Have you used a visual schedule?… the answer is YES! Our calendars and agendas are perfect simple examples of the visual schedules we need to stay organized and control the expectations about what’s happening every day. Your child might benefit from this too!
Visual schedules are helpful tools for children, especially those with developmental challenges or difficulties with routine and transitions. They provide a visual representation of daily activities, helping children understand what's coming next, reducing anxiety, and promoting a sense of control (very similar to what the Google Calendar does for us, right?). Visual schedules also enhance communication skills, foster independence, and encourage organization and time management.
Although we know that visual schedules are useful and helpful, we need to implement them correctly for them to be effective. Here are some tactics to effectively use visual schedules with children:
1. Simple and Clear Visuals: Use clear and simple images or symbols that represent each activity. Avoid clutter an
d choose visuals that the child can easily understand. If your child is at a reading stage, you can also include words or first sounds of the words related to each step.
2. Consistency: Keep the schedule consistent. If you want to implement specific routines, use the same format, similar colors, and symbols every day to help the child establish a routine. However, a visual schedule can basically be improvised even on a piece of napkin whenever is necessary to avoid/decrease frustration or any other aversive behavior.
3. Start with a Few Activities: Begin with a small number of activities on the schedule, gradually adding more as the child becomes comfortable. I personally like to start with a first/ then schedule (e.g., first we finish the puzzle, then we can play with the ball) and progressively expand to 3-5 more activities.
4. Visual Placement: Place the visual schedule in a prominent and easily accessible location for the child to have visual access to it. This could be on a wall, a whiteboard, or even a tablet next to them.
5. Use Real Photos: For certain activities or tasks, using real photos of the child or the actual objects involved can make the schedule even more relatable. Using photos is ideal for implementing self-care routines, to help them get ready to transition to different moments of the day, to support them with the completion of a challenging/aversive task, etc. If using/ printing the photos is tricky, don’t worry! The drawings or other related pictures can be also used.
6. Ensure Task Completion: Include "clean-up time" and/or cross out the activity from the visual schedule to help the child prepare for the upcoming change while having a sense of completion from the previous activity.
7. Use Timers: Whenever you feel it is necessary, Incorporate timers to indicate how long each activity will last. This helps the child understand the concept of time and manage their expectations. This tactic should not be implemented if the child is transitioning smoothly from one activity to another. Make sure to not overuse your “magic cards”
8. Involve the Child: Whenever possible, involve the child in creating or modifying the schedule. This can give them a sense of ownership and control.
9. Review and Preview: At the beginning of the activity or the session, review the schedule to set expectations. At the end of the activity or the session, go over what was accomplished and preview the next schedule if appropriate.
10. Alternate with Reinforcing Activities: Alternate preferred with non-preferred activities if you will be using the visual schedule for a few minutes, include high reinforcers at the end of every schedule, and have a motivating goal to accomplish towards the end of the visual plan.
11. Flexibility: While consistency is important, it's also crucial to be flexible. Sometimes, unexpected changes might occur, and it's okay to adjust the schedule accordingly. Make sure that the negotiation does not occur because the child is escaping the task. If the task is too challenging for them, break it into smaller tasks that can be completed throughout different activity schedules.
Remember that every child is unique, so it's important to observe how the child responds to the visual schedule and make adjustments as needed to best meet their individual needs. Additionally, make sure to assess their mood, energy level, and engagement before including too many complex activities within the same visual schedule.
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