Make transitions more successful with visuals…
Does your child struggle with transitions? Does it seem like you are reminding your child during morning routines every step of the way? Have you ever said, “He should get this by now! We do it every morning!” Visual schedules are a way to let your child know when something is done and when something fun will happen! It’s a great way to reduce anxiety and increase your child's chances of independently doing chores, getting ready for school, finishing homework, and so much more!
How to relate:
Knowing your schedule can allow you to:
👉 Prepare for challenging/work activities
👉 Look forward to fun events
👉 Keep you on time and professional
👉 Prevent missing important information
👉 Prepare for transitions
Why your learner may benefit:
Children, adolescents, and adults benefit from visual reminders of their schedules! Here are some visuals that can:
⭐️ Reduce anxiety
⭐️ Allow for positive transitions
⭐️ Build tolerance for delay
⭐️ Increase independence
⭐️ Reduce problem behavior
Examples of visual schedules:
Shorter time-frames:
⏳ Visual Timers
📝 First/Then Charts
☑️ Checklists
🌅 Routine Planners (morning routine, getting ready for bed, etc.)
Longer time-frames:
🗓️ Weekly family schedules
🗓️ Monthly calendars
🗓️ Online calendars
An example of how to teach using a calendar:
Use a monthly calendar and draw pictures for fun events such as holidays and vacations!
Have your child cross out days of the month to indicate time passing.
Start with quick events that require waiting for 1-2 days (e.g., tomorrow we go to the playground!), then gradually increase the time between now and an upcoming event to multiple days, weeks, and months!
