What is a First-Then board?
A First-Then board shows two pictures side by side: First a task, Then something the child wants. “First shoes, then park.”
It makes the day predictable and gives a clear reason to start a hard task. Parents, teachers and therapists use it for autism, ADHD, speech therapy and with toddlers. It is often the first step before a full visual schedule.
How to use this board
Pick the pictures
Tap ✏️ on a card (or ＋ on an empty card). Choose an icon, a photo, or type a word.Show one pair
Say it simply: “First homework, then tablet.” Point to each card.Tap when done
When the task is done, tap the First card. The circle gets a ✓ and Then lights up.Keep your promise
Give the reward right away. Add more pairs with ＋ under the cards, and tap Next to move on.
Tip: tap ⛶ for full screen, so the child sees only the board. Exit by holding ✕ for one second. On iPhone, open the board from the Home Screen icon for true full screen.
Example pairs
Tap “Add to my board” to use a pair right away.
Tips
🧩 Autism
- Use real photos of real things: your sink, their tablet.
- Keep words short and the same every time.
- Start with an easy task and a strong reward, so the board means “good things happen”.
⚡ ADHD
- Make “First” small and concrete: “3 math problems”, not “homework”.
- Use the queue to break a big job into short pairs.
- Add a timer from the side if waiting is hard.
🧸 Toddlers
- Two cards only. Big pictures, one word each.
- Rewards can be tiny: bubbles, a song, a hug.
- Let the child tap ✅ — it feels great to be the one who finishes.
Using your own photos
Many children understand a photo of the real thing better than an icon. Tap ✏️ → 📷 Photo, take a picture or choose one, and crop it to a square. The photo is made smaller on your device and saved in My photos, ready to use on any card.
Your photos never leave your device. Nothing is uploaded — not to us and not to anyone else.
FAQ
Is it free?
Yes. The board is free in your browser. No account, no ads.
Where are my photos stored?
Only on this device, inside your browser's storage (IndexedDB). They are never uploaded to a server and never sent to analytics. If you use another phone or browser, open the ⋯ menu → Backup → Export, and Import it there.
Can my boards get lost?
They can, because they live only in this browser. Clearing browser data deletes them, and Safari may delete site data after some days without a visit. To stay safe: add the board to your Home Screen, and export a backup now and then.
Can I print it?
Yes. Open the ⋯ menu → Print, and choose “this pair” or “all pairs”. You get a clean paper board with your icons and photos.
What is First-Then-Next?
It adds a third card (⋯ menu → 3 cards). Use it when the child is ready to see one more step, for example “First bath, then story, next bed”.
Does it work on iPad and iPhone?
Yes, in Safari. On iPad, ⛶ gives real full screen. On iPhone, Safari keeps its bars; for full screen, add the board to the Home Screen and open it from there.
Is there an app?
Not yet. Tap “Want this as an iPhone/iPad app?” to tell us you want one. For full daily schedules try Visual Schedule, and for rewards try Token Board.
Do you track my child?
No. No cookies, no ad networks, no trackers. Card words and photos are never sent anywhere.