It's quick to put together and can be adapted to whatever suits your family, whether that's a printed chart, a laminated card, or something on a tablet or fridge.
Why a picture works well
Younger children take in a picture faster than a spoken instruction, especially one they've heard a few times already that morning. A row of simple images for "get dressed," "eat breakfast" and "brush teeth" gives your child something to check against on their own, instead of waiting to be told each step. The Raising Children Network notes that a chart showing the steps in a routine, displayed somewhere your child can see it, helps them know what's coming and what's expected of them.
Once it's in place, it takes on a chunk of the reminding for you.
What to include
Base it on the routine your family already follows. A solid starting point could include:
- Wake up and get dressed
- Eat breakfast
- Brush teeth
- Pack bag or put on shoes
Icons, drawings or photos of your child doing each task all work well, since the picture is doing most of the work here.
Making it work day-to-day
A few small choices make the difference between a chart your child will use and one that fades into the background:
- Build it together, so they understand each step and get some say in how it looks.
- Keep it somewhere they pass or check naturally, whether that's their bedroom, the kitchen or a device they already use.
- Give them a way to track progress, such as a peg to move, a box to tick, or an app they can mark off themselves.
- Keep the list short. A handful of steps is easier to hold in mind than a long one.
Letting kids mark things off themselves gives them a sense of control over their own morning.
What it changes
A visual list shifts part of your routine onto something your child can manage on their own. Fewer instructions need to be said out loud, and your child has a clear reference. Many families find that once the routine settles in, the reminders taper off naturally.
Source: Raising Children Network
