Autism, early intervention and IEP glossary for parents
Plain-English meanings of 74 terms you may hear from doctors, therapists, early intervention staff, schools and insurers. Where a term is disputed, we say so.
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- 504 plan
- A 504 plan is the usual name for the plan a public school puts in place under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a federal civil rights law, for a student whose disability substantially limits a major life activity, such as learning. It lists accommodations, aids and services, such as extra time, movement breaks or a quiet place to work, so the student's needs are met as adequately as other students' needs. A child does not need to qualify for special education to have one.
A
- AAC (augmentative and alternative communication)
- AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) means ways of communicating that add to or replace speech, including gestures, signs, pictures, communication books and boards, and speech-generating apps or devices. AAC does not stop children from learning to talk: in the best-evidence studies in a 2006 review, none of 27 cases showed less speech after AAC was introduced, and 89% gained some speech. It works best when adults use it themselves while they talk.
- ABA (applied behavior analysis)
- ABA (applied behavior analysis) is an approach that looks at what happens before and after a behavior and uses prompts and rewards to teach skills and change behavior. CDC describes styles that range from step-by-step teaching of small skills to teaching in natural settings. Programs can run for many hours a week, and insurance and Medicaid often pay for them. Views are divided: many providers call ABA evidence-based, while the Autistic Self Advocacy Network cites ethical problems and a lack of evidence.
- ABLE account
- An ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) account is a tax-advantaged savings account for a person whose disability began before age 46 (before 26 until January 1, 2026). It can pay for disability-related costs such as education, housing, health care and assistive technology. Anyone can pay in, up to a combined $20,000 in 2026 (more if the account owner works), and up to $100,000 in the account does not count toward the SSI resource limit. Each person can have only one ABLE account.
- ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
- The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) is a federal civil rights law. Title III covers private child care centers, including small home-based programs, and Title II covers child care and schools run by state and local governments. Programs must assess each child as an individual and make reasonable modifications so children with disabilities can take part. Child care run by religious organizations is exempt.
- ADHD
- ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, activity levels and impulsivity. It often occurs alongside autism: a review of 96 studies found ADHD in about 28% of autistic people of all ages. A child can be diagnosed with both, and the signs can overlap, so it helps when the professionals evaluating your child look for both.
- Aided language modeling
- Aided language modeling means an adult pointing to words on a child's AAC system while talking, so the child sees how it is used, without asking the child to copy. A 2018 review of 28 studies found it highly effective for both understanding and expression. A common starting point is to model one or two key words many times a day, during everyday routines.
- Alexithymia
- Alexithymia means difficulty noticing, naming and describing your own feelings. It is common but not universal in autistic people: a review of 15 studies, mostly of adults, found it in about half of autistic participants, compared with about 5% of others. That is one reason feelings tools often include body-based choices, such as 'my body feels fast', and an 'I don't know' option.
- Autism
- Autism is a developmental difference and disability that affects how a person communicates, interacts with other people, learns and experiences the world, including through their senses. The National Institute of Mental Health says signs usually appear in the first two years of life, although autism can be diagnosed at any age. Every autistic person has their own mix of strengths and support needs. Medical reports call it autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and autism is also an eligibility category in US special education law.
- Autistic burnout
- Autistic burnout is deep exhaustion that builds up when the demands on an autistic person are more than they can keep handling. Seattle Children's says causes can include masking, too many challenges, sudden changes, loud or bright places and social expectations, and that signs in children include more meltdowns, tiredness, not wanting to talk or play, getting upset easily and losing skills they had. Children may need more rest and fewer demands. Any loss of skills should be checked by your child's pediatrician.
B
- BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst)
- A BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) holds a graduate-level certification in behavior analysis from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). BCBAs can provide behavior-analytic services, including ABA programs, as independent practitioners, and they supervise Registered Behavior Technicians and other staff. Some states also require a separate state license. You can check a person's certification on the BACB's website.
- BIP (behavior intervention plan)
- A BIP (behavior intervention plan) is a written plan, based on a functional behavior assessment, that sets out how adults will prevent a behavior, teach the student a better way to get what they need, and respond when the behavior happens. Under IDEA, a school must put one in place in some discipline situations, and an IEP team must consider positive behavioral supports whenever behavior gets in the way of learning.
C
- CCC-SLP
- CCC-SLP stands for Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology, a national credential from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). To earn it, a speech-language pathologist completes an accredited graduate program, passes a national exam and completes a supervised clinical fellowship. ASHA certification and state licensure are separate, and each state sets its own licensing rules.
- Child Find
- Child Find is the duty, under IDEA, for every state to identify, locate and evaluate all children with disabilities who need special education, however severe their disability, including children in private schools and children who are moving up from grade to grade. Early intervention programs have a similar duty for babies and toddlers. You can ask your school district, or your early intervention program if your child is under 3, to evaluate your child, and no diagnosis is needed.
- Choice board
- A choice board shows a small number of real options as pictures, such as snacks, toys or activities, so a child can choose by pointing or handing over a picture. Offering real choices gives children some control, and in a small study, being offered choices led to less challenging behavior. It helps to include 'break' and 'help' on the board, and to honor the choice your child makes.
- Co-occurring conditions
- Co-occurring conditions are other conditions that often happen alongside autism, such as ADHD, anxiety, epilepsy, sleep problems, intellectual disability and gut problems like constipation. They are common: a review of 96 studies found ADHD in about 28% of autistic people and anxiety disorders in about 20%. Pain or illness can show up as a change in behavior, so it is worth checking for health causes first.
- Co-regulation
- Co-regulation is when a calm, trusted adult helps a child manage big feelings by lending them their own calm, through a steady voice, few words, closeness and comfort. Researchers describe parent and child co-regulation as a key way children develop self-regulation, although research with young autistic children is still limited.
- Core vocabulary
- Core vocabulary is the small set of words people use most often, in lots of situations, such as 'more', 'go', 'stop', 'help' and 'not'. AAC boards built on core words let a child say many things with a few words. The Universal Core, from the University of North Carolina, is a set of 36 such words, including 'want', 'like', 'finished' and 'turn'.
D
- Demand avoidance
- Demand avoidance means resisting or avoiding everyday requests and expectations, sometimes even for things a child wants to do. Some families and clinicians use the term pathological demand avoidance (PDA) for an extreme pattern. The Child Mind Institute says PDA is not a diagnosis in the DSM and links it to anxiety and inflexibility, and it suggests a collaborative approach, with negotiation, that helps a child feel more in control.
- Developmental-behavioral pediatrician
- A developmental-behavioral pediatrician is a pediatrician with extra subspecialty training in children's development, learning and behavior, on top of medical school, a pediatrics residency and board certification in pediatrics. They evaluate and care for autistic children, and children with ADHD, learning disorders or delays in speech, language or motor skills. You can check a doctor's board certification on the American Board of Pediatrics website.
- DSM-5-TR support levels
- DSM-5-TR support levels are the three levels in the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual, DSM-5 (now in a text revision, DSM-5-TR): level 1 (requires support), level 2 (requires substantial support) and level 3 (requires very substantial support). Clinicians give a level separately for social communication and for restricted, repetitive behaviors. A level describes how much support a person needs, not who they are, and needs can change over time.
E
- Early intervention (Part C)
- Early intervention is the program, under Part C of IDEA, that serves babies and toddlers from birth to age 3 who have developmental delays or disabilities. Every state runs one and sets its own eligibility rules. Parents can refer their own child, and no diagnosis is needed. The program has 45 days from the referral to complete the evaluation and assessments and hold the first IFSP meeting, with limited exceptions. Evaluations and service coordination are free to families.
- Echolalia
- Echolalia is repeating words or phrases a child has heard, either right away (immediate echolalia) or later (delayed echolalia), such as lines from a favorite show. Many autistic children use it, and it often has a purpose: a child may use an echo to ask for something, protest, answer yes or keep an interaction going. Thinking about when and where your child first heard the words can help you understand what they mean.
- EPSDT
- EPSDT (Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment) is Medicaid's benefit for children and young people under 21. It covers regular checkups and screenings, and states must also cover any Medicaid-coverable service that is medically necessary to correct or ameliorate a child's condition, even if the state's Medicaid plan does not normally include it. For an autistic child on Medicaid, this can include therapies that are found to be medically necessary.
F
- FAPE (free appropriate public education)
- FAPE (free appropriate public education) is what public schools must give every child who qualifies under IDEA: special education and related services provided at public expense and without charge, meeting state standards, from preschool through high school, and following the child's IEP. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act also requires schools to give disabled students a free appropriate public education, which can be regular or special education with related aids and services.
- First-Then board
- A first-then board is a simple visual support with two spaces: a picture of what happens first and a picture of what comes next (then). It shows a child the order of two events so the next step is predictable. It helps when the 'first' step is one your child can manage and the 'then' is something they enjoy or chose. Use it to inform your child, never as a threat.
- Focused interests
- Focused interests are topics or activities an autistic person cares about intensely, such as trains, dinosaurs or a favorite TV show. Many autistic people find the older term 'special interests' patronizing, and researchers suggest 'focused interests' instead. It often helps to build a child's interests into play and learning, and interests should never be taken away as a punishment.
- Functional behavior assessment (FBA)
- A functional behavior assessment (FBA) is a structured look at a behavior to work out what triggers it, what need it meets for the child and what follows it, so support can meet that need in a better way. Under IDEA, when a school finds that a child's behavior was a manifestation of their disability, it must carry out an FBA, unless one was already done, and put a behavioral intervention plan in place, or review the existing plan.
G
- Gestalt language processing
- Gestalt language processing is a popular idea that some children learn language in whole chunks, such as phrases from shows, before breaking them into single words. It is usually linked to a six-stage protocol called Natural Language Acquisition. A 2025 systematic review found no studies testing it, and researchers dispute its theory and its claim that most autistic children learn this way. Responding to the meaning of your child's echoes is still good practice.
H
- HCBS waiver
- An HCBS (home and community-based services) waiver is a Medicaid program that lets a state pay for long-term supports at home or in the community, such as respite, personal care and case management, for people who would otherwise need institutional care. Some waivers are for autistic children, and waivers can let a child qualify without counting their parents' income. States choose how many people each waiver serves, so waiting lists are common, and it is worth applying early.
- Head Start
- Head Start is a federal early childhood program for young children from families with low incomes, with Early Head Start for babies and toddlers. Its rules say programs must not deny enrollment because of a disability and, as of October 2026, cannot expel or unenroll a child because of behavior. In August 2026 the government proposed removing that expulsion rule, so check its current status.
I
- IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)
- IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) is the main US federal special education law. Part C covers early intervention for babies and toddlers up to age 3, and Part B requires public schools to make a free appropriate public education available to eligible children and young people from age 3 through 21. In the 2022-23 school year, 7.5 million students aged 3 to 21 were served under IDEA, and autism was the category for 13% of them.
- Identity-first language
- Identity-first language puts the identity first, as in 'autistic child', rather than person-first language such as 'child with autism'. ASHA, the professional body for speech-language pathologists, accepts both: some people choose identity-first language because they see autism as part of who they are, while others prefer person-first language. This site uses identity-first language. As your child grows, follow their own preference.
- IEP (Individualized Education Program)
- An IEP (Individualized Education Program) is the written plan a public school must make for each child who qualifies for special education under IDEA, from age 3. It sets out the child's current skills, measurable annual goals, how progress will be measured and reported, and the special education, related services, supports and accommodations the school will provide, including how often and where. Parents are members of the IEP team, and the IEP must be reviewed at least once a year.
- IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan)
- An IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) is the written plan for a baby or toddler in early intervention (Part C of IDEA). It is made with the family and sets out the early intervention services the child and family will receive. The first IFSP meeting must be held within 45 days of the referral, with limited exceptions. The plan is reviewed at least every six months and evaluated at a meeting at least once a year, and parents must give written consent before services start.
- Intellectual disability
- Intellectual disability means having significantly more difficulty than most people with learning, reasoning and everyday living skills, starting in childhood. Some autistic children have an intellectual disability and many do not: in CDC's 2022 data on autistic 8-year-olds, 39.6% of those with IQ test results were classified as having an intellectual disability. IQ scores in young children are not always stable, so they can change as a child grows.
- Interoception
- Interoception is the sense that tells you what is happening inside your body, such as hunger, thirst, pain, tiredness, needing the bathroom and feelings. Some autistic children find these signals hard to notice or make sense of, which can affect eating, sleep, potty training and telling you something hurts. Noticing and naming body signals together, in calm moments, can help.
J
- Joint attention
- Joint attention is when two people share attention on the same thing and let each other know it, for example by looking, pointing or showing a toy. ASHA describes it as the shared focus of two or more people on the same object or event, and lists differences in joint attention among the social communication differences seen in autism. Play that follows your child's lead can build it.
L
- LRE (least restrictive environment)
- LRE (least restrictive environment) is the IDEA rule that children with disabilities, including preschool children, are educated with children without disabilities as much as appropriate. A child should be moved to a separate class or school only when education in regular classes, with supplementary aids and services, cannot be achieved satisfactorily.
M
- M-CHAT
- The M-CHAT (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers) is a short questionnaire parents fill in about their toddler, used to spot children who may need a full autism evaluation. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends autism screening at the 18-month and 24-month checkups, and the M-CHAT is a common tool. A screening result is not a diagnosis: it shows whether a closer look is needed.
- Manifestation determination
- A manifestation determination is a review IDEA requires within 10 school days of a school deciding to change a disabled child's placement for breaking a code of conduct, such as a removal of more than 10 school days in a row. The school district, the parents and relevant members of the IEP team decide whether the behavior was caused by, or directly and substantially related to, the child's disability, or resulted from the school not following the IEP. If so, the child usually returns to their placement, with a behavior plan.
- Masking (camouflaging)
- Masking, also called camouflaging, is when an autistic person hides or makes up for autistic traits to fit in, for example by copying other people or holding back stims. Autistic adults in research describe it as exhausting. Children who mask may seem settled at school or daycare but need time to recover at home, so behavior at home and at school can look very different.
- Meltdown
- A meltdown is an intense, involuntary response to feeling completely overwhelmed, for example by stress, sensory input or too many demands. It can involve crying, yelling, pacing, stimming or trying to escape. The Autism Society says a meltdown is not a behavioral issue but a natural reaction when a person's ways of coping are exceeded. What helps is staying calm, keeping everyone safe, giving space and time, and cutting noise and other triggers.
- Minimally speaking
- Minimally speaking describes a child or adult who uses a small number of spoken words or phrases, or cannot rely on speech alone to communicate. Definitions vary; a 2018 Cochrane review used fewer than 30 functional words. The review says about 25% to 30% of autistic children do not develop functional language or are minimally speaking. Many autistic children talk later than others, and nobody can predict this for one child.
N
- NDBI (naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention)
- An NDBI (naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention) is a play-based approach, used by therapists and parents, that combines teaching methods from behavior analysis with what is known about child development. Teaching happens in everyday play and routines, the child and adult share control, and goals fit the child's stage of development. Examples include the Early Start Denver Model and JASPER. In a 2023 review of 252 studies, NDBIs were the only approach with an effect that held up, on one outcome, when only the most rigorous evidence was kept.
- Neurodivergent
- Neurodivergent describes a person whose brain develops or works differently from what is considered typical, such as an autistic person or a person with ADHD. A person who is not neurodivergent is often called neurotypical. ASHA, the professional body for US speech-language pathologists, suggests saying 'neurodivergent person' rather than 'person with neurodiversity'.
- Non-speaking
- Non-speaking describes a person who does not use spoken words to communicate, or uses very few. It does not mean they cannot understand or have nothing to say: many communicate through gestures, signs, pictures, typing or AAC. Some families and services still say nonverbal. ASHA suggests describing how a person communicates, for example 'person who uses gesture and picture symbols'.
O
- One-page profile
- A one-page profile is a short, positive summary of a child on a single page: their strengths, what matters to them, how they communicate and what helps them. Families share it with daycare, preschool, school, clubs and new professionals, and can bring it to evaluations, so people can understand and support the child well from the start.
- OT (occupational therapist)
- An OT (occupational therapist) helps people take part in everyday activities such as dressing, eating, play, using the bathroom and schoolwork. For autistic children, OTs often look at sensory needs and movement skills and suggest changes at home or school. CDC lists occupational therapy among the developmental approaches used with autistic people. OTs are licensed by each state, and many use the letters OTR/L, meaning registered and licensed.
P
- Paraprofessional (para)
- A paraprofessional, often called a para, paraeducator or aide, is a school employee who supports students under a teacher's direction. IDEA allows paraprofessionals to help provide special education and related services when they are appropriately trained and supervised under state rules. Some students have a one-to-one aide in their IEP, although that is not a legal term.
- Parent Center (PTI)
- A Parent Center is a free service, funded by the federal government under IDEA, that gives families of children with disabilities, from birth to age 26, information, training and help, including understanding their rights under IDEA. Every state has at least one Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), and some communities also have a Community Parent Resource Center. Parent Centers can help you prepare for early intervention and school meetings.
- Part B of IDEA
- Part B of IDEA is the part of the federal special education law that covers children and young people from age 3 through 21. States must make a free appropriate public education available to every eligible child, starting no later than the third birthday, so children leaving early intervention can move to a preschool IEP at 3. A parent can ask the school district for an evaluation at any time; if it agrees, it must evaluate within 60 days of the parent's consent, or the state's own timeline (34 CFR 300.301).
- PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)
- PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) is a structured program, developed in the US in 1985, in which a child first learns to hand a picture to a person to ask for something, then builds up over six phases to sentences, answering questions and commenting. PECS is a registered trademark. A 2018 Cochrane review reported that in a UK school trial, early gains were not maintained 10 months later.
- Positive behavior support (PBS)
- Positive behavior support (PBS) is an approach that tries to understand why a behavior happens and then changes the child's surroundings, teaches new skills and meets their needs, rather than relying on punishment. In US schools, a related framework is called PBIS (positive behavioral interventions and supports). Under IDEA, when a child's behavior gets in the way of their own or other children's learning, the IEP team must consider positive behavioral interventions and supports.
- Proprioception
- Proprioception is the body-position sense: knowing where your body is and how it is moving, through signals from your muscles and joints, without looking. A child who seeks lots of deep pressure, squeezes or heavy work, such as carrying or pushing things, may be looking for more of this input. Another child may seem clumsy or unsure where their body is.
- Protection and Advocacy agency
- A Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agency is an organization with legal authority to protect the rights of people with disabilities, including children. There are 57: one in every state and territory, plus a Native American consortium, funded under the federal Developmental Disabilities Act. P&As help people with disabilities know and use their rights, and they can investigate suspected abuse or neglect. Contact your state's P&A to ask what help it can offer.
R
- RBT (Registered Behavior Technician)
- An RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) is a paraprofessional certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board to help deliver behavior-analytic services, such as ABA sessions. RBTs work under the direction and close supervision of a qualified supervisor, such as a BCBA, who is responsible for their work. RBTs do not practice independently.
- Respite
- Respite is short-term care for your child by someone else, from a few hours to overnight, so you can rest, work or look after other things. In the US, Medicaid home and community-based services waivers can pay for respite care, and some states and local agencies run other respite programs. Your state's disability services agency or 211 can tell you what is available.
- Restraint and seclusion
- Physical restraint means holding a student so they cannot move their body freely. Seclusion means confining a student alone in a room or area they are not allowed to leave; a monitored break in an unlocked space the student is free to leave is not seclusion. Their use in schools is largely governed by state law, so the rules differ from state to state.
S
- Self-regulation
- Self-regulation is a person's ability to notice and manage their own feelings, energy and behavior, for example by moving, breathing slowly, stimming or taking a break. It develops gradually, usually after lots of co-regulation with trusted adults. Autistic children may self-regulate in ways that look different, such as stimming, which autistic adults describe as calming.
- Sensory overload
- Sensory overload is when there is more sensory input, such as noise, light, crowds or touch, than a person can cope with, leading to intense distress. The Organization for Autism Research lists signs such as covering eyes or ears, more stimming, restlessness, irritability, panic and wanting to escape. A child in overload may run off without noticing dangers such as traffic, so plan quiet breaks and safe exits in busy places.
- Sensory processing differences
- Sensory processing differences are differences in how a person notices and reacts to information from their senses, such as sounds, lights, textures, smells, tastes, movement and body signals. A child can be over-sensitive to some things and under-sensitive to others. They are part of the diagnostic criteria for autism, which include being over- or under-reactive to sensory input, or unusually interested in sensory parts of the environment.
- Shutdown
- A shutdown is a quieter response to overwhelm, when an autistic person withdraws, stops talking, seems unresponsive or cannot move or engage. The Autism Society describes it as a protective way to conserve energy during intense stress. A child in a shutdown is not ignoring you or being fine. Quiet, time and no pressure to talk are sensible responses.
- SLP (speech-language pathologist)
- An SLP (speech-language pathologist), often called a speech therapist, helps with understanding and using language, speech, social communication and other ways of communicating, such as AAC. ASHA, their professional body, says SLPs play a central role in screening, assessing, diagnosing and supporting autistic people, ideally as part of a team. SLPs work in early intervention, schools, clinics and hospitals. Look for a state license and ASHA's CCC-SLP credential.
- Speech-generating device
- A speech-generating device is a tablet app or dedicated device that speaks words aloud when a person presses pictures, words or letters. It is one kind of high-tech AAC. In a trial of 61 minimally speaking children aged 5 to 8, starting with a device alongside play-based teaching increased spontaneous communication more than spoken-language teaching alone.
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a monthly payment from the Social Security Administration for disabled people, including children, with limited income and resources. For a child under 18, Social Security also counts the income and resources of parents in the household, so a child can qualify only if the family's income and resources are limited. The child's condition must cause 'marked and severe functional limitations' expected to last at least 12 months. In most states, a child who gets SSI can also get Medicaid.
- Stimming
- Stimming, short for self-stimulatory behavior, means repeated movements or sounds such as hand-flapping, rocking, spinning, humming or touching textures. Autistic adults describe it as a way to stay calm, focus, cope with overwhelming surroundings or show joy, and many object to efforts to stop harmless stims. Only stims that cause injury need a safe alternative.
T
- TEFRA or Katie Beckett
- TEFRA or Katie Beckett is an optional Medicaid route for disabled children under 19 who live at home but need the level of care usually given in a hospital, nursing facility or intermediate care facility. The state does not count the parents' income or resources, and caring for the child at home must cost no more than institutional care. It is named after a girl whose family's advocacy led to it. Not every state offers it, and some provide similar help through a waiver.
- Transition
- A transition is a change from one activity, place or stage to another, from turning off the TV for dinner to starting school. Transitions are often hard for autistic children. A 2026 review of 19 small experiments found that warnings on their own often did not make transitions easier, and in one study warnings alone made things worse. It can help to pair a picture of what comes next with something worth moving to.
V
- Vestibular sense
- The vestibular sense is the sense of balance and movement, which tells you how your body is moving and which way up it is. Some children seek lots of movement, such as spinning, swinging and jumping, while others find some movement uncomfortable or disorienting. Offering safe ways to move, or to stay still, can help a child feel settled.
- Visual schedule
- A visual schedule is a row or list of pictures, symbols or words showing the order of activities in part or all of a day. It helps a child know what to expect and see changes before they happen. A 2015 review judged visual activity schedules an evidence-based practice, especially when adults teach how to use them. It can help to start with a few steps, let your child mark each one as finished, and include enjoyable things and rest.
- Visual supports
- Visual supports are pictures, photos, symbols, objects or written words that help a person understand what is happening, what comes next or what they can choose. They include first-then boards, visual schedules, choice boards and timers. The National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice counts visual supports among its evidence-based practices, based on 65 studies. They should help a child understand, not force compliance.
- Visual timer
- A visual timer shows time passing in a way a child can see, such as a sand timer or a colored disc that shrinks. It can help a child understand how long something will last or when a change is coming. A 2026 review found that warnings on their own often did not make moving on from a favorite activity easier, so use a timer as one part of a plan, such as a first-then board with something your child enjoys next.