Parents
When children can see what’s coming next they feel more calm and in control, creating a more harmonious home.
Children as young as two or three years old, right through to early teens, will benefit from visual communication tools.
Signs your child would benefit from visual communication tools like my Visual Timetable for Home:
- They ask what’s coming next over and over again - they seem to be seeking reassurance.
- They struggle to follow instructions spoken out loud to them, unless you give them just one step at a time
- You would like to encourage them to be more independent with regular, predictable tasks (like getting up and dressed each morning, or going to bed at night).
- They struggle with transitioning from one activity to the next - the picture cards help prepare them for the upcoming change
- There are some activities they are resistant to - by showing a desired activity is happening after a less desirable task, your child will be more inclined to cooperate. For example you could show a picture of story time after teeth brushing.
If you think that visuals would benefit your family life but don’t know where to start, I recommend the Visual Timetable for Home. This contains a set of 35 pictures based around life at home, and allows you to show, in a clear and simple way, what is happening throughout the day, one step at a time.
There are other options as well that allow you to show more or less symbols at once, for example a Weekly Timetable or Now and Next board.
You can find out more about how to use a Visual Timetable here.