Starting back to school can often be challenging on the home front. As with any routine, it takes time to understand and remember what is expected. Visuals can assist children in building independence and reduce the need for many verbal reminders from parents.
Using visuals around the home can be helpful in getting everyone organized and out the door on time. A useful strategy is to post a visual reminder on the exit door for family members to check before leaving home. Depending on the age of family members, the reminder might be in a photo, picture or written format. The visual acts as a prompt to ensure that each family member has all the items needed such as backpack, snack and lunch, homework, notices to return to school, planner or extra clothes. It’s helpful tool for adults too!
Most children want know who will be picking them up after school if there are a number of people who do so. Providing a visual support provides information as to who will be picking them up thus decreasing any anxiety the child might experience if he or she is uncertain about who will be picking them up. It also provides information about changes in their usual routine. This visual is presented and discussed with the child prior to leaving for school. It may also be taken with them as a reminder that they can check throughout the day.
Another tool to decrease the morning rush is to prepare a visual schedule of the morning routine. This not only decreases the number of verbal prompts that need to be given but also helps the child to build their independence skills in completing a sequence of tasks successfully. Children have the opportunity to feel a sense of accomplishment that they did it themselves.
There are so many ways and so many visual tools such as iPods and iPads that families can make use of in presenting visual supports to make everyone’s day run more smoothly and successfully.
Here are a few resources to help you get started:
First/Then Visual Schedule app for iPad is available from the Apple Store.
Macdee Media Group