Creative Token Economy Systems

Often as our students get older the activities they are motivated by are not so easy as running to the backyard to jump on the trampoline or playing a video game. We need to be a bit more creative if we are going to have them earn a trip to the beach or Jamba Juice.

For one of our Kindergarten students (who loves snakes by the way!), his team developed an elaborate token system.


He earned pennies for completing and participating in certain activities appropriately. He could trade his pennies in for different activities, but the more exciting activities (e.g., a trip to Jamba Juice) cost more. There were also certain inappropriate behaviors that would "cost" him pennies (e.g., hitting a sibling would involve losing a certain number of pennies).

Less motivating activities required fewer pennies.

In addition to expanding his repertoire of reinforcers, this type of token economy also reinforces his ability to delay immediate reinforcement. Students gradually learn that in some situations it is worth it to pass up one activity for a more desirable activity.

There are lots of ways to be creative when setting up a token economy system. This is just one!