I remember so clearly when I was a behavior technician (back when we were called Skills Trainers) feeling like I desperately needed more reinforcers, but didn’t know what to try. I needed tools. I needed somebody to say, “Here, try this.”

I knew reinforcement was important, but I didn’t totally get why or how it worked. I thought it was just about giving my clients their favorite stuff to get them to do things.

I remember thinking: “Okay, he really likes playing with trains, but I can’t give him train table time for every response he gets correct. First of all, it goes on and on, and I’ll never get anything done. And second, it’s nearly impossible to get him back to work. But this is what he likes—what am I supposed to do?”

I also clearly remember having parents show me where their child’s toys were, or teachers handing me a sad box of toys saying, “Here are the reinforcers,” and wondering how in the world this was going to work. He wasn’t into any of it.

If this sounds at all familiar or you’re feeling lost on what to use, I’ve got you. Today, we’re breaking down what makes effective ABA reinforcers work and running through some of my favorite things to use in session.

Of course, these specific things won’t work for every client, but try to listen to the qualities I’m covering for each one, and I bet you can think of something similar that your client may want.

What to Look for in a Reinforcer

Before we get to specific toys, there are a few practical qualities you want to look for:

• It’s quickly consumed or finished. You want reinforcers that can be delivered and finished quickly so you can move on to the next question or trial. (Think about edible reinforcers: a tiny bite works fast; something really chewy or a lollipop takes forever and halts all your momentum.)
• It has a clear start and end. When an activity doesn’t have a natural ending point, trying to move on often turns into an argument.
• You are needed for it to work. We want our clients coming to us. If you just hand over an iPad or a toy they can play with completely on their own, you become less important in the puzzle, and you turn into an obstacle the second you have to take it back.
• It can be delivered immediately. Immediacy is a critical factor of reinforcement. If you have to scramble to find materials after a correct response, you lose the opportunity.

4 Go-To Effective ABA Reinforcers for Your Bag

1. The Pig Popper

My first big favorite and one I like to have in my goodie bag when visiting a client for the first time is the Pig Popper. And by the way, this isn’t limited to pigs anymore—they have unicorns, bears, and all kinds of animals, but it’s the same idea.

It’s a little animal with an opening in its mouth. You place a soft ball in the mouth, squeeze its tummy, and it shoots across the room with a fun popping sound.

Why are these effective ABA reinforcers?

• It creates a shared experience. In some cases, I hold the pig and the client waits for me to shoot the ball, running to go get it and squealing with delight. This is a perfect opportunity for clients to mand or request for another ball, practice turn-taking, and work on social engagement.
• It’s built for quick trials. It’s quickly consumable. It also comes with multiple balls, so you don’t even have to wait for the client to go grab them—you can rapid-fire for reinforcement.
• You can easily vary the magnitude. If you’re working on social information questions and object labels, you might ask, “How old are you?” When they answer, “4!” you say, “You are 4!” and pop the pig. Then you might try a harder target: “What is this?” while holding up a toothbrush. When they get it right, you can shoot three balls in a row.

2. Rocket Balloons

Another favorite of mine is rocket balloons. They are a specific kind of long balloon that you inflate with a hand pump, hold, and let go. They fly all around the room and make a loud noise.

Now, these definitely aren’t for everybody. They are really loud, and sometimes the noise is way too much for our clients. If you have a kiddo, though, who seeks auditory stimuli, this could be a winner for you. Again, this one has a visual component along with the auditory.

Why are these effective ABA reinforcers?

• It’s quickly delivered and consumed. Once the balloon deflates and falls to the ground, it’s done, and the client is ready for the next opportunity to gain access to the next balloon.
• You don’t have to fight to get it back. How many of you have struggled to get an iPad back after using it as reinforcement? It often becomes a huge battle. If you want to spend your whole session working through tantrums, go for it, but if you’re trying to get through a bunch of trials to practice other skills, that isn’t the best way to go about it.
• It pulls their attention to you. If a client tends to have their nose stuck in a screen, letting a rocket balloon go across the room will almost guarantee they look up. If they’re interested, they put that screen down and come right over to you.

3. Blanket Rides

My next favorite activity does the exact same thing: blanket rides. Obviously this depends on the size of the client, but the idea is simple: the client sits on a blanket and you pull them around on the floor. (If you have a second person, it can also become a blanket swing or a rocket ship.)

Why are these effective ABA reinforcers?

• They need you in order for this to work. Otherwise, they’re just sitting on a blanket on the floor. You become part of the fun, and you can easily work in requesting for “go,” “fast,” or “stop.”
• Be ready ahead of time. If you’re sitting at the table and decide your client is working for a blanket ride, you don’t want to say, “Okay, let’s work for the blanket ride,” get the correct response, and then have to go ask mom for a blanket. Mom is on a phone call, you can’t find the blanket, you finally dig it out, and by that point your client is frustrated and screaming. Now the contingency has fallen apart.
• Have it set up first. Have the blanket laid out before you start. Maybe give the client a few quick rides for free to pair. Then you can present your trials while they’re sitting on it, and immediately give another ride when they respond.

4. Adapting High-Interest Toys (The Train Table)

Don’t feel limited to just these toys. Sometimes you can manipulate what the client already likes to make it work.

Let’s go back to that train table example. You don’t want to just say, “Okay, you get 10 minutes with the train table.” Remember: you aren’t part of that, there is no clear end, and it’s going to be really difficult to get them back to work.

Instead, get an activity going together with the trains:

• Build a hill and let the train go down the ramp when they get a correct response.
• Hold onto the track pieces so you build the track together, where each correct response earns another piece of track or another train car.

The Bottom Line

So much of this job is really prescribed in terms of what trials you’re presenting and how you’re supposed to say it, but the real creativity comes into play with reinforcement. When you pair yourself with things that are fun, immediate, and easy to manage, your sessions run a whole lot smoother.

Before your next session, try to look at your reinforcers through that lens: can you keep control of it, can you deliver it immediately, and does it have a clear, natural stopping point?