Token Economies | ADHD Information
I have tried token systems but I think it was my failure to keep up with the system rather than my sons interest. My DS seems to have his behavior within the normal range for a 7 year old at this time....so I don't have a need for a "external" system at this time.We use the marbles until a behavior is learned and then take the behavior off the rewards list and add something else or increase the expectations. The things that my youngest has accomplished and no longer gets marbles for includes: getting herself up and ready for school, making her own breakfast and lunch, feeding her bird, taking her meds, recording her homework in her planner (we just dropped this from the IEP as completed- 6 months earlier than expected), completing her classwork, completing her homework, not fighting with sister, not fighting with dad, washing her hair, going to bed on time, staying in bed. These have been switched to logical consequences or more advanced expectations for the reward (e.g. rather than completing homework- she now gets marbles for As).
She has the hyper, "I can't listen to you now" thing going on and shuts down with long explanations, so the marble system breaks it down into bite size pieces for her to learn and incorporate into appropriate behavior. Before the token economy, she just kept losing privleges until she had nothing to lose and was in conflict every day, and she started having massive, uncontrollable rages. She wanted to kill herself (at the age of 9) and there was very little parent/child bond left. With meds and the behavior plan (started months before the meds), she has no more signs of the depression and anxiety, and the defiance is easier and managable. She also has a much stronger bond with us and things are good.
With my oldest we only do the marble system to be consistant between the 2 kids. The oldest is more of a "normal" child for teaching behaviors to. It was so strange to have to make a big change in our parenting styles for the younger child.
I like the idea of token rewards in general but am stuck on what do write down as expected stuff, extra earned stuff and then the all time bad stuff. So still working on that, have the poster board and everything just can't seem to get anything wrote down. Any ideas are greatly appreciated. I also agree that this should be treated as a life learning skill ex: working vs raises, bonuses etc.. not just to make my life easier.Jo-D,I don't remember how many behaviors the marble system listed as ones you might want to change, but I remember at a behavior mod workshop, they recommended listing all the behaviors that you want to change and then pick three. When one of those is habitualized then select another one to work on. I once read that it takes at least 6 weeks of changed behavior to become a habit. so you might consider continuing to reward the desired behavior for 6 weeks.
vickie, it sounds like the marble system has been great for your daughter. Nice job, Mom!
jfla2,
The best thing about the system is getting my husband and I to be more consistant parents. A little inconsistancy is fine for most kids (like my oldest), but the little one can't deal with the grey areas in life at all.
jfla2 thanks for the tips. Greatly appreciated
vickie I have the same struggles with inconsistancy so maybe this will help me too.
I use the marble system and it works. Also I work full time and yes i do get paid to go to work. I also get a "spot award" for going above and beyond. I get recognized for special projects I take on and complete. Recognition is a huge incentive for a lot of people . We even can give each other care coins for helping us out on special things and those can buy a tshirt, backpack, etc. so yes people do love these type of things even as adults. What kid wouldn't also!See I don't do that...I have raised two girls to adulthood and they just knew what they were expected to do around here. Chase and Jake do the same. Granted I do not have too many routine chores for them, just throw down the dirty laundry (for Chase), do your own laudry when needed, (for Jake), put your things away(for both), bring down the glasses from their rooms ( I do allow drinks up there), keep the rooms reasonably clean, and then just do the things I ask around here. Sometimes I have them unload the dishwasher, pick up a room to ready it for vacuuming, etc. Plus Jake gets himself up and ready for school independently, Chase still needs my input on that. I am not sure when he will be able to self start....
I could never keep up on something like you describe.....too much detail..
We have mixed results in both token economies and natural consequences in our home. Token economies worked for a short period of time when ds was young. After awhile, the novelty wore off. This typical response was documented in some adhd book I read once. It did work, however, last year when I gave him a dollar a day if he could remember to take his Ritalin in the morning. We discontinued the method when he developed the habit of taking his meds.
Natural and logical consequences, though, did not work for helping him to remember to take his medicine. Due to significant problems with memory, he never remembered the consequences of forgetting to take his meds. It was at that point that I brought in the dollar a day. I explained to him that the dollar was similar to getting paid at work. If he doesn't take his medicine and ends up being late for work and not performing well at work, he won't get paid. It did not take too long for him to become habituated and then we dropped the system and he got his allowance instead.
I think a balance of the two strategies as the need arises can work well in a home.
The following behavior mod systems in classrooms which can be adapted to the home I guess.:
A simpler approach to the marbles is a system I learned about 30 years ago while teaching. Teachers had a list of expectations. A line was drawn on the outside of the jar. If the students were on task, then marble(s) were added to the jar. When marbles reached to line then everyone received a reward. This encourages on task behavior and peer pressure to perform appropriately. A slight shake of the jar reminded students about being on task. Marbles were not taken out of the jar.
In using a system like this, I think it is also important for the children to understand how connected we all are together and depend on one another. This way peers will help the student off task reach a group goal. When I taught, I spent time at the beginning of the school year developing a sense of family or team with my class. We did lots of small group games to develop this sense of support...to know that your peers will support you and that it is expected that you step up and provide support.
Another system that could be used in conjunction with this is:
Three column system was a three step process of a warning, a penalty and the third time was a phone call home. If they didn't get any names in the third column all week, then they would get a popcorn party on Friday. After they experienced the first party, we had one almost every Friday. The students decided on the penalty and also helped write the class expectations with my guidance. The system worked well and I only needed to call home one or two times. We had very few rules. I recall: Respect yourself and other people and things. Follow directions. Raise your hand to speak. Do your work. Most things fall under the first two.
If you wanted, with a little creativity these can be adapted to the home.
jfla239136.610625
Probably just felt like shaking things up a bit. But here goes. I don't believe in token economy systems, and never will. I think they are good for young children to start positive behaviors, like toilet training, chores etc. Its' also very helpful for children that are intellectually impaired. Other than that it is not a normal way to raise your children. They will not be given tokens in the real world to go to work everyday, or at school in most cases. I believe for adhd they respond better to natural and logical consequences given immediately in a calm and non-judgemental fashion. Giving praise, appreciation, and spending positive time with them is more important a motivator than giving them something. When you are out and they are doing well buying them a treat. Working towards getting that video game by getting good reports in school. I just don't get using an everyday reward system that seems so unnatural. Token economy systems in the children's mental health field these days: well it is very rarely done because it wasn't found to be effective for children older than 5 yr. of age. What happens if you forget those tokens at home, or if you go to the park, then what have you got. Just a thought.
I have a different perspective on this. In the working world, you get paid for going to work every day and doing what is expected of you. There are raises, promotions and bonuses for doing a really good job. You get demotions and fired for poor prefomance.
The school that my kids go to also uses a token system. The kids work harder and help each other reach certain goals so that the class (or team) can get tickets towards a pizza lunch party.
Positive reinforcement (token economy) combined with logical consequences works well for my kids. Logical consiquences alone did not work for us, because the youngest never really understood the connection. As she is getting older, we are able to transistion some of the tokens to non token rewards. An example is: she got marbles for getting homework done and a bonus for finishing before I got home from work. At the same time, if we had a good evening, she could buy (with marbles) an extra half hour to stay up late. We then transitioned this into if homework is done before I get home, she can stay up an extra half hour (and she has to get ready for school on her own). I used this to explain to her that being responsible, she got extra privleges. My kids can turn thier marbles into privleges or into cash (allowance). There are extra things they can do (once the basic required things are done) to earn extra bonuses. We balance this with requireing them to pay for more of the special things they want (a new video game, fancy blouse, etc.).
http://www.uams.edu/add/token.htm
Natural consequences also did not work for Chase because even though he routinely forgets a few assignments in each class each grading period, the ones he does turn in are 90% and above, and he tests so well that he still gets good grades. I just don't want him thinking that slacking (as long as you get away with it) is okay.
So, he gets 50 cents each day he brings home a properly filled in, signed by a teacher, planner, and on Friday, if he brings me a signed form (generated by me on the computer) that says he turned in all of his work for the week, he gets .50. I equate this to a job....when you do the job, you get paid. Getting the planner filled in correctly each day is half the battle to getting the work done on time.
He is 10, and since we instituted this procedure, he hasn't forgotten to turn in an assignment, and even on the days he forgets to get the planner signed, (and thus does not get the 50 cents) it is still filled in properly.
So, it works for me...I agree that it helps them to prepare for working. If you do your job correctly and efficiently, you get paid a paycheck.
We had a reward system in place at home and at school, the trouble i found was that he (7 yrs) was quickly bored with the chore of doing the tasks and could not be bothered after the novelty of it wore off. Even when we were over the moon happy with his behavior, and gave the reward he did not seem too thrilled, he would just shrug and say 'Ya' The teacher had a check mark list on his desk and for each one earned a check at the end of the day got a reward of his choice, the list was basic(stay seated, raise hand,) etc, He did well with it at first, but about 2 weeks later was bored with it , We cannot keep bumping the rewards up a notch, to keep his interest. Although this was our plan before we decided to medicate. We do not have any problems at school now
We still offer tons of praise and he is now working towards being good for the rest of the year to earn a new motorbike !! He still gets a weekly allowance of .00 for his house hold duties. Chasesmom: I agree and do the same myself. Basically its started in hopes that the child will start and continue the behavior that is appropriate. Its also teaching him a much needed skill.
What I mean is carrying around a bag of tokens that they cash in or loose according to their behavior that day. That part doesn't make sense to me. I think kids should rely on smiles, thankyou's, and hugs to get their feedback. At work we do get paid, and I believe kids should get paid for things they earn (money) for chores, helping out etc. I don't like the idea of giving chips to kids that they can loose or gain. It doesn't seem natural, or convenient. I also believe in providing a special treat for kids after school, for not getting a negative report about behavior.