Routines and Visuals

If you are a routine oriented person, you feel a little out of sorts when there's been no consistency in your schedule for a few days. How many times have you heard a mom say, "I am so glad the holidays are over. It was great but it's time to get back into our routines." If a mom feels that way, think about how out of sorts a child feels but without a routine to manage the activities of her day. This is true for most children with learning differences. But why?

Children with learning differences often have difficulties with understanding how time works. Time is such an elusive concept. Does your child really know what it means when you say, "we're leaving in five minutes?" If she's like my son and those I work with, she probably has no idea! This is why routines are so important. It gives a child a way to know what to do next and next and last. It provides structure and Predictability.








I saw these visual directions at a preschool where I tutor a student. They display a routine visually with images and words above the sink where children wash hands. This helps a student who struggles with the process of washing hands to have a visual sequential routine to memorize.

A child needs to have routines for all of her daily activities. If you go into a preschool or early elementary classroom, there will be lots of visually displayed routines. These diminish in upper grades but a child with learning differences may still need visually displayed routines for new or activities not completed often.

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