44 Free Visual Schedules and Templates (for school or home)

How stressed out are you by daily routines? What about your kids? I mean, it’s something that we do, as a household, every.single.day. Why does it have to be so stressful?

Most of us do not use visual schedules at home though many kids use them at school. These free printable visual schedules for home and daily routines might help make things easier.

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Kids with autism may have more difficulty coping with unstructured time than other kids. They may benefit from the increased structure in their lives.

Also, printable schedules can help a child with anxiety who is often fretting over “what is going to happen next.” A visual schedule helps them plan and prepare even if the next activity is non-preferred. Most of all, these visual schedules are free! I hope this makes your mornings easier.

Free Visual Schedules

I hope that these free printable visual schedules for home and daily routines are helpful to you and your kids. If you’ve previously visited this blog post, it looks a little different now. I combined all of the visual schedules (based on reader feedback) and then split it into only 3 files instead of 12.

The first is free visual schedules templates and routines downloads. You can download the entire file rather than clicking 10 different PDFs. Then just print what you need.

First Then Boards

The next file is the first then boards. Many of the images from the files can be cut out, laminated and used on the first then boards. They are the same size and meant to go together.

Free Printable Daily Schedule for Autistic Child

Last is a daily schedule planner. Yes, it can be used for kids other than autistic children. You might think “well, we do more than 3 things in a day.” Depending on the child, I would try to keep it to 3 and add on from there. Of course we all do more than this in a day. But with executive functioning struggles, many autistic kids will be overwhelmed at more than 3.

Printable Visual Schedules

I am updating and adding a lot of resources to this post. I’m just tired of people abandoning their websites and then their resources are no longer available.

Some kids, autistic or otherwise, may not be able to make the connection without the photo. My son needs the actual item. As in, we use actual Capri Sun pouches with velcro on them, rather than a picture of a Capri Sun.

I won’t go into how to print, cut, laminate and add velcro. I’m assuming you can figure that out.

First then boards can help kids learn sequencing, an important executive function. And I added two more blank templates for the printable picture schedules. I like them because they have four activities instead of three, for kids who are able to make that leap to adding another.

What is a Visual Schedule?

Visual schedules use a series of pictures to communicate a series of activities or the steps of a specific activity. They are often used to help children understand and manage daily events in their lives. They can be created using pictures, photographs, or written words, depending upon the ability of the child. (that is from wikipedia)

I am going to try a few of these. My son has limited communication skills. We’ve never done this at home but I know he uses printable schedules at school. Sesame Street just launched some new Daily Routine Cards. I think I may try those first.

Are Picture Schedules just for Autistic Children?

No! Many children can benefit from using a visual schedule. Any child who is struggling to learn language, reading, and writing should consider using picture schedules instead.

Benefits of Using Visual Schedules

The advantages of using these free printable visual schedules for home and daily routines for children with autism are:

• help utilizes the individual’s visual strengths and therefore provides a receptive communication system to increase understanding
• It helps the individual to learn new things and broaden their interests
• It provides tools that allow the individual to use skills in a variety of settings
• predictability can help the individual remain calm and reduces inappropriate behaviors
• child can develop independence and resulting self-esteem

Visual Schedules in the Home

Despite these benefits, setting up a picture schedule can seem like a daunting, time-consuming task for many parents. Keep in mind that the schedule doesn’t have to be perfect.

Maybe you want to have your child browse these with you and help choose them. I also have included links to purchase schedules if you don’t want to make your own.

And here is another. More below!

Reasons to Use Visual Schedules

1. Help kids learn sight words.
2. Better for kids who learn visually rather than auditory.
3. Allow for independence-child can see what is coming next, rather than asking.
4. Help some kids plan for transitions.
5. They are evidence-based.

The time you invest in creating schedules now can save you time later correcting behaviors. Furthermore, it is also likely to save your son or daughter time by increasing their skills and independence.

But, in order to make it easier for you, I have found lots of free printable visual schedules. I numbered them so that if you share this post with your child’s team members, you’ll know which printable visual schedule you are talking about.