Parents Learning Together

Visuals are a fantastic way to support children when learning new skills or to help them transition from one activity to another. Visuals are an extremely useful addition to any parent or caregiver’s toolkit as they help bridge the gap between verbal instruction and comprehension, turning abstract concepts into concrete information.

Schedules – Support children in knowing what the plan is and what to expect. Some common daily routines that may help to make a schedule for: Getting ready for school, Bedtime, Getting dressed, Brushing teeth, Toileting. Providing a visual schedule can help to:

• Alleviate stress and anxiety by providing predictability and structure.
• Encourage independence – children can follow the visual prompts without relying on verbal prompts.
• Improve transitions by helping children anticipate, understand and prepare for upcoming changes.
• Enhance communication by breaking large tasks (getting ready for bed) into smaller, more manageable chunks.

Timers – using a timer along with schedules, can help make the transition easier by giving a concrete example of what time looks like.

Pictures – Can help when teaching communication skills or social skills. Using pictures converts abstract ideas into concrete concepts. Pictures can give children tools to make choices, express wants and engage in social interactions. A few effective ways to use visual pictures:

• First/Then – uses 2 pictures to show what is happening ‘First’ and what follows, ‘Then’. First is usually a less preferred task, while Then is a preferred task or a rewarding task. This tool helps with transitions by clarifying expectations, providing structure, and motivates task completion.
• Choice Boards – offer 2 or more pictures to empower children to express their choices independently.
• Emotional Regulation – using pictures or images of faces to help children identify and express their own feelings.

Physical Items – using actual items in communication can:

• Encourage ‘active, hands-on learning’
• Expand the fun and focus by providing a tangible object to look at.
• Improve comprehension of language. For example, asking if your child would like an apple or a banana, while holding each out, allows them to pair the word to the physical object.