First then board

How a first then board works

A first then board puts two ideas side by side:

• First: something that needs to happen (shoes on, brush teeth, clean up).
• Then: something the child is happy to do next (park, a book, a snack, bath toys).

You point and say the words: "First shoes, then park." The picture stays put after the words are gone, so your child can look back at it. That's the whole idea. It's the same "first your vegetables, then dessert" deal families have always made, drawn out so a young child can see it.

The Doctor Carissa shop started with a photo schedule Carissa Spisak made for her own 2-year-old, and her setup guide puts the first then board first: "The best place to start with a young toddler, and it fits in a bag." Our free board comes from that kit. It uses photos of your child's real things (their shoes by the door, the gate at their park) rather than drawings.

What you need

• The board: one page with two boxes labeled "First" and "Then".
• Picture cards that fit the boxes, about 2 to 3 inches square.
• Cardstock and a laminator (or clear packing tape).
• Hook and loop dots (Velcro is one brand), or a strip of magnetic sheet for a fridge version. Keep small loose magnets out of a toddler's reach.
• An envelope or pocket on the back for spare cards.

How to make a first then board

1. Print on cardstock at "Actual size" so the cards fit the boxes.
2. Laminate the board and the card sheet, then cut the cards apart. Leave a small laminated edge around each card so it doesn't peel.
3. Add hook and loop dots. Put one side in each box on the board and the other side on the back of every card. Pick one way (for example, the rough side on the board and the soft side on the cards) and keep it, so every card fits every board you make.
4. Add a pocket on the back of the board for the cards you're not using.
5. Make a small travel copy: two cards on a ring or a key clip for the car, the store and grandma's house.

How to introduce it

1. Start with an easy win. The first few times, make "first" something quick your child already does, like "first sit, then book".
2. Choose a "then" they want right now. Watch what they're reaching for. If they don't care about the "then", the board has no pull.
3. Show, point, say. Put both cards on, point to each, and say it in a few words: "First shoes, then park."
4. Keep your words short while it's happening. Point to the board instead of repeating yourself.
5. Take the "first" card off when it's done and put it in the pocket. Then point to "then" and deliver it right away.
6. Use it through the day, not only for hard moments, so it feels like a normal part of home.

What to do when your child says no

It will happen. A calm, predictable response is the plan.

• Point to the board and say the same few words again. "First shoes, then park." Skip the long explanation.
• Don't bargain or change the "then" mid-way for something bigger. Keep the "then" the same once it's on the board.
• Make "first" smaller if it was too big. "First one shoe" is still a first.
• Help them start. Hand them the shoe, or do the first part together.
• Always follow through on "then" once "first" is done. If "then" doesn't happen, the board stops meaning anything.

If the board gets ignored in the first week, Carissa's setup guide says the usual cause is too much at once: keep it to first and then, hang it at your child's eye level, and use it at the same moment every day. If your child pulls the cards off, that is interest, not failure. Give them the job of taking "first" off when it is done.

Pictures, photos or words?

Put a word under every picture either way. It keeps the whole family using the same words.

Beyond first and then

When first then boards feel easy, many families add a third box ("first, then, next"), then a strip of three to five pictures for a routine like getting ready for bed. That's a visual schedule. Our guide to a visual schedule for toddlers has a free three-step day strip for the next step, and the visual schedules hub explains the other kinds.

Common mistakes

• Using it only as a threat. If the board only comes out when something is going wrong, it stops feeling like a normal part of the day.
• Too many words. "First shoes, then park" beats a paragraph.
• A "then" that isn't wanted. Ask yourself if your child would choose it.
• The "then" sitting in plain view (the tablet on the table) can make "first" hard to start. Keep it nearby but out of reach.
• Changing the deal. Keep "then" the same once you've shown it.

Frequently asked questions

What age is a first then board for?

Families often start around age 2, and kids of many ages use them, at home and in classrooms. The pictures and words change with age; the two-box idea stays the same.

Do only autistic children use first then boards?

No. Teachers and parents use them with all kinds of young children. They're common in special education and with autistic kids because pictures can be easier to follow than spoken words alone.

What should go on the "then" side?

Something your child wants right now: a favorite toy, a song, going outside, a snack, a book with you. It doesn't have to be a big treat.

How is a first then board different from a visual schedule?

A first then board shows two steps. A visual schedule shows a longer sequence, like a whole morning. Many families start with first then and grow into a schedule.

Can I make a first then board without a laminator?

Yes. Clear packing tape over cardstock works, and so does a sheet protector with cards held on by tape or hook and loop dots on the outside.