Module 10: Home Point Systems

When parents have tried everything and their child is still struggling with compliance, routines, and other serious behaviors, you can suggest a more intensive point/token system. The rationale for this type of system is that children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) respond better to frequent, immediate rewards over delayed rewards. The overall goal of the home point/token system is to make the expected behaviors very explicit and to provide more frequent rewards or consequences contingent on an explicit set of behaviors, using a more structured system of reinforcement. For a system like this to work effectively, it must be implemented consistently across caregivers, which is challenging for many parents. Keeping the system simple and straightforward tends to work best, especially as parents are first learning the principles. It may also be helpful to begin by focusing on one time of day to acclimate parents to the system, later expanding to other times of the day.