A Morning Visual Schedule! An easy way to get kids ready in the morning.

Morning routines can be chaotic, particularly when you’re trying to get kids up and ready for the day. Whether it’s for school, a day out, or just a usual weekday, establishing a consistent morning routine can help children start their day off on the right foot. Visual schedules are a fantastic tool for kids, especially for those who thrive on structure or have difficulty with transitions. This post will share benefits of a visual schedule and provide a sample routine to help your kiddos embrace their mornings with more independence and less stress.

Why a Visual Schedule?

Visual schedules can use pictures and/or words to represent each task in a sequence, which can help children:

1. Understand what’s expected of them.
2. Transition more smoothly between activities.
3. Develop a sense of time and order.
4. Build independence and self-confidence.
5. Reduce anxiety by providing a predictable structure.

Creating Your Morning Visual Schedule

Step 1: Identify the Tasks

Write down all the tasks that need to be done in the morning. Some tasks may include waking up, getting dressed, brushing teeth, eating breakfast, and packing a school bag.

Step 2: Customize Your Schedule

Every child is different, so tailor the schedule to their age, abilities, and needs. For younger children, fewer and simpler tasks may be better, while older kids can handle more complexity.

Step 3: Use Pictures

Find or create images that clearly represent each task. These can be hand-drawn, printed images, or even photographs of your child completing the tasks.

Step 4: Form and Arrange the Schedule

Place the images in the order they should be completed. You can use a poster board, a magnetic dry erase/white board, or even a digital device if that works better for your family. Use Velcro dots to interchange images as needed. Laminate the visual schedule and use dry erase markers to mark progress with “checks” or “cross-offs.” Here is a Laminator and Laminating Sheets if interested in purchasing.

Step 5: Review the Schedule

Go over the schedule with your child. Walk them through each task, ensuring they understand what each picture represents. For the older kiddos, allow them to contribute to the set-up and making of the visual schedule which may help with ownership and buy-in.

Step 6: Make It Accessible

Place the visual schedule where your child can easily see it or access it. Lower it to their eye level, if necessary, and consider laminating it for durability. Walk through it with your kiddo until they become independent with using it on their own.

Sample Morning Visual Schedule

Here’s an example of a simple morning routine for kids:

1. Wake Up – A picture of a child waking up in bed.
2. Get Dressed – Images representing putting on underwear, socks, pants, and a shirt.
3. Brush Teeth – A picture of a child brushing teeth. A fun helpful addition may be using a teeth brushing timer.
4. Comb Hair – An image showing a child combing or brushing their hair.
5. Eat Breakfast – Photos of breakfast foods like cereal, milk, and fruit.
6. Pack Bag – A snapshot of a child putting books and a lunchbox into a backpack.
7. Put on Shoes – An illustration of a child tying their shoelaces.
8. Head Out – A photo of a child with a backpack ready to leave the house.

Allow room for flexibility in your routine, because some days may require slight changes. To do this with your visual schedule, you can add a blank spot to add a picture or make a space for a “write-in” task. Think about breaking down larger tasks into smaller steps as needed, such as providing individual sock, underwear, pant, and shirt pictures instead of a general “Get dressed” visual. You know your kiddo the best, so adjust and readjust your visual schedules as needed. Don’t forget that positive reinforcement works wonders. Praise your child for following their schedule or offer a small reward for consistency and success. Take a look at a token board/reward chart if interested.

Conclusion

Visual schedules can transform mornings from chaotic to calm and set a positive tone for the rest of the day. There are fun visual schedules available for purchase, but you can also put one together easily with what you may already have. With a little bit of planning and creativity, you can craft a morning routine that empowers your kiddo to start their day independently and confidently. Purchase a visual schedule set or use the sample schedule provided. Either way you can adjust it to better fit your family’s needs. Remember, be creative and have fun!

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