# How do I use a wait card with my autistic child?

> What a wait card is, how to teach it in tiny steps, and how to use it at home and out.

URL: https://theautismkit.com/guides/wait-card
By The Autism Kit team · Updated 2026-09-29

**Short answer:** A wait card is a picture card your child holds while they wait. It shows that the thing they want is coming, not gone. Teach it in tiny steps: hand over the card, wait just 2 seconds, then give the item and take the card back. Slowly make waits longer, and pair the card with a visual timer or tokens so your child can see how long is left.

**Key takeaways**
- A wait card shows the thing is **coming, not gone**.
- Start with **2-second waits**.
- Pair it with a **timer** or **tokens**.
- **Always follow through.**

## How do I teach it?

1. **Hand over the card**: "Wait."
2. **Count 2 seconds.**
3. **Give the item** and take the card back: "Good waiting."
4. **Repeat** many times a day.
5. **Make waits longer** slowly: 5 seconds, 10, 30, a minute.

Visual supports and quick rewards help children learn to wait.[1][2]

## Where can I use it?

**Try:**
- Snack time
- Turns with a sibling
- Queues and waiting rooms
- Before the iPad

**Skip:**
- Using it only when your child is upset
- Waits that are too long at first
- Forgetting to follow through

Free printable: [Free printable: waiting card](https://theautismkit.com/printables/waiting-card.pdf)

## What can I try this week?

- [ ] Print a waiting card
- [ ] Practise 2-second waits at snack
- [ ] Follow through every time

Read next: [How does a visual timer help?](https://theautismkit.com/guides/visual-timer-autism)

## Common questions

### What does a wait card look like?

Usually the word 'wait' with a simple picture, like a hand or a clock, on a small card.

### How long should waits be at first?

Just a few seconds. Success first, then longer waits.

### Can I use it outside the house?

Yes. Keep a copy in your bag or on your phone.

## Sources

1. AFIRM (UNC Frank Porter Graham): Visual supports evidence-based practice brief. https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/Visual-Supports-Brief-Packet.pdf
2. AFIRM (UNC Frank Porter Graham): Reinforcement. https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/reinforcement

General guidance, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Talk with your pediatrician or a developmental specialist about your child's care.