Free First-Then Board Templates for Autism
5 pre-built printable First-Then board templates for autistic kids and their families. Open any one as a free PDF, or swap the activities and labels in the free editor. No email required.
First
Clean up
Then
Play
Clean Up, Then Play
The most common First-Then: tidy up, then playtime.
First
Homework
Then
Screen time
Homework, Then Screen Time
Table work first, then a favorite screen or tablet.
First
Brush teeth
Then
Story
Brush Teeth, Then Story
A hygiene favorite: brush teeth, then a bedtime story.
First
Toilet
Next
Wash hands
Then
Sticker
Potty Routine (First-Next-Then)
The most universal three-step routine: toilet, wash hands, reward.
First
Get dressed
Then
Breakfast
Get Dressed, Then Breakfast
A morning starter: get dressed, then breakfast.
How to use these templates
- Pick the template closest to the transition you want to support.
- Click Customize in editor to swap the activities, add your own photos, or switch to Now-Next labels, then download your version. Click Open printable PDF to print the template as-is.
- Print, laminate if you can, and attach the cards with Velcro so you can reuse the board.
- Point to First, help your child finish it, then move to Then and give the reward right away.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a First-Then board?
- A First-Then board is a visual support with two slots, a less-preferred task on the left under First and a preferred activity on the right under Then. Based on the Premack principle, it shows a child that finishing the first thing leads straight to the reward, which turns a spoken instruction into something they can see and trust.
- Are these First-Then templates free?
- Yes. Every template opens a print-ready PDF with no email required, and you can swap the activities, add photos, or switch to Now-Next labels in the free First-Then Board Maker. No signups and no upsells.
- What is the difference between First-Then and Now-Next?
- They are two names for the same tool. First and Then are common in many programs, while Now and Next appear often in schools. Use whichever wording your child recognizes, and you can switch the labels in the editor without rebuilding the board.
- When should I use a three-step First-Next-Then board?
- Add a middle step once your child handles a two-step board comfortably and the routine genuinely has three parts, like the potty routine of toilet, wash hands, then a sticker. Start with two steps and expand only when your child is ready.