# Reward ideas for autistic kids (that aren't sweets)

> Sensory, activity, social and special-interest rewards, and how to find what motivates your child.

URL: https://theautismkit.com/guides/reward-ideas-autistic-kids
By The Autism Kit team · Updated 2026-09-29

**Short answer:** The best reward is whatever your child wants right now, and it doesn't need to be food. Try sensory rewards (bubbles, spinning, a trampoline, squishy toys), activities (a favourite song, a video, drawing), social rewards (tickles, high-fives, time with you) and special interests (trains, dinosaurs, maps). Watch what your child chooses when free, and rotate rewards so they stay exciting.

**Key takeaways**
- The best reward is what your child **wants right now**.
- It **doesn't need to be food**.
- **Small and quick** works well.
- **Rotate** rewards to keep them exciting.

## What rewards can I try?

| Type | Ideas |
| --- | --- |
| Sensory | Bubbles, spinning, trampoline, squishy toys, light-up toys, swinging |
| Activity | Favourite song, short video, drawing, stickers, puzzle |
| Social | Tickles, high-fives, piggyback, singing together |
| Special interest | Train time, dinosaur book, map, favourite character |
| Outings | Park, library, water play |

Reinforcement works best when it's something your child actually wants, given right after the task.[1]

## How do I find what works?

**Try:**
- Watching free-time choices
- Offering two options
- Using a picture of the reward

**Skip:**
- Guessing what your child likes
- The same reward every day
- Rewards much later

A picture of the reward on a first-then or token board helps your child remember what they're working for.[2]

Free printable: [Free printable: 5-star token chart](https://theautismkit.com/printables/token-chart.pdf)

## What can I try this week?

- [ ] Write down 5 things your child loves
- [ ] Take photos of them
- [ ] Rotate rewards each week

Read next: [How do I use a token board at home?](https://theautismkit.com/guides/token-boards-at-home)

## Common questions

### How do I find out what motivates my child?

Watch what they choose when they're free, and offer two options to see which they pick.

### Should rewards be big?

Small and quick often works better: a minute of bubbles, one song, a short video.

### What if a reward stops working?

Rotate. Keep some rewards only for token boards so they stay special.

## Sources

1. AFIRM (UNC Frank Porter Graham): Reinforcement. https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/reinforcement
2. AFIRM (UNC Frank Porter Graham): Visual supports evidence-based practice brief. https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/Visual-Supports-Brief-Packet.pdf

General guidance, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Talk with your pediatrician or a developmental specialist about your child's care.