Helping your child understand what is happening now and next
Why?
- To help prepare them for any changes e.g. fun toys having to go away, having to leave the park
- To help them prepare for going somewhere new
How?
- Use a Now and Next board – here are some examples of these:
- Tell and show them what will be happening e.g. “now park, next bubbles”.
- Prepare them for when the first activity will be ending e.g. “park is nearly finished”.
- If your child struggles with things finishing, then you could try using a timer on your phone or counting down out loud and on your fingers. You could also try to have a very motivating activity that is coming next e.g. bubbles. 5……….…….4………..……..3………………2…………….1… “finished"
- When the ‘now’ activity ends, you could wave to it and say “bye bye” and also show your child that the ‘now’ activity is finished by taking the picture off and replacing it with the ‘next’ activity picture.
- Below is a video we have made which shows how you could use a now and next board:
- You can click here to read a written transcript of this video.
- You can also click here to watch another useful video made by colleagues in Newham, which shows how you might use a now and next board with your child.
Last updated14 Feb 2024