The 3 Best Character Charts

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These FREE Character Charts are simple visual tools that help kids (and parents) focus on one God-honoring trait at a time. Use them to recognize effort, make growth visible, and turn character training into something joyful rather than just another task.

One of our favorite ways to encourage character growth in our children was by using these character charts to track their progress. These charts helped us stay mindful of the positive efforts our kids were making, allowing us to recognize and reinforce their growth. At the same time, they served as a gentle reminder for our children to actively practice godly character throughout the day.

By making their progress visible, the charts motivated them to keep trying—turning character development into something intentional and rewarding. Over time, this simple tool became a powerful way to nurture kindness, responsibility, and virtue in our home.

Here are the 3 Best Character Charts To Encourage Growth

1. The “Excellence in Character” Chart

When our children were younger, we set up a character contest using this chart, then a celebration at the end. We would choose a timeframe (1–2 weeks), announce the contest, and watch for kids showing good character. For example: if a child picked up toys without being told, we gave a tally on the “initiative” row of the Excellence chart. At the end of the period, we celebrated the winner, then moved on to the next chart stage. See 8 Ways To Recognize Good Character In Your Children

2. The “Growth in Character” Chart

After the contest, we used this chart to track ongoing progress—even for those who didn’t “win.” For every five tallies they earned on any trait, they filled a square on the Growth in Character Chart. This allowed us to recognize consistent effort and forward movement, reinforcing that growth matters more than just winning.

3. The “48 Godly Character Traits” Chart

As our children matured (around age 12 and up), the focus shifted from charts and prizes to mentoring younger siblings and noticing good character in others. The “48 Traits” chart helped us keep the big picture in view—serving as a wall-chart reminder of virtues like integrity, gentleness, obedience, and gratitude. It became our family’s character roadmap.

You don’t have to use the charts like we do. It will depend on how many kids you have, their ages, and how you want to use them with your family. I am just presenting this so you know how we have used them in our home.

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How We Used the Charts to Encourage Growth

1.We drew a trait from a bowl (for example: patience) and the child with the most marks for that trait “won.” We gave the winner one of our character ribbons and a prize from the prize bag —toys from the Dollar Store, packs of gum, candy bars etc. We applauded them and celebrated.

2. Then we reviewed the “Growth in Character” Chart: for every five marks tallied, the kids advanced a square. This meant even non-winners were rewarded for consistent effort. This allowed us to recognize them for the progress they made during the week, even though they may not have been the winner.

3. After this time of recognizing the progress that the kids had made, we had a special treat, like ice cream or cookies.

4. As the children got older, we adjusted the format: older kids partnered with younger ones, and one teen chose to “watch for good character” among his siblings. I started this when I noticed one of the teens was VERY good at seeing the bad in his siblings. Often he could be heard saying things like, “Aww – you’re not obeying!“, or “You’re having a bad attitude!“.

I wanted to turn the negativity into positive comments instead.

Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes... in You and Your Kids Passionate Parenting: Enjoying the Journey of Parenting Teens Solving A Crisis in Christian Parenting: Why so many prodigals?[(Child Training Tips : What I Wish I Knew When My Children Were Young)] [By (author) Reb Bradley] published on (August, 2014)

So I told the teen that I needed his help with watching for good character in the kids and asked him to give them a tally mark on the chart whenever he saw them showing good character.

This simple shift turned their attitudes around and made them part of the solution instead of the critic.”Wow! You just showed initiative (or some other trait)! I’m going to give you a plus on the character chart.”

It was very exciting for me. I love hearing my older kids encouraging their younger siblings to do what is right!

The Benefits of Growing Character via Character Charts

Focus shifts to what matters. Instead of only seeing what the kids did wrong, we began looking for what they did right.
- It is so easy to see the wrong things our kids do and get after them for those things constantly. Yet, we forget to look for the right behavior and good character and praise them for it.Using these character charts caused me to be on the lookout for any signs of effort to practice good character. As a result, I was more aware when they did the right things, and I encouraged them more often about the right behavior.
Priorities become clear. We kept godly character front and center, not academic or athletic success alone.
- Sometimes we forget that Godly character is more important than physical accomplishments (like in sports), musical abilities, or getting good grades. As a result, we convey the wrong priorities to our kids and fail to teach them what really matters. My husband and I felt very strongly that building Godly character in our kids intentionally should be one of our top priorities and goals.

We wanted the kids to know that Godly character pleased the Lord and was important. Using the character charts helped us to remember to look for good character in our kids, and to praise them when they showed it, letting them know we were pleased with their behavior and so was God.

Habits form naturally. As one child “caught” another showing good character and earned something on the chart, it inspired others to do the same.
- All it took was us “catching” one child showing good character and giving them a mark on their chart. Other kids would then start thinking about how they could show good character, too. Choosing to do things that show good character becomes a habit over time and then develops into character.

Two Thoughts About the Reward Aspect With Character Charts

Perhaps some of you are wondering, “Well, aren’t the kids doing it for the wrong reason? They’re choosing to go and do something ‘right’ so they can get a mark on their chart, and get recognition from Mom or Dad.”

1. They MAY be doing it for the wrong reason.

However, they are purposefully choosing to do something that is right. In reality that’s what character is – doing what’s right whether we feel like it or not, because it’s right.

2. God uses rewards to motivate us to do right.

In the Bible, we are promised that we can get stars in our crowns. So why not encourage our kids to do what pleases the Lord by using small rewards, such as verbal praise, marks on a chart, or little prizes in a character celebration?

When you introduce character charts into your home—with clear, visual tracking, recognition of effort, and a focus on growth—you begin to create an environment where godly character is seen, celebrated, and built. Even the simplest system, used week by week, starts to shape your children’s hearts and habits!

Character Charts Summary for Quick Readers

These character charts provide a visual roadmap for tracking and encouraging godly traits like kindness, initiative, and honesty.
Choose a trait, tally instances of good character, and celebrate progress each week.
Use the Excellence chart for contests, the Growth chart for consistent effort, and the 48-Traits chart for long-term vision.
The system shifts focus from punishment to praise, builds habits intentionally, and keeps godly character front and center.
Even if children earn marks for something, they still make the choice to do what’s right—an essential component of character.