ThinkabaraHow to make a routine chart that your child will actually use
- Pick the routine that causes the most friction. For most families that is the school-morning rush or bedtime. Start with one chart, not four.
- Walk through it together. Ask your child what comes first and let them choose the pictures. Kids follow a chart they helped make far more willingly than one handed to them.
- Keep it short. Aim for 4–6 steps for preschoolers and up to 8–10 for school-age kids. Combine tiny steps (“potty, wash hands”) into one.
- Put it where the routine happens. Morning chart by the bedroom door or the kitchen, bedtime chart in the bathroom at kid eye level.
- Point to the chart instead of repeating yourself. “What’s next on your chart?” turns nagging into a question your child can answer.
Which layout should I print?
| Layout | Best for |
|---|---|
| Checklist chart | Ages 4 and up. One step per row with a box to tick. Turn on the week of checkboxes (Sunday to Saturday) to track a whole week on one sheet. |
| Picture grid | Toddlers and preschoolers, and kids who are still learning to read: big pictures, few words. |
| Cut-apart cards | A Velcro or pocket-chart visual schedule — popular in preschool and special education classrooms. Nine 2.4-inch cards per page. |
| All routines on one page | The fridge: morning, after-school, bedtime and weekend in one glance, great for babysitters and grandparents. |
Choose Bright for a cheerful color chart, Calm for soft, muted colors that suit a bedroom, or Black & white to save ink — kids can color it in themselves.
Routine ideas by age
Toddlers (2–3)
Three to five steps with big pictures: potty, wash hands, get dressed, breakfast, shoes. A grown-up does each step with them; the chart is about knowing what comes next.
Preschool and kindergarten (4–6)
Add independence steps: make my bed (just pull up the covers), put pajamas in the hamper, carry my plate to the sink, put my folder in my backpack. The picture grid or cut-apart cards work best.
Elementary (7–10)
Kids this age can handle a checklist chart with times: “7:00 wake up, 7:30 breakfast, 7:50 shoes and backpack.” Add after-school steps like homework, reading for 20 minutes and a chore.
Tweens (11+)
Let them write their own steps and choose the black-and-white look. Check-off mode on a tablet or phone often appeals more than a paper chart at this age.
Using check-off mode on a phone or tablet
Tap Check-off mode and hand the device to your child. Each step is a big button: tap it when it is done and the progress bar fills up. The next step glows, and when every step is checked your child gets an “All done!” cheer. Checks are saved on this device and reset every day automatically, so the chart is ready again tomorrow morning.
Tips that make routines stick
- Praise the routine, not the speed. “You did your whole bedtime chart by yourself!” builds the habit.
- Prep the night before. Add “Pick tomorrow’s clothes” and “Pack backpack” to bedtime — mornings get much calmer.
- Keep the order the same every day. Predictability is the whole point; change the chart only when something really changes.
- Pair it with a small reward if you like. A week of checked boxes can earn a sticker on a reward chart.
- Review after two weeks. Drop steps your child now does automatically and add a new one, such as a simple chore.
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a daily routine chart for kids?
Keep it to the steps your child actually does, in the order they happen: usually 5 to 8 steps for a morning or bedtime routine. Use a picture for every step so non-readers can follow it, and start each step with an action word like “brush,” “put on” or “pack.”
At what age can a child use a routine chart?
Many families start a picture routine around age 2 to 3, with a grown-up doing each step alongside the child. Preschoolers can follow 4 to 6 picture steps, and school-age kids can manage longer charts with times and a weekly check-off.
Is a visual schedule helpful for kids with autism or ADHD?
Many parents, teachers and therapists use picture schedules because they make the next step predictable and cut down on verbal reminders. This chart is a general tool, not a treatment — if your child has a care team, ask them how they like visual schedules set up.
How do I make the chart reusable?
Print the checklist chart, slip it into a sheet protector or laminate it, and use a dry-erase marker. For the cut-apart cards, laminate them and add Velcro dots so your child can move each card to a “done” strip.
Is my chart saved? Do I need an account?
No account and no sign-up. Your steps, look and check-offs are saved only in this browser on this device, so nothing about your child is uploaded. The check-off mode starts fresh every morning.
Can I make morning and bedtime charts for more than one child?
Yes. Make the first child’s chart and print it, then change the name and steps and print again. The “All routines on one page” layout puts morning, after-school, bedtime and weekend side by side.