First Then / Now and Next Board: How to Use It at Home
A First Then board — often called a Now and Next board in the UK — shows just two steps: what is happening now and what happens immediately afterwards. It can be useful when a longer spoken instruction or full routine feels like too much information at once.
You do not need to buy anything to try one. A piece of paper with NOW and NEXT, using words, photos or symbols your child already understands, is enough to test the idea.
NOW: Put shoes on
NEXT: Get in the car
What does a First Then or Now and Next board show?
The board answers one immediate question: “What is happening now, and what comes next?” It is deliberately shorter than a full visual timetable.
The two boxes might use familiar photographs, simple symbols, objects or written words. Choose the format your child can recognise quickly. If a picture is unclear to them, replacing it with a more familiar photo or word is more useful than adding extra instructions.
The aim is to make the sequence easier to understand, not to turn the board into a behaviour chart or a demand that must be followed without support.
First Then board or visual timetable?
| Question to answer | Support to consider |
|---|---|
| What happens immediately after this? | First Then / Now and Next board |
| What is the whole routine? | Visual timetable |
| How long is left? | Visual timer, when the duration is reliable |
| I know the task but cannot get started | Simplify the first action |
| The problem is discomfort, pain or sensory overload | Address the underlying barrier first |
If your child needs to see breakfast → teeth → shoes → coat → bag → school, a longer visual timetable will usually communicate that sequence more clearly. If they only need to see “shoes, then car”, keep the board short.
How to introduce a Now and Next board
1. Start in a calm, familiar moment
Introduce the format before using it during a difficult transition. Begin with two activities your child already understands. This gives them a chance to learn what NOW and NEXT mean without also managing a stressful change.
2. Make both steps specific
Use an action or event the child can recognise. “Open workbook” is clearer than “do homework”. “Get in the car” is clearer than “be ready”.
3. Show it briefly, then give processing time
Point to NOW, then NEXT, using a short phrase if that helps. Avoid turning the visual into another long verbal instruction. Some children will look at the board independently; others will need an adult to refer to it with them.
4. Update the board when the first step finishes
When NOW is finished, remove it or move NEXT into the NOW position. The board stays useful only if it reflects what is genuinely happening.
5. Keep the plan truthful
If something changes, update the board and explain what you know. Do not leave an inaccurate NEXT card in place just to preserve the routine. A visual support should make information clearer, not promise that plans never change.
Three simple home examples
Leaving home: NOW: shoes → NEXT: car.
Starting homework: NOW: open workbook and answer question one → NEXT: short movement break.
Bedtime: NOW: pyjamas → NEXT: story.
For seven fuller examples covering screens, waiting, dressing, bedtime and unexpected changes, see Now and Next Board: 7 Practical Home Examples.
What if your child does not follow the board?
First check whether the board is answering the real problem. A visual cue cannot make uncomfortable shoes comfortable, remove anxiety about school or make an unsuitable homework task manageable.
If the issue is the visual itself, try one change at a time:
- use a real photograph instead of a generic icon;
- reduce the wording;
- make NOW more manageable;
- show the board earlier, before distress rises;
- let your child move the card if they want to;
- switch to spoken words or another familiar communication format if visuals are not helping.
The goal is useful communication. A child may understand the board and still need help with the transition. That does not mean the support has failed.
Does NEXT have to be a reward?
No. NEXT should usually show the real next event. When first teaching the format, using familiar or enjoyable activities can make the sequence easier to understand, but the board does not need to become “do this to earn that”.
Avoid using access to comfort, communication or essential needs as a bargaining tool. The board is most useful when it communicates what will happen, not when it becomes a threat.
When should you move to a longer visual routine?
Move beyond two steps when your child wants or needs a broader overview. A morning routine, school preparation or bedtime sequence may be easier to understand as a visual timetable with several steps rather than repeatedly replacing NEXT.
If a reusable setup suits your family, the Clarikind Visual Board with picture cards is one option. A homemade paper version remains a perfectly reasonable way to try the method first.
If the question is specifically “How long until this ends?”, a visual timer and visual schedule solve different problems. Use a countdown only when the duration is reliable and seeing time pass is helpful rather than stressful.
When you want to build a familiar photo routine
Keep a paper Now and Next board if two visible steps are enough. For families who prefer creating photo plans on a phone or tablet, explore the photo plans in Clarikind Together. Choose familiar pictures and try one everyday moment together; a longer plan is only useful if your child finds it clear.
Frequently asked questions
What is another name for a Now and Next board?
“First Then board” is a common alternative. The basic idea is the same: show the current activity and the immediately following activity.
Do I need special pictures?
No. You can use photographs, simple drawings, symbols, objects or written words. Choose what your child already understands most easily.
What should go in NEXT?
The actual next event, described simply. Avoid putting several hidden steps inside one NEXT box.
What if plans change?
Update the visual as soon as practical and explain the change clearly. Keeping an incorrect card in place can make the board less trustworthy.
At what age can a child use one?
There is no single age that determines whether the format will be useful. Match the communication method, level of detail and adult support to the individual child.
UK resources and further reading
- Bedfordshire and Luton Children's Health NHS: Now and Next boards.
- Just One Norfolk NHS: First and Then boards.
This article provides general educational information. Adapt visual supports to your child's communication, preferences and current situation.
