, you might consider a special reward if they reach the goals you set:
  • Start with non-material rewards. Your affection and congratulations are the most coveted rewards of all. You should always offer praise or a hug each time your child attempts a step, like telling you when they’re urinating, even if it's just in their nappy. You can also celebrate small successes (like sitting on the potty, even if nothing materialises) with a phone call to a loved one. Some parents make up a special song or dance to perform each time their child ‘performs’. Avoid overdoing it, however; you don't want to make the process overly important or place too much pressure on your child.
  • Keep material rewards small. Try rewarding your little one with a small treat each time they meet a goal. Go to the shops together and purchase small prizes: stickers, Matchbox cars, crayons. Place them in an out-of-reach but in-sight location so your child can keep their eye on the prize during visits to the potty. Hand out a reward only when they meet a goal; otherwise, you'll run through your gifts in a matter of hours!
  • Consider educational rewards. Booksare fun and educational rewards for children, especially if you find some cute ones about potty training to further encourage them.
  • Avoid purchasing large, expensive items. Luring your child with overwhelming gifts takes their focus off mastering a new skill and places it on getting the goods. And it sets them up to expect something huge each time they do what generally comes naturally. You want your child to use the potty because they have control of and confidence in their body, not because it's their ticket to a new toy.
  • Avoid offering edible treats. Sweets, ice cream, crisps, etc., can be effective in the short term; however, experts warn against using food as a reward. You don't want your child to begin to look at certain foods (e.g., sweets) as something they receive when they please you or do something ‘good’. Kids this age are already asserting control over what goes into their body as well as what leaves it. It's best to tackle food issues separately, rather than bringing them into the potty-training arena.
  • Make the reward immediate. You're more likely to reinforce desired behaviour by rewarding your child straight away. Most young children don't have enough perspective to make the connection between the reward and the behaviour if the reward comes hours after they've met their goal. The younger the child, the more immediate the reward should be.
  • Use big-kid underwear as a fun incentive for your youngster and an end goal for when they’ve learned how to use the potty. You may even want to introduce training pants when potty training.
Of course, potty-training rewards are optional, but if you do decide to offer them, try to keep most of the focus on your little one gaining confidence and learning to use the potty rather than on getting new toys or treats.
Here are some more potty-training tips to help encourage your toddler on their new adventure.

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Free Printable Potty-Training Charts

Here are some of our cute and free downloadable and printable potty-training reward and sticker charts for potty-training toddlers.

Beginner Potty-Training Chart

This potty-training chart is straightforward and ideal for those just starting out on their potty journey. It's neatly sectioned into days of the week, and all you need to do is place a sticker on the chart whenever your young'un uses the potty.
Even better, this printable reward chart is blank, allowing you and your little one to adorn it with your creative ideas—much like a DIY potty chart.
Download Chart

Dinosaur Potty-Training Chart

This free downloadable and printable potty-training chart is a roar-some idea for fans of dinosaurs. This creative chart features a path from one friendly dinosaur to its pal. Each successful use of the potty earns your toddler a sticker or a coloured section on the path. This visually engaging process keeps them motivated and makes potty time fun. Slowly, they make their way across the lush prehistoric landscape, closer to their dinosaur friend. The best part? There might be a rewarding surprise at the end! The reward is entirely up to you.
Download Chart

Potty-Training Sticker Chart

This sticker reward chart for potty training assists your little one in grasping and becoming accustomed to the various stages entailed in using the loo. It also aids you in monitoring their progress and identifying any areas where they might need a bit more support. Hand over a sticker each time they accomplish one of the stages, and it's entirely up to you if there's a little treat involved when they get to the finish line.
Download Chart

Potty-Training Reward Chart

This potty-training rewards chart is ready for you to download and print, and it offers visual motivation for your little one. Mark each successful bathroom visit with a sticker or smiley face! Once the chart is filled, a special prize awaits. It can be something you've decided on beforehand or a delightful surprise. Both approaches have their charms—the first gives them a clear target, while the second adds suspense and wonder to their potty-training adventure. Regardless of the method, the prospect of a reward will get your child eager to reach the finish line!
Download Chart

FAQS AT A GLANCE

There is no specific ‘right’ age to start potty training, as each child is unique. Most children are ready to begin potty training between 18 months and 2 years old. The key is to look for signs your child is ready, such as showing interest in the toilet, staying dry for longer periods, or telling you when they're going to wee or poo.


It’s important to remember that every child is different, so there’s no need to start potty training just because other children your child’s age are starting. The best time to start is when both you and your little one are ready.

The Bottom Line

Hopefully, the information and free printable potty-training charts in this article will help you and your toddler reach potty-training success! And if your little one masters daytime potty training, it might be time to start night-time potty training.
Remember, it's important to have patience and consistency when it comes to this process, as every child learns differently. And if your little one is having some setbacks, take a look at our article all about potty training regression. As always, celebrate the small successes, and don't forget to have fun!
How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the National Health Service (NHS). You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.

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