The Victoria Chart Company - Behavior and Reward Charts Blog

The Victoria Chart Company Launches A New Website

2014-12-05T19:21:00.000-05:00

Press Release

03-December-2014 – Clearwater, Florida –

The Victoria Chart Company a leading innovator in children's reward charts launches a new eye-catching website featuring their Kiddlies® characters.

The new website of The Victoria Chart Company went live on November 28th 2014. This global website incorporates the business from the UK and USA. According to Victoria Ballard, the company's President and designer of the site, the new website and brand refresh are more closely aligned with the company’s strategic vision for growth and expansion over the next decade, and beyond.

“We have stayed in business for over 10 years by listening to our customers and building relationships," Ballard commented. “We recognize the importance of constantly innovating and adapting to new ways of doing business".

The new eye-catching website cleverly incorporates their own Kiddlie® characters into real life photos to further enhance their corporate brand and to help engage, educate and support their target audience.

“Our Kiddlie® characters are very prominent throughout our products, children and their families really warm to them," says their creator Ballard. "We have huge plans for the Kiddlies® as the business develops, they are the perfect fit to help us get our important messages across to families ”

The new website also offers a clean, modern design, easy-to-navigate functionality, and a content-rich site experience. The new Victoria Chart Company website will also provide social media integration and direct links to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages, where company and product updates will appear on a regular basis.

All future blogs for the Victoria Chart Company will be located here: http://victoriachartcompany.com/view-all-victoria-chart-company-blogs/

Discipline Without Using Words!

2014-11-30T14:09:00.000-05:00

We know by now that children learn from their surroundings, and that includes the adults who are caring for them. They are like sponges taking it all in! This is great news as there is so much to learn in the world but it can also be bad too...A child can pick up on the body language of the parent.

If your child is displaying behavior that you disapprove your child will know without you even saying anything. Basic signs such as shaking of the head, wagging your finger, frowning along with saying the words "No" are all body language signs that indicate that you are not happy with their behavior. Children pick up on this and it can be upsetting to some as they continually look to their parent or child minder for approval.

These are great lessons for your children to learn when they are young, disciple does not have to be physical. A fierce look or glare can often be enough to stop bad behavior in its tracks.

What have you tried with your toddler? Share with us

Too Early for Potty Training?

2014-11-29T08:56:00.000-05:00

Yes, there is such a thing as trying to potty train your child who is just not ready. Potty training when the child is too young can often leave a parent frustrated and the child confused. So how can you tell if your child is ready. It is important to pick up on the signs from your child.

A great indication is if your child remains 'dry' for a couple of hours each day. Remember children also learn from you. Your child is likely to be paying attention to you when you use the bathroom.

It is also important to remember there is no actual 'right' age, it depends only on your child. It is however recommended to chose a good time to start potty training. When is it not a good time you may ask ? Times of stress for you and your child should be avoided such as during the arrival of a new baby or when moving to a new home.

Sometimes you may find that your child reacts well to a little motivation for taking the first steps from diapers to a potty. Our Ultimate Potty Training Chart has helped many families during this time and is available from our website at www.victoriachartcompany.com

Happy Thanksgiving from The Victoria Chart Company

2014-11-27T08:50:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is a day when we give thanks for all of the blessings that we have. It is a day to be thankful. We at The Victoria Chart Company would like to thank you for letting us be part of your journey this year. Thank you for your friendship and support, we feel very blessed.

Thanksgiving Traditions

2014-11-01T14:32:00.000-04:00

We saw this post on National Geographic Kids. We just wanted to share it with you.

Thanksgiving dinner is a wonderful time to be with your family.

Every year, Americans celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday on the fourth Thursday of November. Most families follow traditions begun on the first Thanksgiving, but many have their own traditions that they follow each year. Here are some of the common traditions associated with "Turkey Day".

Travel
One of the best things about Thanksgiving is spending time with family. Many people live far from family members and travel long distances by car, train, or plane to be with their loved ones. Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year!

The Feast
Traditional foods are a large part of Thanksgiving celebrations. Many families include the entire family in the food preparation. Traditional foods include turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. Many people serve pie for dessert at the end of the meal. Popular pie flavors are pumpkin, pecan, sweet potato, and apple.

Vegetarian Foods
Some families choose to serve vegetarian Thanksgiving dinners instead of a stuffed turkey. Some people eat vegetarian turkey, which is made out of tofu. Others prefer to eat squash, salads, or other fruit and vegetable dishes.

The Wishbone

Some families include breaking the turkey's wishbone as part of their celebration. The wishbone is found attached to the breast meat in the turkey's chest. After the meat has been removed and the wishbone has had a chance to become dry and brittle, two people each take one end of the bone, make a wish, and pull. Whoever ends up with the larger part of the bone gets their wish!

To read more, click here.
Feel free to comment below with traditions your family has.

Guy Fawkes Wordsearch

2014-10-30T12:59:00.003-04:00

Guy Fawkes Night, is also known as Bonfire Night and Fireworks Night and is celebrated in the UK on 5th November. It celebrates the failure of the Gunpowder Plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5th November 1605 by Guy Fawkes.

Can you find all the words in this Guy Fawkes word search puzzle ?

Description: Each word on the list is hidden in the pool of letters. Words may be hidden horizontally, vertically, diagonally, forward, or backward.

Instructions: Circle a discovered word.

Encourage Kid to Make Smart Eating Habits Early!

2014-10-27T14:00:00.000-04:00

In this day and age of wanting everything we eat to be fast and now it is no surprise that we sometime don't make the best choice in food that is on our plate. From a toddler to a teen, nutrition is important - after all it is the fuel that keeps us going and growing each day!
We have found dome great tips from KidsHealth.org Here are five of the best strategies to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits:

Have regular family meals.
Serve a variety of foods and snacks.
Be a role model - no more eating junk!
Avoid battles over food
Involve kids in the process

Click here to read more.

Halloween Word Search

2014-10-23T13:32:00.000-04:00

Description: Each word on the list is hidden in the pool of letters. Words may be hidden horizontally, vertically, diagonally, forward, or backward.

Instructions: Circle a discovered word.

Halloween treats can play tricks on children's teeth

2014-10-21T17:00:00.000-04:00

It is getting close to that time of the year again. The time that many parents dread. Yes, Halloween is just a few weeks away. The time when kids go out into the streets knocking on doors in the hope for a sticky candy or two! I am just as guilty as most parents. In previous years I have sent my kids off Trick or Treating and they have come back with enough candy to cover the whole dinning room table.

Many Dentists offer a buy back program offering cash for the candy. Does your dentist do this? Click here to find a place near you that will buy back candy.

We found this article from DeltaDental which we thought we would share which offers tips for limiting the effects of sugar on teeth.

With the huge amount of candy available at Halloween, parents often think more about dental health for their children but it should be a year round effort. Oral hygiene is so important to teach to a young child. The importance of flossing each day along with brushing for 2 minutes per day twice a day. These healthy habits and regular dental visits will help your children to take good care of their teeth.

How can we help? Our Add a Brilliant Smile tooth brushing chart supports this milestone by encouraging children to establish a great routine of regular brushing. Available from our website at VictoriaChartCompany.com Order now from our website and we are including a 2 minute timer with each chart while supplies last! Please indicate which color you would like. (Pink, Blue or Yellow)

Chose which color you would like.

Halloween Safety Tips for Children with Special Needs

2014-10-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

With Halloween just a week away we all want to share with you some tips that we found that we thought would help keep your little ones safe this year. Halloween is scary for many children, but for children with special needs it can be more so. Planning ahead can help!

Visibility: Make sure that you child can be seen. Many costumes are dark colors so adding some visible tape can help, or make sure they carry glow sticks and/or a flashlight.
Trip hazard: Some costumes can be very hard to walk in especially if they are over-sized. Have your child practice walking in their costume.
Buddy System: Partner your child with a "buddy" that can help your special needs child during the time they are trick or treating.
Can they see? Some costumes have very poor visibility. Check to see their visibility and modify if necessary.
Walk with them: Do not let your child go by themselves.
Check the Candy: Do not let you child eat the candy they have gathered until you have double checked it. Discard any unwrapped candies. Sometimes it is good to carry your own candy to give to your children as you walk around.
Sensory Issues: Some costumes are not made of the best materials for children, particularly a child with special needs. The material can be itchy or scratchy. Have you child wear the costume beforehand it avoid and disasters on Halloween night.
Know your child: If you know that it will be just too much to go from door to door with your child, stay home - involve your child by handing out candy at your home. Play games such as guessing the next costume. Keep it fun!
Crafts at Home: Instead of heading out, invite friends to your home and create a fun evening by making simple Halloween crafts and treats.
Beware of Allergies: In recent years there has been a push for all to be more aware of children with allergies. Be on the lookout for the "Teal colored Pumpkin Buckets". This would indicate that a child has food allergies. Children who have a peanut allergy are often not able to eat 50% of the candy handed to them. Click here to find out more about the Teal Pumpkin Project.

We hope that these tips for Halloween Safety for Children with Special Needs help your family to have a Safe and Spooky Halloween.

How a Sleep Chart Can Help Kids With A Bedtime Routine

2014-10-17T15:00:00.000-04:00

We all know how important it is to get the correct amount of sleep each night, but sometimes our kids do not always understand. Knowing how much parents struggle with this issue was the main reason we created our Good Night Sleep Tight Chart.

Routines are key for children, particularly at bedtime. Here are some tips that we found on Web MD blog which we thought would help you to create a much smoother bedtime plan for your child and stop those battles now!

Make Sure Your Child's Bedtime Is Early Enough
Keep Your Child's Bedtime Consistent
Let Your Child Wind Down
Establish a Routine for Your Child's Bedtime - check out our Good Night Sleep Tight Chart to help with you with a consistent routine.
Offer Lots of Choices for Kid's Bedtime
Take Charge and Set Limits
Provide a Transitional Object
Create a Comfortable Sleep Environment
Teach Your Kids to Fall Asleep on Their Own
Be Consistent

To view these bullet points in more detail click here to view the original post.

Is it Healthy to Give Kids Chores?

2014-10-16T13:34:00.000-04:00

Well of course if you ask any parent the answer would be YES! It is all about teaching your kids about responsibility. So what kind of chores should you give to your child? We have put together some ideas of age appropriate chores for your children.

Chores should not take hours. They should however teach our children about being disciplined and keeping to routines. Chores are the building blocks on which children learn responsibility and at the same time learning how to contribute a a family unit.

Ages 2 and 3

Picking up their toys, with supervision
Making their bed

Ages 4 and 5

Keeping room tidy
Help look after family pet
Dress themselves
Putting toys away

Ages 6 and 7

Brush their teeth
Get ready for bed
Help put laundry away
Help with meal times
Setting the table for dinner

Ages 8 and above

Choosing clothes to wear
Take responsibility for homework
Take out trash
Make bed
Keep bedrooms tidy
Take care of family pets
Help to cook

Of course, remember these are guidelines and all children are different. By doing chores together, you can engage with your child. Always offer praise and try not to criticize. Remember - your children are learning! Make it a fun time and try to start chores at an early age. Introducing chores to a teenager who has never had to help around the house will be extremely challenging!

A great focal point for a family to work to as of course a reward or responsibility chart. Take a look at our My Growing Up Chart (4 years) and My Credit Chart (7+ years) for ideas on creating a focal point for your family.

Helping Babies and Toddlers Adjust to the Fall Time Change

2014-10-08T12:46:00.000-04:00

On Sunday November 2nd 2014 our clocks will once again fall back in most parts of the United States of America. We all love that extra hour in bed - yes? Well maybe before you had kids we didn't mind but now it is a different story! It can play havoc with their schedule. So, as we are a few weeks away we found some useful tips originally posted on BabySleepSite website to help you prepare in advance.

Do nothing. If your baby is faily adaptable to change and is not sensitive to overtiredness, then you can simply do nothing at all! Take the time change in your stride. Keep your baby's normal schedule as much as possible. Click here to continue reading this.
Tweak your child's schedule ahead of time. Click here to continue reading this.

We can offer a useful tool for parents - our Good Night Sleep Tight Chart. All kids love stickers and we developed this chart with the help of Sleep Coach Rebecca Michi. The chart focuses on the main areas of concern for parents at night-time and with consistent use can help you develop a healthy bedtime routine. This can be a great motivational tool for kids to track their progress.

If you can offer any tips to others please feel free to comment.

The Victoria Chart Company Celebrates Its’ 10 Year Anniversary

2014-07-12T19:29:00.001-04:00

Customers Save 10 Percent Through 2014

CLEARWATER, FL., July, 2014

The Victoria Chart Company, a leading innovator in practical, easy to use reward charts for children announced they will celebrate 10 years in business on August 16th. To celebrate, all customers can use promo code "VCHART10" at checkout to get 10 percent off their order.

"We’re elated to celebrate this milestone," according to Victoria Ballard, Founder and CEO of The Victoria Chart Company. "From what started out as simply an idea for my own family has grown to help so many other families find an easy solution for their greatest challenges."

In 2002, when Ballard’s son was 18-months-old he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and doctors were unsure if he would ever be able to walk. So instead of thinking too much about what he wasn’t capable of, she decided she would find a way to motivate and encourage him to reach the potential she knew he had, using a positive, supportive approach.

A creative and conceptual thinker, Victoria used the skills she already had as a graphic designer to create dynamic reward charts that were easy for kids to understand and busy parents to integrate into their daily routines. As more and more parents started to request the charts for their families, Victoria was sure her idea was viable and shortly thereafter, The Victoria Chart Company was born.

With operations in both the U.K. and the U.S., The Victoria Chart Company offers a complete line of practical, easy to use, and engaging reward charts that help parents with challenges like potty training, sleeping through the night, and school readiness. All of the reward charts have bright colors, cute characters, a durable design and routines kids can easily understand.

Developed alongside child development experts, each product uses the Encourage & Praise® method to help parents take a positive approach to get results and the Kiddlies® range of characters, who just like ordinary children, have their own unique personalities, preferences, strengths and challenges.

In addition to their consumer line of reward charts, The Victoria Chart Company also collaborates with non-profit organizations, hospitals, and corporations to design custom made, branded charts to support the families in their care.

"Our parents want results and over the past decade, it’s incredible to see how our products have helped countless children reach their developmental milestones, gain confidence, and strengthen the family bond all at the same time," Ballard said.

"From the beginning, our goal was to create products that would help parents navigate the daily challenges of parenthood in a simple, effective way," Ballard said. "Now, as we look to the next 10 years, we will continue to develop solutions that help parents raise confident, healthy and happy kids."
About The Victoria Chart Company
The Victoria Chart Company was founded in 2004 by Victoria Ballard, after the single mom of two created an easy and fun way to motivate her special needs son to reach his full potential. The Victoria Chart Company products include practical, easy to use, and engaging reward chart sets with bright colors, kid-friendly characters and reusable stickers. Each package includes a step-by-step guide and expert tips to help parents every step of the way. Developed alongside child development experts, the product line uses proven tools and techniques parents can easily integrate into their busy lives. The Victoria Chart Company also creates custom-made, co-branded reward charts for the military and police, community organizations, hospitals, and corporations. For more information, visit www.victoriachartcompany.com.
Media Contact:

Revelant Writing for The Victoria Chart Company

Julie Revelant
(917) 524-9287
julie@revelantwriting.com

5 Steps to a Positive Bedtime Routine

2014-05-19T09:33:00.004-04:00

The impact of poor sleep routines on children is a common topic of conversation.

One of the most important tings a parent can do to help a child is to create a good bedtime routine - sleep is so important to the whole family . Without the adequate amount of sleep it has been shown that it affects a child's behavior, learning and concentration.It is therefore important, if you haven't already establish a bedtime routine for your toddler. When you follow a set routine every night, your child will quickly come to appreciate the consistency and predictability.

A typical bedtime routine will be something like this:

Change into pajamas
Bedtime drink
Using the bathroom and brushing teeth
Bedtime story
Getting into bed

This is every night, no matter where you are - consistency is key.

If your child has difficulty in settling at night then it is a great idea to use a reward chart - we have our Good Night, Sleep Tight Reward Chart which enable children to receive stickers at night and in the morning when they have stayed in bed all night. In 2013 our sleep chart was a National Parenting Publications Award (NAPPA) Honors winner, recognized for its support to parents wanting to create a bedtime routine.

The chart is fun, simple to use and brings great results for both parent and child. It is designed as a simple reward chart system using fun colored stickers to acknowledge successfully completed steps. A free printable Good Night, Sleep Tight certificate complements the chart and is available to download from The Victoria Chart Company's Facebook page.

The Victoria Chart Company's President and Founder Victoria Ballard says "We are at the forefront of knowing what parents struggle with, the pressures of modern day life can be very disruptive to the simplest of routines. Our Good Night, Sleep Tight chart with its supportive information sheet provides families with the necessary tool to create the all-important, regular bedtime routine for their child". To save 15% use coupon code VCHART15 at checkout at www.victoriachartcompany.com or www.victoriachartcompany.co.uk for purchases in the USA and UK.

Keep Kids Safe Around Water This Summer

2014-05-14T04:56:00.001-04:00

This weekends' events in my hometown of Tampa have prompted me to write this post. Safety during the summer months, particularly keeping kids safe around swimming pools. Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States. This Mother's Day weekend 3 children have drowned and another child is in critical care. It brings a lump to my throat just thinking about how these families are coping with such traumatic events occurring in their lives.

We want to bring to your attention some basic safety tips that have been released by the American Red Cross that we felt would be useful to share.

Make Water Safety Your Priority

Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone. Even at a public pool or a lifeguarded beach, use the buddy system!
Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and Learn-to-Swim courses.
Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
Establish rules for your family and enforce them without fail. For example, set limits based on each person’s ability, do not let anyone play around drains and suction fittings, and do not allow swimmers to hyperventilate before swimming under water or have breath-holding contests.
Even if you do not plan on swimming, be cautious around natural bodies of water including ocean shoreline, rivers and lakes. Cold temperatures, currents and underwater hazards can make a fall into these bodies of water dangerous.
If you go boating, wear a life jacket! Most boating fatalities occur from drowning.
Avoid alcohol use. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination; affects swimming and diving skills; and reduces the body’s ability to stay warm.

Prevent Unsupervised Access to the Water

Install and use barriers around your home pool or hot tub. Safety covers and pool alarms should be added as additional layers of protection.
Ensure that pool barriers enclose the entire pool area, are at least 4-feet high with gates that are self-closing, self-latching and open outward, and away from the pool. The latch should be high enough to be out of a small child’s reach.

To read more click http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/water-safety

There are some really useful tips and downloads available from the Red Cross. Be sure to supervise children when playing around water.

How to Handle Toddler Temper Tantrums

2014-04-28T11:38:00.000-04:00

Temper tantrums - all toddlers go through this stage. It is just a part of growing up. As toddlers cannot express themselves fully it is acted out in their behavior - otherwise known as "Temper tantrums" .

Image courtesy of Clare Bloomfield / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Even though they are expected, you can still take steps to try to make them less painful for you and your child:

Try to figure out the triggers, what will set them off?
Once a tantrum starts, it is often hard to stop ( a little like a train!)
Stand your ground - Once you give into your child, they have taken control.
Make sure your child is safe.
Teach alternatives - Encourage him/her to find a more effective way of responding.
Respond immediately - don't wait for repeated behaviors to occur.
Reward good behavior (positive reinforcement)
Provide an opportunity to let off steam - outside playtime is ideal.
Seek help from professionals - don't be afraid to ask.

We at The Victoria Chart Company are parents too and our kids have gone through this stage. We know that most kids LOVE stickers are respond well to them and so we developed our My Big Star Chart. This chart is ideal for supporting behavioral issues associated with toddlers such as sharing, eating, going to bed nicely, toilet training, screaming, biting, running away etc. This chart may also be customized to your individual needs too.

To purchase our My Big Star Chart visit our website at www.VictoriaChartCompany.com. To save 15% off your purchase price, enter the coupon code VCHART15 at checkout. Don't forget to join us on Facebook too at www.fb.com/VictoriaChartCompany to stay up to date with giveaways and parenting tips. We also carry a range of chart relating to more specific areas such as Potty Training and Bedtime Routines.

Tips for children with autism and brushing teeth

2014-04-02T13:27:00.001-04:00

We know that April is Autism Awareness Month and the statistics coming from the CDC are staggering. Children with autism can find the sensation of brushing teeth more difficult than others. My son, who is autistic is a prime example and without reminders will "forget". The consequences of not brushing can lead to tooth decay and possible fear of dentists.

My son, even at the age of 15 needs reminders every day to brush his teeth. I decided it was time to put our Add a Brilliant Smile Chart into practice! We discussed it together, how it is used, what is expected and I got him enthusiastic about the chart. We addressed again the importance of brushing teeth and how he could take on the responsibility of taking care of his teeth, without me asking twice a day. His dentist will be happy too! Now I can see at a glance if he has brushed his teeth before we head out of the door in the morning! Of course, you need to be able to trust that your child is not just drawing a face without brushing so I am nearby just to make sure.

At the end of the first week as a treat for using the chart we ventured out to see a movie - something again that he wanted. Rewards don't have to be be expensive, and in fact mine usually aren't. I usually try to incorporate the rewards with things that we would be doing such as going to the park, riding bikes together, stopping for ice cream!

The chart is a visual reminder for him and a check for me. It is definately working for us!

We are offering a 15% discount code AUTISM14 which can be used on our website www.victoriachartcompany.com or www.victoriachartcompany.co.uk The discount code can be used for all of our products. Also available from our Facebook page (www.fb.com/victoriachartcompany ) is a letter for the tooth fairy which can be downloaded.

Toddlers Need Sleep to Avoid Obesity

2014-03-31T18:30:00.000-04:00

We have often shared posts and articles regarding the relationship between sleep and obesity but we thought this article taken from Liberty Voice would be helpful to share.

Habits of overeating can start as young as when a toddler is first teething on Cheerios. A new study conducting with 2,600 children shows that toddlers who sleep less tend to eat more, which can lead to obesity later in life.

University College London (UCL) researchers found that 16-month-old toddlers who slept less than 10 hours a day consumed 10 percent more calories per day than children who slept 13 hours or more a day. On average, they consumed 105 more calories each day than their peers. One theory may be that parents are soothing over-tired, cranky kids with food or drinks rather than encouraging them to sleep more.

Studies have linked eating habits and sleep in adults, but this is the first to suggest that the nexus can start as a baby. Published in the International Journal of Obesity, the researchers noted that the extra calories consumed in the toddler years establishes the pattern of overeating that leads to obesity and health issues as adolescents and adults.

The UCL study tracked the sleep and eating habits of 1,303 sets of twins, who were 16 months at the onset, in the United Kingdom for five months. Those children who slept less tended to eat more (1,087 calories) throughout the day than the others, who averaged 982 calories. The research also showed that the increased energy intake was observed before difference in weight emerged.

The study established an association between sleeping less and eating more, but did not establish the cause-and-effect relationship. The researchers indicated that the reason for the difference in energy consumption was also not clear, but suggested that the body’s ability to regulate appetite hormones may be affected by getting less sleep. Previous studies on adults have indicated that lack of sleep can create a hormone imbalance, which can affect the metabolism and also increase the appetite. Even a little sleep deprivation in grown-ups was found to affect body weight regulation, changing levels of insulin and other hormones.

To read more
http://guardianlv.com/2014/03/toddlers-need-sleep-to-avoid-obesity/

We believe that sleep influences our entire family’s life and wellbeing. A good night’s sleep is important for every member of the family, it helps us to feel refreshed and full of energy. A night without enough sleep can leave us feeling exhausted and irritable impacting how we perform throughout the day.

Our Good Night, Sleep Tight reward chart provides a complete system to help parents create that good, solid bedtime routine. Available from www.VictoriaChartCompany.com or www.VictoriaChartCompany.co.uk in the UK. Use coupon code VCHART15 to save 15% at checkout..

Celebrate With Us! Throughout 2014 we are celebrating our 10th Birthday!

2014-02-23T06:23:00.000-05:00

We have draw your own birthday cards. With every order placed via our website in the USA over $10 a FREE packet of 3 cards will be sent. If you would like to purchase these separately they can be purchased from our website here.

Sitting down to draw with children or encouraging little ones to have a quiet moment with pen and paper can lead to the most precious time.

Receiving a hand drawn picture, or should I say a little masterpiece, from a child can be the most precious moment.

I am the Founder of The Victoria Chart Company and my working day can be quite hectic juggling my business both in the UK and the US. So taking time out from my busy schedule is very important and, for me, there is no better way to unwind than to curl up on the sofa with a pencil in hand.

As a hobby I am a self-taught artist and love to draw pencil portraits of animals and children. Drawing has always been such an important activity to me and one that I have always encouraged with my children. You can see come of my work at www.originalsinpencil.co.uk

So much can be read from a child’s drawing. Their imaginations are allowed to run free with a blank piece of paper. It is an excellent way for children to get their thoughts out and the end result gives them a great sense of achievement.

With this high-tech world of computer gadgets having such an impact on family time, it is so important not to forget the simplicity, fun and togetherness paper and a few pens can bring.

As always on our website you can save 15% by going to our Facebook page and liking us! www.Facebook.com/VictoriaChartCompany. A secret code will be revealed to you!

Thank you, we hope you enjoy your cards!

Helping Children To Cope With Change During Parental Separation

2013-11-08T11:19:00.000-05:00

When marriage or partnerships break down it can be a stressful time for families, but particularly for children who have so many questions to ask such as “Where is my daddy?”, “When will I next see mummy?”, “Where will I stay at the weekend?”.

These uncertainties can be eased by using The Victoria Chart Company’s My Time Chart. This large, visual wall chart brings structure, routine and peace of mind to children and helps them to accept the changes that are taking place in their lives.

Victoria Ballard, the Company’s Founder, has herself been through divorce and she created a chart to help her children during their unsettled time. “My children had a lot of doubts and uncertainties, I needed to create something that addressed their questions and brought comfort from routine” explains Victoria. “It was important that my children continued to enjoy being children and not concern themselves with the decisions that my husband and I were making as their parents.”

So Victoria set about creating the My Time Chart. It allowed her children to easily see their time ahead, stay in touch with family members, understand how long it would take to get to certain points and yet see the good, fun things still happening in their lives.

The My Time Chart worked so well for Victoria and her children that she knew it would also help and support other families in the same sensitive situation. It comes with two coloured dry-wipe pens representing each carers time plus a supportive information sheet with tips and guidelines to help families move forward positively.

The My Time Chart is available to purchase for £9.50 from the range of award winning charts found on The Victoria Chart Company’s website www.VictoriaChartCompany.co.uk.

Currently only available in the UK.

Leftover Halloween Candy: What to Do With It!

2013-11-04T12:31:00.000-05:00

OK, so Halloween is over and now you are left with a pile of candy that you want out of your house ASAP! I know, I feel the same - so we have come up with some ideas for you and your kids to use up some of the leftover candy in your home.

Make Cookies: Add to your favorite cookie recipe some chopped up Reece's pieces or M&M's.
Talk to your Dentist: Maybe they have a buy-back program. Click here to find a Dentist in your area.
Candy Crafts: Yes, turn your candy into something beautiful. Click here to link to some fun and creative ideas with candy. They could be used as small gifts, favors, or party treats.
Donate: Your local food bank or Shelter will willingly take candy from you to give out particularly at Holiday time.
Freeze it: Yes, some candy will freeze - chocolate bars in particular will freeze well.
Use as an Educational Tool: Yes have fun and learn at the same time, teach your kids to count, learn colors and shapes while having fun.
Science: What better way to learn - click here to view some interesting experiments!

Can you think of any more ideas? Share with us what you do with excess candy in your home.

WE NEED YOU! Wanted Amazon Reviews (USA) for Our Reward Charts!

2013-09-16T17:02:00.000-04:00

We have available packets of extra reward stickers which we are offering to 10 lucky readers who would like to write a review of our charts on Amazon.

In particular at this time, we are looking for reviews of the following charts:

The Ultimate Potty Training Chart

Good Night Sleep Tight Chart

We all know that word of mouth is one of the best ways of getting a brand name known, so if you have used one of our charts and are willing to review it, send us an email to Karen@victoriachartcompany.com All details will be made available to you via email.

Good Night Sleep Tight Reward Chart wins a 2013 National Parenting Publications Award.

2013-06-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

Press Release

Clearwater, Florida, 1st June 2013 – The Good Night Sleep Tight Reward Chart has been named a 2013 National Parenting Publications Award (NAPPA) Honors winner, recognized for its support to parents wanting to create a healthy bedtime routine for their children.

NAPPA’s independent, expert judges and parent testers evaluated hundreds of submissions for their innovation, safety, quality and the degree to which they make parenting easier. After weeks of stringent testing, 25 products were selected to receive the coveted Gold Award while 60 received Silver and 41 were chosen as Honors.

The Good Night Sleep Tight chart

“Parenting can be challenging and overwhelming with all the distractions that we face today,” says Julie Kertes, NAPPA General Manager. “Our winner list cuts through the clutter and hones in on only the best baby gadgets, gear and tools so that parents can make smart choices for their families.”

The Victoria Chart Company’s successful method of ‘Encourage & Praise’ helps parents and care givers to get the best results from their reusable charts. The Good Night Sleep Tight Reward Chart is designed for children aged 2 yrs+ and creates healthy bedtime routine for children – poor sleep is a growing concern for many families. From the Founder, Victoria Ballard “We are over the moon our Good Night Sleep Tight Reward Chart has won this Award. There is growing concern in this area, if there is no bedtime routine for children then it can make for a stressful family time. In addition to this, increasing evidence shows that sleep disruption is harmful to children’s learning, concentration and behavior”.

The Good Night Sleep Tight Chart is available for $14.99 from www.VictoriaChartCompany.com. It is also available in the UK at www.VictoriaChartCompany.co.uk along with a range of other charts to encourage positive behavior in children.

About The Victoria Chart Company
The Victoria Chart Company was founded in 2004 by Victoria Ballard. Victoria discovered that a reward system she developed worked fabulously well for her children. The system worked so well that she has dedicated her time to creating tools for parents and professionals to help children and their families realize the power of developmental progress that comes from the simple process of Encourage & Praise. The Victoria Chart Company also produces The Ultimate Potty Training Reward Chart, which is an excellent tool for parents to successfully accomplish potty training. For help finding something on the website contact Victoria at info@VictoriaChartCompany.com. Coupons can be found at http://www.fb.com/VictoriaChartCompany

About NAPPA
For more than 20 years, the National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) has been the go-to resource for the best products for families. NAPPA’s team of independent, expert judges, along with family and child testers, select the most innovative and enduring products to be NAPPA Gold, Silver and Honors winners in two annual competitions—Children’s Products and Parenting Resources. For more information, visit www.NAPPAawards.com

Potty Training Using Reward Charts

2013-04-29T17:00:00.000-04:00

Finally your child is ready to use the potty and leave the diapers behind. And as a parent or carer for a child you too should be ready to motivate your child for success and what a better way to do this than using a sticker chart which will help to encourage your child to use the potty. Using our NEW chart - The Ultimate Potty Training Chart_ will help you track your child's progress. Hanging the chart in a focal point in your house where everyone can see it.

For a child who is potty training receiving stickers each time they use the potty can be a great way to enourage and praise them, it maybe that you decide to buy a gift for them when they are fully potty trained- a new toy or maybe a picnic in the park. For a child of this age, stickers are often enough of a reward!. And each time your child uses the potty successfully, you can congratulate them and select the sticker place it on the chart. Continue using this reward system to help you on the road to having ‘dry’ children.

Whether your child uses the grown-up toilet or happier on a potty, we believe that our latest dedicated Potty Chart is fun and eye-catching and provides a central focus for both you and child to work from. From encouraging your child to ask to use the potty through to completing the task with washing their hands, The Ultimate Potty Training Chart acknowledges these important steps with bright, eye-catching reusable stickers - appealing for any toddler to try their best.

In addition to the charts and stickers, we have provide a supportive information sheet highlighting ‘10 positive steps to successful potty training': these include how to plan for the task ahead, preparing your child, the importance of family involvement, key tips to using the chart and how to achieve the best results.

To purchase The Ultimate Potty Training chart click on the links below, and to receive 15% off use coupon code VCHART15. Once your child is fully Potty training we have prepared for you a FREE download of our Potty Training Certificate which can be downloaded from our Facebook page at (USA) www.fb.com/victoriachartcompany or (UK) www.fb.com/VictoriachartcompanyUK

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