Creating and Maintaining a Schedule

The first thing I tell all parents when I work on parent training is to get on some kind of a schedule. In my experience 99.999999999% of children with special needs will do better when on some kind of schedule then when they have a free for all. The same goes for parents. That being said, what works for each family might not work for the next, so you have to customize it to fit your needs. With the times as they are right now, I try out a schedule that you think might work for you and at first, fill it with all of your child’s favorite things to get them used to following the schedule and liking it.

Many of our kiddos loooove TV and videos, toys, books and snacks. As you start your homeschooling journey, do not be afraid to provide extra access to your child’s favorite things to help them get comfortable with the routine of being at home and not being able to access their normal routines of going to school and therapies. In the beginning, follow your schedule, but incorporate your child’s favorite things, without too many demands during the schedule times. For example, during book time, DO NOT present things that are too hard for your child, and DO present books about preferred topics or just let them look at books quietly. The early days will be about getting your child used to transitioning through your new routine, NOT about doing hard work. Learning a new routine is work enough for your child right now!

To start off making a schedule, consider your goals for the day (think about what your child needs to do and what you need to do). Also consider the amount of time your child can realistically focus on one activity. Mix up physical activities with quieter activities. Remember that you can change your schedule anytime if you find its not working for you and your child (I’ve changed mine a few times already in the past week!), but also remember that it could take several days for your child to get used to a new schedule. Your child’s age and ability level should be considered when making your schedule. If you need help with an individual schedule for your child, feel free to email me! I’m happy to help!