How to Make a Picture Schedule for Toddlers

Toddlers are notorious for their difficulty in transitioning from one activity to another. Patterns and routines help young children to know what to expect. One way to help them anticipate transitions is through the use of a picture schedule, which helps to show them the various activities of their day.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Computer
• Word processing software such as Microsoft Word
• Photos of activities, or clip art software
• Printer
• Access to a lamination device

Instructions

1. Choose the specificity of the picture schedule. Some may opt to have several different picture schedules for different parts of the day, and some may prefer one general picture schedule that focuses only on the main points of the routine. Determining which transitions are most difficult for your child can help determine which tactic to take. If the child has difficulty with only the main transitions such as eating and sleeping, a broad picture schedule can be enough. But if the child has difficulty with each transition in her day (such as brushing her teeth and reading bedtime stories and going to bed) it may be more appropriate to have picture schedules for particular sections of the day and go into fine detail in each section.

2. On a sheet of paper, organize the steps that you would like included in the schedule. For a general picture schedule, you might include getting ready for school, eating breakfast, going to school, coming home, homework, dinner and getting ready for bed.

3. Search a clipart program for pictures that symbolize each step in the schedule. For example, for the activity "Get dressed", you could use a clipart icon of a pair of pants. You also can find free clipart online, searching for "free clipart", or you can use the standard clipart icons that come with word processing programs such as Microsoft Word (Found under the Insert menu, go to Picture, then Clipart). If you would like to personalize the schedule, you could take pictures that feature your child doing each step, and then tape them or import a digital picture into the document.

4. Open the word processing program and create a document that lists the activities in the child's routine. Type each step in a column on the right, and import a picture illustrating or symbolizing that step on the left. If you will be taping printed photos onto the schedule, be sure to leave enough space in the left column.

5. Print the schedule on a color printer, and laminate it. Post the schedule in an area where transitions are most difficult. For example, if transitioning from eating breakfast in the kitchen to getting dressed in the bedroom is most difficult, it is helpful to have the schedule visible in the kitchen so that the child can be directed to "see what we're doing next".

Tips & Warnings

• It may be helpful to have a copy of the picture schedule posted in several different places in your home.

References

• Parents: Easing a Toddler's Daily Transitions
• eHow: How to Create a Picture Schedule for Autistic Children

Resources

• BellaOnline: Picture Schedule Samples