Picture Schedules

Anyone who has ever worked in preschool settings or with kids with disabilities have seen or used picture schedules. My personal background comes from the angle of working with kids with autism - severe and high functioning/aspergers. I have used picture schedules for a multitude of tasks. Let me say..

I Love Them!

Picture Schedules use picture cards to show the sequence of events for a given time period or detail the steps of a specific task (ie morning/bedtime routine, brushing teeth, chores).

While typically used for kids with disabilities, I think they have great benefits for kids of any age and ability. I especially like them for introducing new routines or skills.

Benefits of a Schedule:

• Kids can visually see what is coming up next. There is no guessing for the parent or the kid.
• Kids see how many steps are left until they are done.
• If a reward or treat is associated with the task, the kids know what they have to do in order to earn the reward.
• This one was really useful for me when I taught my son to brush his teeth. He earned a sticker when he was done. Once he saw what he had to do before he got the sticker, he was much more cooperative with the process.

Here is how I make a picture schedule...

Step 1: Figure out the sequence of event in your schedule.

The schedule I made last was for our bedtime routine.

The steps:

brush teeth

pajamas

read 3 books

read scriptures

prayer

in bed with lights out

Step 2: Find a picture to represent each step.

I just google images. You can also take pictures of your own kids doing each step. Some kids really like seeing pictures of themselves on the schedule.

Step 3: Make your board or folder where you will display your schedule.

I used a white posterboard. You can also use a manila folder, cardstock or anything surface really that will fit your needs. (The manila folder works well for traveling).

The line down the middle separates the "To Do" from "Done." When a step has been completed, either you or the child moves the picture from the left side to the right side to show that that step is done and it is time to move on to the next step.

Step 4: Laminate pieces

I use contact paper. For other laminating options, read Alyssa's great post from a couple of weeks ago.

Step 5: Velcro!

Craft stores have velcro dots you can use for easy application. I just cut pieces off of the long strips of velcro. Just make sure you buy the velcro with the sticky back.

Step 6: Set up the schedule

Step 7: Teach your child how to use the schedule

This is by far the most important step. For all your hard work to pay off, you need to teach your child what each picture means and teach them how to use the schedule.

We taught our bedtime routine as part of Family Home Evening last night. I let the kids play with pictures for a few minutes while we talked about what each picture meant. Then we walked through the schedule together.

Learning how to move the pictures when done with a step.

These kinds of schedules can be used to almost anything. Just have fun with them. You can use as many or as few steps as you need to help your child understand what is going on. You can also change the length of the activity depending on how much time you have. (For example, if we have a late night we might only read scriptures. I would show the change by just leaving the books off.)

Do you have any ideas for teaching new skills or routines? Or, do you have a skill you want to teach and have questions on how to do it? Leave a comment and we will see if we can help.

~Lisa~

Toddler Learning Activity: EGG-cellent Color Relay

Wait! Wait!  Don't pack up those Easter eggs yet!  We've got plans for a game involving everyone's favorite plastic egg for easy, inexpensive, color learning fun!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:

Pack of plastic Easter eggs 

(about one per kid...get them on sale now if you don't have enough)

Paper to match the color of your eggs 

(pick em' out for free in the paint section of Lowe's or Home Depot)

Large bowls or laundry baskets

Timer (optional)

First, lay out your bowls and tape colored paper to the bottom of each.  Divide in half.  Set Mommy's bowls on one side of the room, and your toddler's bowls on the other.  Say, Mommy gets green and pink, while your toddler gets blue and yellow.  Dump out the eggs and explain the rules of the game:

(1) Match the eggs to the right color bowl.

(2) Whoever collects three eggs of the right color first, WINS!

This game is a great review of simple counting, as well as color drilling.  The first few run-throughs will be trial-and-error.  Heck, maybe ALL of them will be.  After all the eggs are collected, help your toddler sort through her eggs and reshuffle any eggs that got put in the wrong color bowl.  I'm not kidding when I say my boy and I did this, over and over, for AN HOUR.  Seriously.  What game can hold a toddler's attention for that long?  The kind that lets him run around and throw eggs, that's what.  The great thing about the materials we're using is that plastic Easter eggs pop open if tossed too hard, so very little damage ever happens in the whole, exciting process.

TIPS/SUGGESTIONS:

For older children, increase the number of eggs that need to be collected.  Also, set a timer and perhaps sit out completely, pitting kid against timer in an epic Easter egg color battle.

For younger children, you can try taking out some complexity at first by simplifying the number of colors they're dealing with.  Say, one color for Mommy and one color for the toddler.  Makes it a lot easier, because blue/purple and pink/peach look pretty similar sometimes.

...And let's be honest, if the game quickly dissolves into something like this...

That's okay!  Because play time is learning time, and it can't get much better than this. :)

-Alyssa

-Original idea developed by yours truly and my little boy.  Take it, and run with it!  Please don't forget to share comments of any variations you come up with on the Village blog!

Toddler Learning Activity: Sewing

Break out those egg cartons.  It's Easter Time!  And I know we'll all have mountains of those things lying around after eggs are all dyed and tucked into the refrigerator for Easter morning.  But then, what do you do with all the cartons?  Look no farther, my friends.  We've got a lesson in toddler-friendly sewing!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:

Egg carton

Exacto knife

Ribbon or twine

Paper clip

First, cut off the lid and little edge-piece.  You want the bottom part, clutter-free.

Next, cut random holes in the bottom of the carton.

Tie one end of the ribbon to the carton the other end to a paper clip.  I eyeballed the length to my toddler's arm-span.  Too long will make it difficult to sew.  Too short won't leave much ribbon to sew with.

TIP:  Use a brightly colored ribbon so your toddler can see what he's doing.  I'd actually recommend using a thicker piece of ribbon than what I've shown here, so the "needlework" is more noticeable to your little seamster/seamstress once the sewing project has begun.

And let me tell you, it was a riot...the low-key variety.  After all, sewing takes a lot of concentration.

It was fun to see him start to get the concept of threading the ribbon through holes.

TIPS/SUGGESTIONS:

For younger toddlers who may have difficulty grasping the paperclip, try tying the ribbon to a baby spoon instead.  Easier to grab.  Same general concept.

Let your toddler be creative and experiment with this activity.

Once your toddler is done, set the sewing project aside to show Mommy or Daddy later on, and lavish on that praise!

-Alyssa

-Original idea from www.toddlertoddler.com

Toddler Learning Activity: Wind and Pinwheels

Spring is upon us, and with it, awesome changes in the weather to talk about with your kids!  Wind is a fun one.  A little more complicated than snow or rain, because your toddler can't see or touch it, but still a great weather phenomenon to explore.

A pinwheel is a sure-fire hit with kids of all ages.  I remember making pinwheels just for fun when I was in my tweens.  During your wind exploration, try introducing new vocabulary like air, breeze, float, fly, gentle, strong, gust, soft, and (if you use my wind-making cheat below) the difference between hot and cold air.  Experiment with different sizes of pinwheels.  Big ones.  Small ones.  How do they react to the wind?  With older kids, explore how different speeds of air move the pinwheel.    So many questions, so much to explore!

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Paper

Exacto-knife or scissors

Stick pin

Pencil w/eraser

Pattern (optional)

First, cut a square.  Draw diagonal, criss-cross lines from one corner to the other.

Mine's a 4x4 inch square.

Exacto-knife it part-way through.  Poke holes in the center and in each corner to make the pinwheel turn easier once it's assembled.

Ready the rest of the supplies, aka a pencil w/eraser and a stick pin (I used a picture-hanging nail, because I was fresh out of pins).

Gently bend half of the corners in and secure it with the pin.  Push the back of the pin into the pencil eraser.

Viola.  Instant toy.

The beauty of a wind toy is that it shows that the air is actually moving.  A difficult concept to grasp without a visual aid.  It's a little advanced for most toddlers, so don't worry if they're more interested in the toy than the air that's making it move.  Even if your toddler ends up squishing the pinwheel in his fist, (*cough cough* RIP, my poor pinwheel) that's okay!  There's all different kinds of learning happening here.

I mean, look at that thing MOVE.

So cool.

Sometimes with kids, simplicity is the best way to go.  That way, older kids can make their own.

Oh, and that little wind-making tip?  Here it is:

Hair-dryer.

Awesome.  I'm telling ya'.  Hairdryers make my playtime A-list.

TIPS/SUGGESTIONS:  

You can have the kids color on the pinwheel with crayons or markers before cutting it out.  Also, decorate with lightweight items like sequins or glitter.  Stay away from heavy stuff like craft jewels and such.

If the pinwheel doesn't turn properly, try using a longer stick pin to give it more room to groove.

-Alyssa

-Pattern print-out from craft.kaboose.com

Toddler Learning Activity: Alphabet Bugs

I was a little skeptical of this idea at first.  I wasn't sure if my toddler would be at all interested, but it looked so easy to prep...I thought, "Meh.  What the heck, why not try it?"  Man, was I glad I did.  My boy LOVED it.

This fun learning activity lets your toddler snatch alphabet bugs off you, while getting a lesson in letters to boot! First, print out the sheet of alphabet letter bugs (provided).

Then cut them all out.

To make them a little more sturdy, I glued them to cardstock.  This is completely optional.  We all know they're going to be destroyed at some point anyway. :)

The cutting took me all of 8 minutes during my toddler's nap time.

Next use some tape and stick the letter bugs all over your body and clothes. Then ask your toddler for some help in getting all of the bugs off of you! Let him peel each letter off and while he is doing it, be sure to review each letter and body part. Say " Hey thanks for getting that letter A bug off of my arm!" As he takes them off of you, he can stick them to a wall or poster board. Hype up the fun by making buzzing bug sounds.  Then you can put them all in order at the end and sign the alphabet song together. 

Your toddler will have fun taking the bugs off and helping you out!

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Printer to print out Alphabet Bugs

Cardstock to glue the "bugs" onto (optional)

Glue (optional)

Tape

TIPS/SUGGESTIONS:

If you have older children, you involve them in this activity as well by mixing in your own, homemade "bugs" that'll still challenge them, like sight words, rhyming words, etc.

You can also tape the letters on objects in the room and review those items with your toddler when she takes the bug off. (Ex. couch, chair, rug)  For bilingual kiddos, this is a great opportunity to sub in words in a foreign language.


~Alyssa

-Idea and print-out from www.toddlertoddler.com