Family & Parenting / Review
Melissa and Doug Magnetic Responsibility Chart 5059 review: a visible routine board for a small set of goals
The Magnetic Responsibility Chart 5059 is useful when a family wants a few agreed routines visible in one place. Two fabric-hinged boards provide a tracking area and a place for spare magnets. It is a…

Review basis: This is a research-based editorial review of manufacturer documentation and published product specifications, not a hands-on test. Ratings reflect documented features and buying tradeoffs; performance claims are attributed to their sources.
The Magnetic Responsibility Chart 5059 is useful when a family wants a few agreed routines visible in one place. Two fabric-hinged boards provide a tracking area and a place for spare magnets. It is a physical prompt for conversation and follow-through, rather than a device that can make a routine happen by itself.
Melissa and Doug lists 89 magnets and space for seven goals. The variety can help a household choose language that fits its routines, but filling every row immediately may make the system harder to follow. Start with a manageable selection and make the meaning of completion clear before using a reward marker.
What the design changes
The blank board keeps unused magnets nearby, which is helpful because missing pieces can make a physical tracking system frustrating. That storage area still needs attention. A family with younger children or anyone who may mouth small parts should follow the product’s age and handling guidance and place loose pieces appropriately.
The dry-erase surface allows changes as routines evolve. That flexibility is valuable when a goal turns out to be too vague or no longer relevant. Prefer concrete actions the family can recognize over broad judgments about a child’s character. The chart is more useful as a shared record of actions than as a public scoreboard for comparing siblings.
The practical tradeoffs
The hanging cord makes a central location possible, but visibility should be balanced with privacy and reach. A board hidden behind a door is easily forgotten; one positioned where it becomes a source of embarrassment may undermine the intended routine. Choose a location and review time that feel ordinary and supportive.
Adult participation is the largest ownership requirement. Someone needs to review the chart consistently, notice progress and reset it. If that time is unavailable, adding a decorative board may simply create another unfinished task. The product’s educational marketing should not be read as proof that it will change behavior in every household.
Buying judgment
This chart is a good fit for families who prefer a screen-free visual aid and will use it collaboratively. It is less useful for complex schedules or a household wanting automatic reminders. Buy the clear layout and reusable pieces, then keep the goals modest enough that using the chart remains easier than managing an elaborate reward system.
Source
Melissa and Doug Magnetic Responsibility Chart 5059 — official product information
What works well
- Visible weekly structure
- Separate magnet-storage board
- No batteries or app
What to consider
- Needs regular adult participation
- Many loose magnets to manage
At a glance
- Item
- 5059
- Magnets
- 89
- Goal rows
- 7
- Format
- Two hinged dry-erase boards
- Age label
- 3+



