Child Developement

Activity: Perfect Planner

Time is often an abstract concept for young children. Schedules help children plan ahead and map concrete activities to the time of the day. They can be especially helpful for establishing expectations and structuring one’s day. We’ve spoken about the importance of routines earlier and our activity today can help you build these routines with your child.

Today we’ll build perfect planners (picture schedules) to learn and follow routines. Build one at the beginning of your day, and rearrange as the day passes

Things You Will Need

Paper
Pencil and Colours
Scale

Learning Objectives

While you do the activity, ensure you focus on

Language Skills: Naming activities - Meals, Self-Care, Chores etc.
Times of the day - Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Night
Representing time with words - Now, Today, Tomorrow
Life skills: Following a schedule, Forming routines
Time management
Time telling: Linking time to events
Sense of order - Now, Next, Before, After
Fine motor: Drawing/ writing/ scribbling/ pasting (tripod grip)
Cognitive: Planning - what will happen next?

Let's Get Started :)

Below is a list of resources, to help you conduct the activity with ease!

Activity Video
Watch and follow along!

The Perfect Planner
A printable chart, to get you started on your scheduling journey.

Schedule Picture Flashcards
15 printable daily-activity flashcards + 3 blank cards for you to make your own :)

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Adaptations and Variations

For children with low vision or blindness

You would typically not use visual schedules for children with vision loss, and stick to text. However, for children with multiple disabilities, flashcard based scheduling can be very helpful. Create tactile cards using key objects that symbolise the activity, such as a spoon for mealtime, tissue paper for toilet time, or a mini-pillow for bedtime.

Images Source: www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com‍

We hope this planner helps your child understand and follow a schedule for everyday activities. Take time to know what cues your child responds better to and you can be assured a planner will help them ease into and out of activities.