Visual schedule for kids: free printable picture schedule maker

The short answer

A visual schedule shows the steps of a routine or a day as pictures in order, so a child can see what is happening now and what comes next. Keep it to 3 to 8 pictures for young children, go through it together, and tick or move each picture when that step is done.

How to use a visual schedule: 6 steps

1. Pick one routine. Start with the part of the day that is hardest, often the morning rush or bedtime, rather than the whole day.
2. Choose 3 to 8 pictures. Toddlers do best with 2 to 4, preschoolers with about 4 to 6. Use the words your family already says: “Shoes on”, not “Footwear”.
3. Put it at your child’s eye level, where the routine happens: by the front door, in the bathroom or next to the bed.
4. Walk through it together. Point to the picture, say it, do it. “Now teeth. Next, shoes.” Repeat it the same way every day for a week or two.
5. Mark each step as done. Tap the picture on a tablet, tick it on paper, or move the card into a Done envelope. Seeing the list get shorter helps.
6. Warn about changes. The CDC notes that predictability helps young children feel safe. When the day is different, swap a picture and show it before it happens.

Visual schedule, routine chart or First–Then board?

Sample visual schedule for a day at home

Choose Whole day above for this 12-picture day for a toddler or preschooler. Swap the park for what your day really holds, and print it as cut-out cards so you can change the order each morning.

1. ⏰ Wake up
2. 🥣 Breakfast
3. 🧸 Play time
4. 🍎 Snack
5. 🛝 Park
6. 🥪 Lunch
7. 😴 Nap or quiet time
8. 🎨 Drawing
9. 🍝 Dinner
10. 🛁 Bath
11. 📚 Story
12. 🌙 Bedtime

Who uses visual schedules?

Parents of toddlers and preschoolers, teachers, and many families of autistic children, children with ADHD or children who find changes hard. A 2015 review of research found visual activity schedules to be an evidence-based practice for autistic people from preschool age to adulthood, and the 2020 report of the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice lists visual supports among its evidence-based practices. For any child who cannot read yet, the CDC suggests pictures on charts. A schedule is a way to show the day, not a treatment; if your child has a teacher or therapist who uses pictures, ask which ones they use so home and school match.

For the evening itself, the bedtime routine chart adds times and a weekly tick chart. Write down a few house rules for kids with pictures to go with the schedule, and see our guide to a morning routine for kids.

This page gives everyday parenting ideas, not medical or therapy advice.

Frequently asked questions

What is a visual schedule?

A row or column of pictures that shows a routine in order, such as wake up, toilet, get dressed, breakfast and shoes on. Children look at it to see what is happening now and what comes next, instead of relying on spoken reminders.

Who are visual schedules for?

Any child who does not read yet, from toddlers up, and many older children who like to see the plan. They are widely used with autistic children: a 2015 review of studies found visual activity schedules to be an evidence-based practice for autistic people. They are a planning aid, not a treatment.

What is a First–Then board?

A two-picture schedule: first the thing that needs doing, then the thing that comes next, often something your child enjoys, such as "First shoes on, then park." It keeps a single transition simple. Pick First–Then above and reorder the steps to change the two pictures.

How many pictures should a visual schedule have?

For toddlers, 2 to 4; for preschoolers, about 4 to 6; school-age children can follow 6 to 10. Split a long day into parts, such as a morning schedule and an after-school schedule, rather than one long strip.

How do I use a visual schedule with velcro?

Print the cut-out cards, laminate them and put a dot of velcro on the back of each. Stick them in order on a strip, and when a step is done, your child moves the card to a Done envelope or turns it over. Print two sets if you use the same picture in several routines.

What is the difference between a visual schedule and a routine chart?

A routine chart is a checklist you tick every day, often with times, like the bedtime routine chart. A visual schedule is the picture sequence itself: one picture per step, big enough to point at, with Now and Next, and cards your child can move. Many families use both.

Is my schedule saved?

Yes, in this browser on this device, including which steps are done today. Nothing is sent to our server and there is no sign-up. Tap Clear ticks to start the routine again tomorrow.

Sources and evidence

1. Knight, Sartini and Spriggs (2015): Evaluating visual activity schedules as evidence-based practice for individuals with autism spectrum disorders — A review of single-case studies that found visual activity schedules met the criteria for an evidence-based practice for autistic people from preschool age to adulthood, for skills such as moving between activities and staying on task.
2. Steinbrenner et al. (2020): Evidence-based practices for children, youth, and young adults with autism (National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice) — Lists visual supports, including picture schedules, among the practices with enough research evidence for autistic children and young people aged 0 to 22.
3. CDC: Tips for relying on routines and rules (Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers) — Routines and predictability help young children feel safe and know what to expect; explain changes to the routine ahead of time.
4. CDC: Tips for creating rules — Pictures or visual cues can be used on charts for toddlers and preschoolers because many cannot read yet.