Free First-Then Board for Autism
A first-then board is the simplest possible visual schedule. It shows two things: the non-preferred task that needs to happen first, and the preferred activity that comes next. This pattern is the foundation of PECS-style scheduling and works well for kids who get overwhelmed by longer sequences.
- 2 activities
- ~50 minutes total
- Free printable PDF
- Editable in browser
What's in this template
All 2 steps in order, with picture symbols.
- Step 1
First: Homework - Step 2
Then: Play time
Before you build a full visual schedule, you build a first-then board. The first-then format is the foundation pattern that every more complex schedule is built on, and for many autistic kids, it is the only schedule they need.
The structure is two boxes. The left box shows what happens first: usually a task the child does not want to do (brush teeth, homework, get dressed). The right box shows what happens then: the reward, which is something the child does want (play, snack, screen time, favorite activity). The board makes the contingency explicit and visual. The child sees "if I do this, then I get that" without needing to remember or argue about it.
This template uses homework as the "first" and play time as the "then" because that is the most common useful pair, but the real value is the format itself, not these specific activities. Swap in whatever combination matches your child's current sticking point. Brush teeth, then story. Get dressed, then breakfast. Speech therapy, then iPad. The pattern stays the same.
What makes the first-then format work is the certainty of the "then." Once you commit to a first-then pair, you owe the reward as soon as the task is done, with no delays or renegotiation and no extra steps tacked on. "Brush teeth, then story" must mean exactly that. If you regularly slip in "brush teeth, then put on pajamas, then bathroom, then story," your child stops trusting the board and the format breaks.
Use the first-then board as a stepping stone toward longer schedules. Most kids who are first-then ready can move to three-step schedules within a few weeks of consistent use. For kids who plateau at first-then forever, that is fine. First-then is a complete tool, not a half-built one.
When to use this template
Best for younger kids (ages 2 to 7), for kids who melt down when shown a long schedule, or for any age when introducing a specific non-preferred task. Also the go-to format for the first week of any schedule-using routine.
How to customize this template
- Pick a "then" that your child actually wants. Generic rewards (a sticker, verbal praise) do not work for this format.
- Use the same board for one routine for at least two weeks before swapping activities. Switching too fast confuses the contract.
- If your child negotiates the "then," do not engage. Point to the board and wait. The board, not you, is delivering the deal.
- When the "first" task is hard, shorten it. "Brush teeth for one minute" works better than "brush teeth thoroughly" early on.
- Once the routine is established, the board can fade. Many kids only need it during introduction of a new task.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this the same as bribery?
- No. Bribery is offering a reward in the middle of a tantrum to make it stop. A first-then board is a pre-arranged contract: this task earns this reward, set up before the task starts. The structure teaches your child to complete non-preferred tasks because they trust the reward will follow, which is exactly what we want.
- What if my child refuses the "first" task entirely?
- Two possibilities. The first task is too hard right now (shorten it: one tooth instead of all teeth). Or the "then" is not motivating enough (find a bigger reward). If you have tried both and the child still refuses, the first-then format is not the right tool for this specific task today. Try again tomorrow.
- How is this different from a longer visual schedule?
- A longer schedule shows a sequence of activities in order; a first-then board shows a contingency between two specific things. Both are visual schedules. First-then is a subset focused on motivation, not on routine. Use both depending on the situation.
- Can the "then" be screen time?
- Yes. Screen time is one of the most motivating "thens" for many autistic kids, and using it as a contingency does not damage their relationship to screens. The trick is being precise about how much screen time and ending it when you said you would.
- How long should we use first-then before moving to longer schedules?
- Until the child completes the "first" task reliably without protest. For some kids that is a week, for others a month, for others it is a tool they keep using indefinitely. There is no graduation deadline.
Related templates
Morning Routine
Eight steps from wake-up through walking out the door, designed for autistic kids who melt down during the morning rush.
School Day
Eight typical school activities your child can reference at their desk or in their binder.
After-School Routine
Seven steps from arrival home through dinner, built for the after-school restraint-collapse window.