A picture schedule is just what it sounds like: a visual representation of some or all of your child's routine. Changes can be both scary and frustrating to kids; all children -- and autistic children in particular -- can feel a sense of comfort in better understanding what will happen during the day. A picture schedule can be used to lay out a child's whole day in images, or you can use a few simple pictures to ease a particular transition, such as going to bed or getting in and out of the car.
To start making your picture schedule, you just need a large board for placing the pictures. A piece of foam board or cardboard should work fine.
Next, go to your local craft store (or Walmart's craft section) and purchase sticky Velcro. Attach a length of Velcro across the center of your schedule board. (Obviously, if you attach the "soft" half of the Velcro to the board, then your pictures will eventually have the "rough" Velcro attached to the back, in order for the pictures to adhere to the surface of the board.)
If you want a smaller, more portable schedule, one that you can use for on-the-go routines, consider using a manila file folder. Add a couple of staples along the sides and you also have a pocket for storing your pictures.
You can either orient the schedule horizontally, reading the schedule from left to right -- or you can run the strip vertically and list the pictures in the schedule in order from top to bottom. There is a school of thought that says its better to reinforce the idea of reading left-to-right as soon as possible -- but the schedule works either way.
Next, you'll want to figure out what kind of routine you want to picture. Is it the whole day? If so, you'll need pictures beginning with "wake up," "breakfast" and "get dressed" and end with "bath" and "bedtime." If there are particular parts of your child's day that you want to map out, draft a step-by-step breakdown and then figure out what pictures you'll need.
For instance, if "going to therapy" is a routine you want to picture, you'll probably need a picture of your vehicle, a picture of the therapist, and maybe even a picture of a reward, if the transitions go smoothly.
You have a lot of options when it comes to the pictures that you attach to your schedule. You can take pictures yourself and print them out: pictures of your child's favorite toys and foods, bedroom, potty, bathtub, etc. Or you can purchase a set of icons to use on the board from a site like DoToLearn, which can help you build your schedule online. You might decide to use a combination of your images and images you find online or buy.
Other sources for picture schedule icons include ABA Resources, the Child Autism Parent Cafe, and Visual Aids for Learning. If you are a local Tallahassee parent with an autistic child, and you register as a client (completely free) with the CARD center, they will help you create a picture schedule and even print out and laminate pictures for you.
How to create a picture schedule: Click here for part two!
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