Token board

A token board shows a child how much is left before something they want: each star is one step done. This sheet has a 5-token board, a 10-token board, a box for the reward picture and twenty stars to cut out.

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Token board with five tokens and a reward picture, filled in by a fictional family — Example. A fictional child is three stars into the park; the 10-star board is for later.

Why it helps

Waiting and effort are easier when you can see the end. A token board turns “in a while” into “three more stars”. It works best for short, clear tasks — sitting for homework, brushing teeth, staying in the shop — and with a reward your child actually wants, chosen before you start.

What is on the sheet

One page: a 5-token board and a 10-token board, each with a box for the reward picture and word and a line for the task, and a strip of twenty stars to cut out. Laminate it and use sticky putty or Velcro dots for the stars, or simply colour them in.

How to use a token board

Choose the reward together and put its picture or word in the “I am working for” box.
Write one clear task in “I get a star when I…”. Start with the 5-token board.
Give a star right after each step — fast at first, so your child quickly reaches the reward.
When the board is full, give the reward straight away. Then start again. Never take stars away.

When to show it to a specialist

If your child has a therapist, a teacher or an ABA practitioner who uses a token system, ask how theirs works and use the same one at home. A token board is a support for motivation, not a treatment. If it starts to cause distress, stop and talk to the people who know your child.

Questions parents ask

What is a token board?

A board with spaces for tokens (stars, stickers, pictures). The child gets a token for each step or each bit of good effort, and when the board is full they get the reward shown on it.

How many tokens should we start with?

Few — three to five — and give them quickly, so your child sees the board works. Move to ten when five is easy.

What rewards work?

Something your child really wants and can have right away: a favourite toy, five minutes with the tablet, the park, a song. Let your child choose from two or three.

Is a token board the same as a reward chart?

Close. A token board is for one short task right now; a reward or sticker chart usually covers a whole week. For young children and short tasks, a token board works faster.

These sheets are for observations. They do not diagnose and do not replace your child’s doctor or specialist.