Four Steps to Using a Token Economy at Home
Posted: January 10, 2024 | Written By: Drew Delligatti | Category:
This blog was written by Erin Taylor, Clinic Manager, and Elisabeth Furlong, Registered Behavior Technician at Applied Behavioral Services in Cincinnati, Ohio. ABS is part of the New Story network of schools, clinics, and services.
Parenting a child with autism means finding effective strategies to promote positive behavior at home. One approach that many parents find helpful is implementing a token economy. A token economy is a reward system where your child earns tokens or points for good behavior that can be exchanged for a desired reward later.
Here are four steps to set up your own token economy at home:
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To set up a token economy, begin by choosing specific behaviors you want to encourage and defining the rewards that are most motivating to your child. Some examples can look like time playing a game, a delicious treat, a fun activity, etc...
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Select a way to track progress that will be motivating for your child, including stickers, colorful tokens, or a simple chart.
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Once your child completes a task or follows a routine, they earn a token. The goal is for your child to fill up the token economy when they exhibit good behavior.
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When the tokens fill up the number of spots on the economy board, then your child can earn a reward. They can be collected and traded for a special treat, extra playtime, or another preferred activity that you and your child had agreed upon.
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