What Is a Token Economy?

A token economy is a system where a person earns tokens, like stars or stickers, for a target behavior and trades them for a reward they want. The tokens are not the reward. They show, right away, that the reward is coming.

Try it: build one below Token board maker

Quick example

Maya gets a star each time she puts her shoes on after being asked. When she has earned 4 stars, she trades them for 10 minutes of her favorite music. The stars are the tokens, putting on shoes is the target behavior, and the music is the backup reward.

The parts of a token economy

Tokens

Something small and visible that is easy to give right away: a star, a sticker, a check mark, a coin or a point. A token has no value on its own. It matters because it can be traded for the reward.

The target behavior

The specific thing the learner does to earn a token, described so that anyone can tell whether it happened. "Puts shoes on after one request" is clear. "Behaves well" is not.

The backup reward

What the tokens are traded for. It has to be something the learner actually wants, because the tokens are only as strong as the reward behind them.

How many tokens before the reward

The number of tokens needed to trade. Start small so the first trade comes quickly, then raise it slowly as the learner gets used to the system.

How often tokens are given

How soon and how often a token follows the behavior. Early on, give one every time the behavior happens, as soon as it happens. Later, tokens can come less often.

Token economy vs token board

The token economy is the whole system: the target behavior, the tokens, the reward and the rules for trading. The token board is the visual tool that shows progress toward the reward. It holds the tokens as they are earned, so the learner can see how close the reward is.

You can run a token economy without a board, for example with points on a sheet of paper. A board makes it easier to see for learners who do better with pictures than with words.

You can make one with the free token board maker, or read how to make a token board step by step.

Token economy examples

At home: the morning routine

A parent picks one step to work on, such as getting dressed without reminders. Each time it happens, the child puts a star on the board. Four stars earn a short activity the child chooses, like a few minutes of bubbles or a favorite song.

In a classroom

A teacher gives a token for starting the work after the first direction. When the board is full, the student picks from a short menu, such as a sticker, a turn with a game or a few minutes with a book. The token is given quietly and right away, so it does not interrupt the lesson.

In an ABA session

A therapist gives a token for each correct response or each time the learner follows an instruction. The token board sits in view. When it is full, the learner trades it for a preferred item or activity that was chosen with the team, and the next round starts.

For older learners: points or a checklist

Older learners may not need a picture board. A checklist with check marks, or points written on a card, works the same way. The learner earns a mark for each completed step, and a set number of marks can be traded for something like free time, a choice of activity or time with a friend.

Setting one up at home? See token boards at home: a parent's guide. Using it as a quick first step before a preferred activity? A first/then board can do that without tokens.

How to set up a token economy

1.Pick one target behavior. Start with one clear behavior, not a list. Once it is going well, you can add another.
2.Pick a reward the learner actually wants. Watch what the learner chooses on their own, or offer a few options and let them pick. Ideas are in the reward ideas page and in the guide to choosing reinforcers (links below).
3.Start with few tokens and give them often. Three to five tokens is a good start. Give a token every time the behavior happens, as soon as it happens.
4.Pair tokens with praise. Say what the learner did well as you give the token ("You put your shoes on, here is a star"). This helps the learner connect the token to the behavior.
5.Trade right away when the board is full. Do not make the learner wait. The first trades should happen as soon as the last token is placed, so the learner learns that tokens lead to the reward.
6.Stretch it out over time. When the system is working, slowly ask for more tokens, or give tokens less often. Make small changes, one at a time, and keep the reward worth working for.

Need reward ideas? Browse reward ideas, or read how to choose reinforcers for token boards.

Try it

Pick a number of tokens and a reward, then tap the tokens to fill the board. Nothing is saved, and you do not need an account.

How many tokens?

Reward

Tap a token each time the target behavior happens.

Stickers

0 of 5 tokens

Customize, print or start a session

Common mistakes

Too many tokens at the start

A board that takes days to fill can feel pointless. Begin with 3 to 5 tokens so the learner earns the reward quickly.

A reward the learner does not care about

If the reward does not matter to the learner, the tokens will not either. Check what the learner chooses, and look again every few weeks, because preferences change.

Waiting too long to trade

If the reward comes much later than the last token, the link between the two gets weaker. Trade as soon as the board is full.

Changing the rules mid-session

Adding tokens, taking the reward away or moving the goal without warning makes the system hard to trust. Decide the rules before you start, and change them between sessions.

Taking tokens away for unwanted behavior is called response cost. It is a separate procedure, not a default part of a token economy, and it is best decided with a BCBA.

Token economy FAQ

Is a token economy ABA?

Yes. A token economy is a procedure from applied behavior analysis. It uses reinforcement: the learner earns tokens for a target behavior, and the tokens are traded for a reward. It is also used outside ABA, in homes and classrooms.

What age is a token economy for?

There is no single age. Young children often use a picture board with stars or stickers. Older children and teens can use points or a checklist. What matters is that the learner understands what the tokens are for and wants the reward.

How many tokens should a board have?

Start with 3 to 5 so the learner earns the reward quickly. Some learners do well with fewer at first. As the learner gets used to the system, you can slowly add more. Your BCBA or team can help you choose.

Can a token economy work at home?

Yes. At home, pick one behavior, such as getting dressed, choose a reward your child likes, and give a token each time it happens. Keep the first board short, trade as soon as it is full, and add praise with each token.

What is the difference between a token economy and a reward chart?

A reward chart often tracks progress over days or weeks and the reward comes later. A token economy gives a token right after the behavior and trades the tokens for a reward that the learner has chosen. The quick token and the quick trade are what set it apart.

This page is general information. Your BCBA or team can tailor a token economy to your learner.

Sources and further reading

Ayllon, T., & Azrin, N. H. (1968). The token economy: A motivational system for therapy and rehabilitation. Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Hackenberg, T. D. (2009). Token reinforcement: A review and analysis. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 91(2), 257-286. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.2009.91-257
Kazdin, A. E. (1982). The token economy: A decade later. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 15(3), 431-445. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1982.15-431
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson. See the chapter on token economies, group contingencies and contingency contracting.

Make Your Own Token Board

Pick the tokens and the reward, add pictures, then print it or run it on a tablet.

Create a Token Board

Free to start. No account needed.

Related Guides

Browse all guides →