🎟️ My Token Board

Why this helps

A token board bridges the gap between doing something well now and earning a reward a little later. Each token is a small, instant ‘yes, that’s it’ your child can see, and the growing row keeps them motivated while they work towards the bigger prize. For children who find waiting hard, that visible countdown makes patience feel possible.

In therapy we lean on token boards because they make praise specific and immediate. The moment a token drops on the board, your child knows exactly which behaviour earned it. Over time this teaches something bigger than any single reward — that effort adds up, and that sticking with a task pays off.

Tips for using it well

• Do hand over the token the instant the behaviour happens, so your child clearly links the two.
• Don’t make the board so long that the reward feels a lifetime away — start short and stretch it slowly.
• Do let your child help choose the reward, because a prize they actually want does most of the work.
• Don’t use the board as a threat (‘you’ll lose a token’) — keep it firmly about earning, not losing.
• Do celebrate warmly when the board fills up, then deliver the reward straight away without delay.

Common questions