First-Then Board for Toddlers

Last updated: October 12, 2026

A First-Then board works well with toddlers when everything on it is tiny: a task that takes a minute, a reward that comes at once, and two big pictures. It turns “no” moments into a small plan your child can see.

Can a toddler use a First-Then board?

Yes, many toddlers can. Your child does not need to talk. Your child only needs to know pictures of familiar things, like their own shoes or cup.

Toddlers live in the present. “Later” and “after” are hard words for them. Two pictures side by side show “after” in a way a small child can see. The board is also a visual support. In autism research, visual supports have been used with children from the toddler years to young adults (see Sources).

How small should the task be?

Very small: one action that takes about a minute. If you are not sure, make it smaller.

• Not “get dressed”, but “socks on”.
• Not “tidy up”, but “blocks in the box”.
• Not “eat your dinner”, but “one bite of carrot”.
• Not “get ready to go”, but “sit in the car seat”.

Choose something your child can already do with a little help. A toddler who succeeds wants to use the board again.

What rewards work for toddlers?

Small rewards that come at once work best. A toddler cannot wait until the evening, so the Then card must happen now.

• Bubbles, a song, a tickle, a hug.
• One short book, or two minutes with a favourite toy.
• Going outside, the swing, pressing the lift button.
• A sticker to put on their hand.

The reward does not have to be food or a screen. Often the next nice part of the day is enough: “First shoes on, then park.” This is the Premack principle. A thing your child likes to do becomes the reason to do the thing they like less.

How do I use First-Then for potty training?

Put the potty on the First card and a small, quick reward on the Then card. At the start, reward sitting and trying, not the result.

1. Make a pair like “First potty, then bubbles”.
2. Keep the board where it happens. A printed board in the bathroom is handy.
3. Show the board before you go, and say the two words.
4. When your child has sat on the potty, give the Then card at once, even if nothing happened.
5. Keep this reward only for the potty, so it stays special.

Never use the board to punish an accident. If your child is not interested in the potty at all, wait a few weeks and try again.

Does First-Then help with tantrums?

It helps before a tantrum, not in the middle of one. Use the board when you know a hard moment is coming.

Many tantrums start when something nice stops or something boring starts: leaving the playground, getting into the car, the bath. Show the board a moment before: “First car seat, then music.” Your child sees that something good is still coming.

If the tantrum has already started, put the board away and stay close and calm. Do not add a new reward to stop the crying, or your child learns that crying brings rewards. Try the board again when your child is calm.

What are good First-Then examples for toddlers?

Good examples use an everyday task and a small, real reward. Here are some to start with.

• First nappy change → Then songAny time
• First socks on → Then outsideGoing out
• First car seat → Then musicIn the car
• First wash hands → Then snackMeals
• First one bite → Then more pastaMeals
• First blocks in the box → Then bubblesTidy up
• First bath → Then duck toyEvening
• First pyjamas → Then bookBedtime

What mistakes should I avoid?

The biggest mistake is making the child wait for the reward. For a toddler, a reward that comes ten minutes later belongs to something else.

• Too many cards. Two cards are enough for a toddler. The third card can wait.
• Too many words. Say “First socks, then outside” and stop.
• A promise you cannot keep. Do not put the park on the card if it is raining.
• Small pictures. Use big, clear pictures. A photo of the real thing is often easiest.
• Using it all day. Start with two or three moments a day. The board should stay special.

Let your child touch the board. On this site your child can tap the First card when the task is done and gets a check mark. Small children love to be the one who finishes.

Sources

• Premack, D. (1959). Toward empirical behavior laws: I. Positive reinforcement. Psychological Review, 66(4), 219–233. doi.org/10.1037/h0040891
• Sam, A., & AFIRM Team (updated 2024). Visual Supports: EBP brief packet. Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules (AFIRM), UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. Brief packet (PDF)

This page is general information from the makers of First Then Board. It is not medical or therapy advice. Every child is different: if your child has a therapist or a teacher, ask them what fits your child.

More guides

• Free printable First-Then board (PDF)Blank templates and label cards, A4 and US Letter.
• First-Then-Next boardThe 3-card board: what it is and when a child is ready.
• First-Then board for autismHow to start, photos or icons, and how to fade it out.
• First-Then board vs visual schedule vs token boardA simple table: when to use which.