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Free Printable Now & Next Board
A Now and Next visual board — plus a Now, Next & Then version, a ready-made bedtime routine, and over 100 cut-out activity cards. For autistic children and children with additional needs.
Download the free printable (PDF) A4 · 13 pages · two boards, a bedtime example & 100+ cut-out cardsA Now and Next board shows a child what is happening now and what comes next — one step at a time. For many autistic children, seeing the next step rather than only being told it takes the anxiety out of transitions and cuts down on repeated prompts. This free pack gives you the boards and the cards to fill them, ready to print at home.
What's included
- Now & Next board — two steps, for when longer sequences feel like too much
- Now, Next & Then board — three steps, for slightly longer routines
- A ready-made bedtime example — bath, then pyjamas, then story
- Over 100 cut-out activity cards — meals, self-care, school, play, outings, feelings, pets and more
- Print-friendly — designed to work with hook-and-loop (Velcro) dots so cards swap in and out
How to use it
- Choose the board that suits your child — Now & Next (two steps) or Now, Next & Then (three steps).
- Print the activity cards, cut them out, and laminate if you can. A small hook-and-loop dot on each card and box lets you swap them easily.
- Put the current activity in "Now" and the next in "Next". When "Now" finishes, move "Next" across and add a new card.
- Keep the language simple and consistent: "Now bath, next pyjamas."
- Start with a motivating "next" so the board feels positive, not just a list of demands.
The boxes are deliberately blank, so you can use the cut-out cards, write on them, or add your own photographs — real photos of your child doing the activity work brilliantly for some children.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Now and Next board?
It's a simple visual support showing what's happening now and what comes next, one step at a time. Seeing the next step rather than only being told it helps many children feel less anxious about transitions and reduces repeated prompting.
What's the difference between Now/Next and Now, Next & Then?
Now & Next shows two steps — ideal when a child finds long sequences overwhelming. Now, Next & Then adds a third step for slightly longer routines, like bath, then pyjamas, then a story. This pack includes both.
Is it free?
Yes — the PDF is completely free to download, print and cut out. Because the symbols come from the openly licensed Mulberry Symbol Set, you can also share the sheets, as long as the credit on them stays intact.
Do Now and Next boards help autistic children?
Transitions between activities are a common source of anxiety. A board makes the sequence visible and predictable, so change isn't a surprise — and because the information stays on the page, it also helps children who need longer to process spoken instructions.
More free resources from Helpset
Symbols: the Mulberry Symbol Set © Garry Paxton & Steve Lee, licensed under CC BY-SA (mulberrysymbols.org). This printable is shared by Helpset under the same CC BY-SA licence.