Best for this moment
for calmer, lower-pressure moments, especially when you need something flexible indoors or outdoors.
Now and Next Picture Cards
At a glance: Show your toddler two simple pictures — what we are doing now and what comes next — to make every transition visible and calm. A 5-minute, low-energy both activity for ages 12m–4y.
For toddlers, the future is invisible and therefore frightening. 'Now and Next' picture cards make the immediate future concrete and predictable by showing just two images: the current activity and what follows. This visual support is used extensively in early years settings and speech therapy, and it works brilliantly at home for any tricky transition — play to dinner, telly to bath, outside to inside. The simplicity of just two images avoids overwhelming young children while giving them enough information to mentally prepare for what is coming.
Parent tip
Set out construction paper and crayons before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.
What success looks like
A good outcome is a few minutes of engaged play, some back-and-forth with you, and a small sign of progress in cognitive skills.
More help for this situation
Bedtime and wind-down
Bedtime
Use predictable routines, low-pressure activities, and calmer transitions into sleep mode.
Read the bedtime guideInstructions
- Prepare simple picture cards by drawing or printing images of daily activities — playing, eating, bathing, sleeping, going outside. Stick each to a piece of card.
- Choose the two cards for the current transition: hold up the 'now' card and the 'next' card side by side.
- Point and say: 'Look — NOW we are playing blocks. NEXT we are having dinner. Playing, then dinner.'
- Place the cards somewhere visible — on the table, stuck to the fridge, or on a small board.
- Give a two-minute warning: 'Nearly time. Remember — NOW blocks, NEXT dinner. Two more minutes of blocks.'
- When the transition arrives, point to the cards again: 'Blocks are finished. See? Now it's time for dinner — just like the picture shows.'
- As you move to the next activity, turn the 'now' card face down or move it away, leaving only the 'next' card visible.
- Once your child is settled in the new activity, praise: 'You moved from blocks to dinner so well! The picture cards helped you know what was coming.'
Why it helps
Visual supports reduce the cognitive load of transitions because they bypass the need for a toddler to hold a verbal instruction in working memory. Speech and language therapists recommend 'now and next' boards as one of the most effective communication tools for young children, including those with additional needs. The visual cue provides a sense of control and predictability that directly reduces the anxiety and resistance that cause transition tantrums.
Variations
- Use photographs of your actual home — your child's bath, their high chair, the park — for maximum recognition.
- Let your child move the cards themselves, turning 'now' face down and pointing to 'next' — this gives them ownership of the transition.
- For older toddlers, extend to three cards: 'First, then, after' — but always start with just two.
Safety tips
- Use sturdy card with rounded corners — avoid laminated cards with sharp edges that could cut small fingers.
- Keep cards out of reach of children who still mouth things, as small cards can be a choking risk.
- Never use the cards as a threat ('Look, bath time is coming!') — always frame them positively and calmly.
When to pause and seek extra support
Stop if your child becomes distressed, unsafe, or consistently frustrated by the activity. If play, behaviour, or development worries keep showing up across settings, check in with a qualified professional.
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