Why action cards are easier to follow

There are more ideas inside a single card than you might think.

4 min read

1. It doesn't disappear

Spoken words are gone the moment you hear them. A card stays where it is. If your child forgets, they can look again, and you don't have to repeat the same words.

ABA gives weight to visible cues like this, which make it easier to start an action.

2. One thing at a time

"Get ready" is many actions bundled into one phrase. A card shows only the one thing to do right now. The burden of choosing what to do first goes away.

3. Your child can move on alone

The card tells what comes next, so your child can keep going without your words. At first, stay close and point to the card. As it gets familiar, step back one step at a time.

4. What got done is visible

Checking off a finished card makes "I did it" visible. The praise and reward that follow right away give a reason to turn to the next card.

When the cards don't fit well

Your child often stops at one card → break that card into smaller ones
Your child doesn't look at the cards → try another picture style. Each person finds different pictures comfortable
Your child gets bored quickly → change the reward to something they like right now
You are worn out → cut back to just one routine. Keeping it up comes first

In ELUM

ELUM puts these four ideas on one screen. Each card is shown large, one at a time, and read aloud. A check brings a star, and finishing brings the reward the caregiver chose.

Frequently asked questions

From what age can action cards be used?

They can be used once your child can look at a picture and follow it. Set the number of cards and the sentences by what is easy and hard right now, not by age.

Will my child come to depend on the cards?

For routines that have become familiar, reduce or combine the cards over time. Cards are a tool for the way toward doing things on their own.

This article is a guide for everyday routines. ELUM does not replace diagnosis or treatment.