In this post i will talk about using picures to structure your child's day routine. This would help the child to understand picture cards usage and implement them for everyday activities.
INTRODUCE:
New Cards, like - Work Time, Talking time, Questions, and some cards of activities that you have in your schedule on most of the days.
Depending on your child's understanding of visual cards as a communication system, make sure you cover most of the important things that are in the routine.
Again, try to use the Pictures with your child's own pics with various things - doing homework, skating, eating, in the washroom, etc.
I would strongly Recommend to have a dedicated wall for placing all the picture cards.
Put it like a time-table of Daily schedule, vertically - in the order in which you expect the child to follow.
A vertical Strip with numbers written alongside would be good initially, as its easy for the child to understand the sequence with numbers.
Make some arrangement for a finished section at the bottom end of the schedule to put the card in as soon as that task/activity is finished.
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START:
By Creating an overall schedule for the day, like -
Wake Up
Get Ready
Breakfast
Go To School
Home
Freshen Up
Free Play
Lunch (Picture should clearly show - day time meal)
Home Work
Sleep (a sleep card showing afternoon time)
Wake up( a wake up card showing evening time)
Class Name (Drawing, Dance, Painting, Karate, Skating, etc)
Playground
Activity 1(Have cards for various activities, which u may be doing with your child)
Activity 2
Clean up
Dinner (the PEC should be clear with night time and meals)
Freshen Up
Bed time Story
Sleep (Night time)
After a few days when your child understands the sequence & schedule concept to be followed, break it into details of 1-2 hrs slot.
You may continue with the visual cards if the child is more receptive to pictures,
Use Let Me talk app if the child is receptive to Audio-Visuals or
Even write on the white board or communication book when the child starts picking written/text words.
E.g. of Board Routine:
1. Outdoor Play (60 mins)
Playground(15 mins)
Play/Talk with friends (10 mins)
Cycling (25 mins)
Walk & Say Bye to everyone (10 mins)
2. Washroom (30 mins)
Brush Teeth (5 mins)
Potty (10 mins)
Take Bath (10 mins)
Wear Clothes (5 mins)
STOP:
Giving too many prompts, and guide the child to just follow the schedule. It might take some time, but eventually the child would understand the use of visual cards
as well as routine following.
What we Aim for?
This would help you in the long term to make the child ready for family events, birthday parties, outings and a lot more. The child would be more settled and
would also be able to express his/her willingness to participate in things that are planned.
Steps Further:
Next I would be writing on how to use Visual Cards and Routine in more details, and introduce new things that help in building language.