With the last few days of summer approaching, many of your are getting your kiddos ready for a new morning routine when the school year begins. Mornings can be hectic for any family or individual due to the number of tasks that need to be completed in a short amount of time. For children with ASD, it can be especially challenging to stay focused or complete multiple tasks without prompting or guidance throughout. One way to help your child have a successful day at school is to create a consistent and achievable morning routine.

The first thing you want to do is make a list of the tasks that your child needs to complete before leaving the house. For example:

1. Get Dressed
2. Go to the bathroom
3. Brush Teeth
4. Brush Hair
5. Eat Breakfast
6. Get Backpack/Lunch/Snacks packed

Next, identify what of those tasks your child may be able to do independently or what they might need support to complete. Even though this list may seem short and simple, for many children, it is a daunting list. Each of these tasks include multiple steps which can be overwhelming and a barrier to their success. If your child requires support or assistance to complete each step, using this schedule can help transition between each step and keep them on task.

One strategy that can be used is to create a visual schedule for the tasks that need to be completed. A visual schedule or activity schedule is defined as a visual support strategy that uses pictures or words as a visual cue for your child to be able to follow a sequence of tasks or activities independently (McClannahan & Krantz, 1999). By creating a visual representation of what needs to be done, your child will be able to see what they’ve completed and what tasks are still yet to be done to keep them focused and on task. Several studies show that using activity schedules can promote independence, increase engagement with appropriate/desired activities, decrease in challenging behaviors related to these tasks or multistep tasks, and decrease the reliance on prompts (MacDuff, Krantz, & McClannahan, 1993).

When creating your morning routine visual schedule, use photos that clearly depict or can signal the task that is needed. If your child can read, you can also use written text. If using written text, use clear and concise directions of the task. You can customize this schedule for you and your child’s needs.

Examples: