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Free printable First-Then board

Transitions are where good days fall apart. Leaving the playground, turning off the tablet, getting in the bath — the problem is rarely the activity itself, it’s not knowing what comes after. A First-Then board (some therapists call it a Now/Next board) answers that one question visually: first this, then that.

This template is deliberately blank: two big frames, one arrow. Print it, then add a photo, a drawing, or a pictogram in each frame. The PDF is free to download — no account, no email address asked.

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Want the two pictures drawn for you? The free generator fills this exact board from two sentences you type. The generator is free too — nickname account, no ads, a fair weekly limit so it stays free for every family.

How to use it

Put the current (or less-loved) activity in the "First" frame, and something your child genuinely likes in the "Then" frame.
Show the board and say the same short phrase every time: "First bath, then story." Same words, every night.
Resist adding a third box. Two steps is the whole point — a longer sequence belongs on a visual schedule.
When "First" is done, let your child move or point to "Then" themselves. That little gesture is the reward circuit.
Laminate it or slip it in a plastic sleeve so you can swap pictures with sticky tack or Velcro dots.

Questions parents ask

What is a First-Then board?

A two-frame visual support that shows one thing happening now and one thing happening next. It shrinks the future down to a size a child can trust, which makes stopping one activity to start another far less scary.

Is it the same as a Now/Next board?

Yes — "First-Then" and "Now/Next" are two names for the same tool. This template works for both; only the words you say out loud change.

What should I put in the two frames?

Anything your child recognizes instantly: a photo you took, a simple drawing, or a printed pictogram. Recognition beats beauty — a blurry photo of their actual bathtub works better than a perfect stock icon.

Is this only for autistic children?

No. First-Then boards are used with autistic kids, kids with ADHD or language delays, and toddlers in general. Any child who struggles with transitions can benefit; no diagnosis required.

More free printables

Free printable First-Then board

How to use it

Put the current (or less-loved) activity in the "First" frame, and something your child genuinely likes in the "Then" frame.

Show the board and say the same short phrase every time: "First bath, then story." Same words, every night.

Resist adding a third box. Two steps is the whole point — a longer sequence belongs on a visual schedule.

When "First" is done, let your child move or point to "Then" themselves. That little gesture is the reward circuit.

Laminate it or slip it in a plastic sleeve so you can swap pictures with sticky tack or Velcro dots.

Questions parents ask

What is a First-Then board?

Is it the same as a Now/Next board?

Yes — "First-Then" and "Now/Next" are two names for the same tool. This template works for both; only the words you say out loud change.

What should I put in the two frames?

Is this only for autistic children?

No. First-Then boards are used with autistic kids, kids with ADHD or language delays, and toddlers in general. Any child who struggles with transitions can benefit; no diagnosis required.