How to use a visual schedule at home: a step-by-step guide for parents

Why pictures help

• Spoken words disappear the moment you say them. A picture stays there, so your child can look again whenever they need to.
• Knowing what comes next makes changes less surprising, and many hard moments can start with a surprise.
• A schedule lets your child do more without you saying every step. That is a real step toward independence.

Step 1: Choose one routine

Start with one routine that happens every day and is often hard: brushing teeth, getting dressed, getting ready for bed, or leaving the house. Don't start with everything. One routine done well teaches your child how schedules work.

Step 2: Break it into small steps

Do the routine yourself and write down each step in order. Brushing teeth can be 8 steps: get the toothbrush, get the toothpaste, put toothpaste on, brush, put water in the cup, rinse, dry your mouth, put things away. Use as many steps as your child needs. A child who is just starting may need more, smaller steps.

Step 3: Make a picture for each step

Use photos of your own things, simple drawings, or printed pictures. Put them in a row in the order they happen, in the direction your family reads or from top to bottom. Many families print the pictures, laminate them, and attach them with hook-and-loop tape (like Velcro), so a picture can be moved to a "done" spot when a step is finished.

Step 4: Put it where the routine happens

The toothbrushing schedule goes by the bathroom sink, at your child's eye level. The dressing schedule goes by the clothes. Your child should be able to see the next picture without looking for it.

Step 5: Teach it, then step back

• Show first. Point to the first picture, say one or two words ("toothbrush"), and help your child do that step.
• Help only as much as needed. Some children need you to show the step first, or to hand them the toothbrush. Others need only a point at the picture. Give the least help that works.
• Help a little less each time. As your child learns a step, move from showing and helping, to pointing, to just looking at the schedule together. The goal is for the pictures to do the reminding, not you.
• Mark each step done. Moving the picture to "done", or turning it over, shows progress and makes the end clear.

Step 6: Celebrate the finish

Right after the last step, praise your child or give a small reward they enjoy. A reward that comes straight after the routine makes it more likely next time. Some families use a token board: a few tokens earn something your child chooses.

Step 7: Add the next routine

When your child can follow one schedule with little help, add a second routine. Over time you can use a picture schedule for the whole day: morning, school, meals, bath and bed.

If it isn't working yet

• Too many steps at once? Teach only the first two or three until they're easy, then add more.
• Pictures not clear to your child? Try photos of your child's own things.
• Your child refuses? Make the reward come sooner, or start with a routine your child already likes. If your child is often upset or in pain, or a toothbrush, clothing or water bothers them, talk with your child's doctor, occupational therapist or behavior analyst.
• Something changes the day? Show the change on the schedule before it happens, with a picture of what will happen instead.

Make one free, or use a ready-made one

• Make your own free: our free Visual Schedule tool lets you choose a routine, adjust the steps and print it.
• Ready-made printable schedules: we sell picture schedules for brushing teeth, getting dressed, getting ready for bed, asking for help and more, many in boy and girl versions, from $1.99 each. See the visual schedules
• A token board: the free Token Board tool makes a simple reward chart to use with your schedule.

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