Making a schedule for your child to follow can add consistency and predictability to your child's day, activity or learning. Behavioral problems and tantrums can be reduced---or eliminated---through the use of a carefully planned schedule of activities, deadlines and goals created specifically for a child. Such a schedule may also teach your child effectively create and follow a schedule to achieve goals and fulfill specific purposes. That, in turn, can help prepare your child for success in any endeavor or environment.
Instructions
1. Create a list of all the activities, subjects, objectives, lessons or routines that must covered by the schedule for your child.
2. Determine the start time and end time for the entire schedule. A schedule can be made for specific days, like school days and weekend days, or to help children reach objectives such as mastering a school subject, reading a book, completing a school project or cleaning their rooms.
3. Create an "open" rough draft of the child's schedule on a large piece of white paper, a dry erase board, or a chalk board. Some smaller lap size dry erase boards can be found in the school supply section of your local stores or through online retailers. An "open" rough draft means that you fill in the times that are not negotiable like the start time, lunch time, dinner time or due dates for projects.
4. Schedule a time with your child to fill in the other parts of the schedule together. It is usually a good idea to provide a healthy snack and drink while creating the schedule. This will make planning and scheduling have a more positive association in your child's mind. The snack can increase alertness and keep your child's hands and mouth busy as you explain that you are making a schedule.
5. Post the schedule in a place that is easy for the child to see and access and provide a hard copy to the child. It is a good idea to laminate the schedule for small children, Use a home laminator or visit an office supply store for sheet lamination, which is very reasonably priced. Lamination will make the schedule water proof, prevent it from getting folded or ripped, and will offer the added benefit of allowing your child or you to check off the schedule with a dry erase marker as you and the child follow it.
Tags: your child, good idea, open rough, open rough draft, rough draft