Structure and Routine

Kids, and particularly special needs kids, NEED structure and routine! I went to an excellent workshop about this exact subject, presented by Chelsea's phenomenal kindergarten teacher here in Texas. Some notes from that workshop:

Why Are Structure and Routine Important?

• Visual assistance allows kids to make mental preparations of your expectations at home
• Physical structure at home helps them to become more independent with their responsibilities
• Structure MUST be consistently used each day
• Routines develop as structure is set into place

Teach Expectations

• Expectations provide boundaries, which help kids become independent
• Expectations teach the students to create a safe self atmosphere
• Expectations teach them to be proud of their accomplishments
• Expectations teach them to respect their parents/ family members/ teachers
• Expectations teach them to manage their own behaviors

When Expectations are NOT Taught

• Child will do what they want without regard to what parents have asked
• Child does not learn to participate with home activities as they occur with the family
• Child becomes disrespectful to parents
• Child doesn't learn what it means to be proud of their accomplishments
• Child does not learn how to follow through with activities that they should be doing independently
• Child doesn't learn to manage their own behaviors

Physical Structure

• Everything has a place and student is able to see it
• Organization provides an environment that is understandable and calming to the student
• Less chaos in the environment
• There are no questions as to what is expected

Goals for my someday study center!!!

Visual Directives

This was something I thought was really cool! The idea is, instead of the child waiting for you to give them a verbal cue, you give them a visual one, preferably with the child demonstrating the correct behavior in a picture. This could be used for:

• Table manners
• Church behavior
• Play time behavior
• Manners out in public

Benefits of Visual Schedules

• Predictability
• Ease of transitions
• Easier to make changes in routines
• Independence
• Carry over skills from school to home
• Expectations in one environment carry to another

I was SO proud of myself for making this!

How to Make a Visual Schedule
1. Cut out the pictures you want
2. Laminate them
3. Put rough Velcro on the back of the pictures
4. Put soft Velcro on a stick (or the wall, or wherever it will go)
5. Sequence the pictures in the order of events that will occur
6. Keep extra pictures in a baggie easily accessible to you

Idea Corner

• Make a poster with pictures and house rules like "Keep hands to yourself" or "Quiet voice" (I use the same language as the school for optimal carry-over)
• Make "First/ Then" cards. Use pictures for activities, and the use it! FIRST speech, THEN art. FIRST reading, THEN snack.
• Use timers
• Make a chore chart
• Keep items organized and neat, so child will know what to expect and where to find things (and consequently, where to put them away!)
• Use visual routines to help with things like
• Morning Routine
• Bedtime Routine
• How to Take a Bath
• How to Go Potty
• How to Wash Hands