Schedule to Aid Transition (and Beyond)

Recently I’ve been using a visual schedule with my “littles.” A visual schedule is just that; simple pictures, photographs or drawings show a child what is happening now and what is coming up next.  A web search of “visual schedule” will give you some great examples.  It is a fairly common tool for kids with autism.

We began the schedule as an attachment tool for our 3 and 4 year olds but I have realized how helpful it would be for pre-reading-aged foster kids as well.  When new children come to the family, we always take care to let them know the routine, what’s coming next, etc.  I think them being able to see and manipulate it for themselves would be a tremendous help.

The schedule can be as easy or as complicated as is appropriate.  You can do simple line drawings, magazine photos, clip art or actual photographs.  We have started our schedule with clip art but are replacing those clips with actual photos of our kids one by one.  Here are some simple instructions:

1. Start with a piece of board or cardboard.  We used a clipboard we had around.
2. Choose a re-usable attachment method.  I used magnetic tape and taped three strips across the board.  Eventually we can have 9 items on our schedule;  right now we use 5.  We used magnetic squares on the back of the pictures.  Velcro would also work, or felt.
3. Print out or draw every-day activities such as, tooth brushing, eating, playing outdoors, playing with toys, cleaning up, school bus, etc.
4. Attach pictures to cards with fasteners on the back.
5. Start using the schedule!  Put up the next three or four “to-dos” and let the kids take them down as they are completed.

The holidays are a busy time in every household.  I admit that for a day or two, I got lazy with the schedule.  My three year old grabbed my hand the other day and said, “Mommy, can we please have the schedule?  I love the schedule.”  I love it too; it is  lazy parenting prevention!  No where on the schedule does it say, “Mom stares at her computer while we run amok.”

Try it for yourself and let me know how it goes for your household!

Photo credit:  Dreena T

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