What is a token board?
A token board is a strip of empty circles with a square for a reward. Your child does something you asked, a token goes in a circle, and when every circle is full the reward on the board comes straight away. The tokens bridge the gap between “good job” now and the reward a little later.
Token boards are a common tool in ABA and in classrooms. They are used for things that are hard right now: sitting at the table, a haircut, tidying up, a set of practice cards.
This page is the ready-made printable. Prefer to customize? Make your own token board with your child’s own reward photo and any number of tokens from 3 to 10 in the free token board maker.
What’s in the free token board printable PDF
The free token board printable is an 11-page color PDF in US Letter size. It has three token boards with 3, 5 and 10 tokens, 56 star tokens, 20 reward cards, a choice board and a log page. Every board has an “I am working for” square for the reward card and a short reminder of how to use it.
- Three token boards: 3 tokens, 5 tokens and 10 tokens.
- A page of 56 star tokens to cut out. Keep a few spare: they get lost.
- 20 reward cards: bubbles, tablet, blocks, ball, book, music, crackers, cookie, swing, outside, jump, car, play dough, tickles, balloon, puzzle, teddy, sticker, grapes and hug, plus blank cards for your child’s own favorites.
- Safety notes for the adult: an adult blows up and holds the balloon; keep uninflated or broken balloons away from your child and throw pieces away straight away. Cut grapes lengthwise into quarters and follow your child’s feeding plan.
- A choice board, “I want to work for...”, with room for two or three reward cards.
- A log page for each board your child works through.
How many tokens should a token board have?
A token board should start with three tokens, given quickly so the reward comes within a minute or two. A child who has never used a token board has to learn that the stars lead somewhere, and that lesson needs a short, sure path to the reward.
Move to 5 tokens, and later to 10, only when your child fills the board easily and calmly. The log gives you a simple rule: board filled easily three times in a row? Ask for a little more per token, or move up a board. Board left unfinished? Go back to fewer tokens, an easier task or a reward your child wants more. Change one thing at a time.
Rules that keep a token board fair
A token board only works if your child can trust it. Never take away a token your child has earned, and always hand over the reward as soon as the board is full, even if the session was hard. Drinking, meals, the toilet, comfort and a break are never something to earn.
If your child is upset or in pain, stop and help first, then make the task smaller.
If the board stops working, the reward is usually the first thing to check. What your child wants changes from day to day, sometimes from hour to hour. Offer a fresh choice before you blame the board.
Token boards in ABA: use the same system at home
A token board at home works best when it matches the one your child’s BCBA or therapist uses in sessions: the same number of tokens, the same kind of praise and the same rules. Your child then sees one system at home and in therapy, not two.
Bring the log to your next session so the team can see which boards your child fills and which ones stall. As a skill becomes easy, use the board for something new and keep praise for the old skill. Over time, the skill can stand on its own, with your praise instead of the stars.
How to use a token board with your child
To use a token board, let your child pick the reward first and put its card in the “I am working for” square. Give a star right after each small, clear behavior and say what your child did. When the last circle is full, hand over the reward straight away, every time, and start again.
- Print the boards and tokens in color, cut them out and laminate them. Put a hook-and-loop (Velcro) dot in every circle and on the back of every star, and keep the reward cards in an envelope.
- Start with the 3-token board and a short task your child can do, such as one finished task box per star.
- Put two or three reward cards on the choice board. Your child points to one, and it goes in the “I am working for” square.
- Right after the behavior, put a token on the board and say what your child did: “You sat down. Star!” Count down out loud as the board fills: “Two more stars, then bubbles.”
- When the board is full, hand over the reward straight away, even if the session was hard. Never take away a token your child has earned.
- Write on the log page whether the board was filled. After three easy full boards in a row, ask for a little more per token or move up to the 5-token board.