Behaviour & routines
Token Economy
Also called: token system, sticker economy
A token economy is a behaviour system where a child earns tokens — stickers, stars, points — that are later exchanged for a reward, which is what every reward chart is.
It works when the exchange rate is clear, the target is reachable within the child's time horizon, and tokens are never removed. A four-year-old cannot hold a two-week goal in mind; a nine-year-old can.
The known weakness is that it can displace intrinsic motivation: a child rewarded for reading may read less once the rewards stop. This is why token systems suit short, bounded goals — a specific habit being established — rather than permanent operation.