Examples of Rewards
- The first step in choosing rewards is to think "outside the box" and identify things that are specifically motivating to your child. They may relate to your child's sensory or restricted interests.
- Based on your child's sensory interests, here are some rewards to consider:
- Visual. Portable television/DVD player, portable video games, light-up items, mirrors, bubbles, items that spin/twirl, pouring water or squeezing water from a sponge to watch it drip, slinky
- Auditory. Music/headphones, sound-producing toys, singing songs
- Vestibular. Swinging, rocking, jumping on trampoline, tickling, trip to playground, "rough and tumble" games
- Tactile. Massager, feathers, play dough, lotion, ice pack, heating pad, shaving cream, water/sand table, water snake toy, stress balls
- Edible/Oral. Candy, salty snacks, drinks, teething toy
- Activity. Trip to mall, playing board game, elevator ride (or other activity related to your child's special interests)
- Social. Praise, pat on the back, hug, smile, high five, special one-on-one time with a caregiver where the child gets to choose the activity
- Consider your child's special interests in the way you present the reward. For example, if your child's special interest is trains and your reward is a trip to the train station, consider using a puzzle of a train as the token board to show him or her when the trip to the train station is earned. Or, if your child's special interest involves a particular show or character, consider providing a reward where you and your child put on a play or make a book with those characters, rather than simply earning more time to watch the show. Be creative!
Go to the visuals to print section section of this toolkit for visuals of rewards, or create your own using photographs or web images.
