Free Token Board for Kids: Stars Toward a Reward
Pick how many tokens and what they are working for. Your child taps to add each one, and the reward lights up at the end.
Token board
Earn stars for a favorite book.
Tap the pink words to change them
More options
0 of 5 stars
A snack, a drink and the bathroom aren't rewards. Keep them as plain steps, not something to earn.
Also handy
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Stick a sticker on a circle for each token your child earns.
rosyandhush.com/resources/token-board
Show the reward before you start, and add each star the moment they do the thing, not at the end of the day. Five is a number they can reach today.
— NoraHow to use it
- Tap the number to choose how many tokens, with the minus and plus. Then tap the pink word after “for” and pick the reward.
- Look at More options if you’d like a different kind of token: stars, hearts, flowers, butterflies or smiles.
- Hand over the phone or tablet, or press Full screen. Your child taps the next circle each time they do the thing you agreed on.
- When the last circle is filled, the reward card lights up. Your child taps it, and that’s the end of the round.
- Start over empties the row. You can also print it and use stickers.
Show the reward first
A token board works best when your child can see what the tokens are for. I put the reward on the table before we begin, and say it once: “five stars, then a story.” A tired child reading a row of empty circles needs that last picture to know it’s worth it.
Add each token the moment the thing happens, not at the end of the day. If you want to compare it with other charts, my guide to reward charts for a toddler who can’t wait covers how to start small. Responsibility charts and reward charts explains how the two differ and when to use each.
What not to put on the board
I don’t use food, drinks or the bathroom as rewards. They are part of the day, so I keep them as plain steps. This is a rule I follow at home, not a number from a study. The board shows a short note when the reward is a snack, so you remember before you start.
Everything stays on your device
The reward you pick and the tokens your child has earned are saved in this browser only. Nothing is uploaded. Clear saved settings at the bottom of the page wipes them.
This is a tool for everyday routines. If your child works with a therapist, their plan comes first.
A few things that make it easier
The board above works from any phone or tablet. If you'd like one on the wall to go with it, these are the two things I'd look at.
- a magnetic token board: a row of spaces for magnetic tokens on the fridge or a whiteboard, so your child can move a real token and the screen can stay in your pocket
- sticky-back hook-and-loop dots: stick a dot on the board and one on each homemade token, and they come off easily for a small hand
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Pictures: Phosphor Icons (MIT license).
Questions parents ask me about this
What is a token board?
A row of empty spaces and a reward picture at the end. Each time your child does the thing you agreed on, they add a token. When the row is full, they get the reward. It shows how close the reward is, which is hard to see in words.
How many tokens should I use?
Fewer than you think. Start with a number your child can reach today, three or four for a little one. You can raise it later. The tool goes from three to ten.
What should the reward be?
Something your child really wants right now and you're happy to give: a book, bubbles, a game with you. Show it before you start. A snack, a drink or the bathroom are things everyone needs, so I don't use them as prizes. The board shows a short note if you pick one.
Do I add the tokens or does my child?
Whoever is nearby when it happens. Many kids like adding their own token, and a tap on the screen is easy for small fingers. Adding it right away matters more than who taps. Tap the last token again to take it back if it was a mistake.
Can the board read the reward out loud?
Yes. With the voice your phone already has, the board says what they are working for and tells them when the last token is in. If your device has no voice, the option says so.
Is anything saved or sent?
Your choices and your child's tokens are saved in this browser, on this device only. Nothing is uploaded, and there's no sign-up.
Keep reading
The routines behind this tool, from the blog.
How to Make a Chore Chart a Toddler Won't Quit
Make a chore chart your toddler can't quit, even at 5-minute patience. Instant rewards, picture tasks, 3 jobs that build habits. Start today.
Chore Chart vs Reward Chart: Which One Your Kid Needs
Chore chart, reward chart, or responsibility chart? Find out which fits your child's age, build one in 5 steps, and snag a free template.
Written by
Nora Hayes
Mom of two and a former preschool aide. I share the screen-free sensory play and calm-down ideas I test at my own kitchen table, plus what the moms in my little meet-up swear by. A parent passing on what works, not a doctor or a therapist.
More about Nora