Are stickers effective as motivational aids? It really depends on the age of the student and the complexity of the learning goal. A complex but age-appropriate task is well-suited to concrete, instant motivational aids such as stickers.

We recommend the use of motivational stickers for children ages 4-12, or for delayed learners with a knowledge base equivalent to this population.

Stickers Can Motivate

We also recommend that the stickers be accumulative and result in an end goal that is concrete and age-appropriate. One example of this use is setting the goal of keeping a room clean. Reward the child one sticker on a motivational tracking chart for each day the room is kept clean. Select a tangible and immediate reward, such as going out for ice cream, when the child receives five stickers in one week. Do not demand perfection, set an attainable goal.