Does your child have trouble following a daily routine or have trouble when his/her daily routine is disrupted or changed? Is your child consistently distracted in the morning and always running  late for school? Does your child have trouble learning or following the order of events that occur in a sequence? If so, the structure of a visual schedule may be beneficial to your child as they transition back-to-school from summer vacation.
A visual schedule helps a child by establishing the structure and order of daily routines. There are many different types of visual schedules one can use depending on your purpose. They all have the common feature of using photos, icons, or drawings to show a sequence of activities. If your child can read, you can use a printed list to help them visualize activities. An activity schedule is often used for putting routines or daily events into sequential order.
Why Use a Visual Schedule?
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Many children who have special needs, such as autism or ADHD, become anxious when they don't know what to expect. A visual schedule can eliminate much of that anxiety as they can see a clear sequence of activities which have a beginning and an end.
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A visual schedule can help your child to feel more at ease through transitions.
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Using a visual schedule can help your child to become more independent.
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Your child may be able to accomplish more during their day as their schedule clearly shows which tasks need to be done and when.
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A visual schedule is particularly effective for those children who are visual learners as well as for children who do not read yet.
How Do You Create a Visual Schedule?
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Break your child's day into several steps represented by pictures or words. Be conscious of details. Be sure to include minor steps as needed for the individual.
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Represent each activity so your child knows what is expected. Include periods like free time and breaks.
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Determine the best visual format for your child based on skills, developmental level, interests, distractibility, and functionality.
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Determine how the schedule will be used to indicate which activities are completed and which remain to be done.
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Find pictures to represent the activity to be completed. You may choose to then affix Velcro to the back of the picture and secure it onto a binder, folder or other object. For older children, a checklist may be preferred (see examples below).
It is important to remember that a visual schedule will not automatically have meaning to your child. This will have to be taught. You should always actively involve your child in monitoring his/her schedule by having your child peel off the completed activities or check off the boxes for the activities.
For more information on the benefits of using a visual schedule with your child, please contact MPACT at info@ptimpact.org.
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