Relieve your child's anxiety with a visual schedule

Have you ever tried to transition your child from playtime to not playtime? How did it go? Quite often, the answer to the second question is “not well.” One reason for this is the sudden change for the child. You might have known playtime was coming to an end for several minutes, but in the child’s view, it was a complete surprise. Even if you told them, “Playtime is almost over.” It does not always register in their brains, and if it does, it leaves their brain within seconds.

Most young children respond better to visual communication than spoken language. They see a visual representing the change. They see one visual of their current activity coming to an end and another visual representing the activity they are transitioning to. Their brains register it and remember it more consistently, and they know what is coming up next. This type of schedule, often referred to as a “First, Then” schedule, relieves anxiety and helps transitions occur more smoothly.


"First, Then" schedules, along with more complex visual schedules, can most easily be created with the Viz Kids app. Simply record your statement, “First, go to the bathroom, and then we’ll go to the park.” The Viz Kids app creates a visual that your child will be able to understand and respond to. Less anxiety, less meltdowns. Try the app for free! Download the app for iPhones and iPads here.

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