Summertime Structure for Families
By Alyssa Baker, LMFT-S
Summer is here! You made it through the school year, and now you and your family are ready for a break. So, when we think of a “break,” we don’t necessarily think of “structure” or “routine.” However, structure, schedules, routines, and rhythms help us to rest well during our breaks.
There are many different types of schedules, but for families, I recommend visual schedules. Visual schedules are helpful in language development and can be used with all ages. The visuals are appealing and more engaging for kids than verbal or written lists. Visual schedules also save parents energy when the kids ask, “What are we doing today?” or “Is it time for lunch yet?” parents can respond with “Go check the schedule!” or can even save their breath and walk over to the schedule as they silently point to the next task. This fosters independence and eases anxiety as the kids can always refer back to the schedule to see what’s next. For parents who are work throughout the day and have children at home by themselves or with another caregiver, the visual schedules can be easily implemented by whoever is home for the day. If there’s a visual for everyone to see, then there is a shared responsibility in the home. It’s not all on you, Mom and Dad!
If you’re sold on the idea and wondering where to start, here are five steps to creating a visual schedule for your family.
How to Create a Visual Schedule
Materials needed: Roll of velcro with adhesive, printed photos or clip art, scissors
Optional materials: Small personal laminator, laminating pouches, some type of board to put the schedule on, a small basket or tub to keep extra, unused, or completed pieces
Step 1: Decide where to start. If structure or routine is new to your family, start with a schedule for the morning or bedtime routine. If a schedule for the whole day would be helpful, then start there!
Step 2: Write out your schedule on scratch paper. Enlist the whole family to help create the schedule.
Step 3: Take photos of your family doing each activity in the schedule. This is awesome if your kids are cooperative and engaged in the project, but if they’re not, you can google images. I like the “real-life” vs. clip art images, because the kids can picture themselves doing the activity.
Step 4: Print, laminate, cut out visuals, attach velcro to the images.
Step 5: Put down a strip of velcro somewhere in the home that is easily visible and accessible to everyone and attach the pieces in order. The kids can remove the pieces as they complete each step and move through the schedule.
