Activity Schedule-Learning Independence

There's so much a child can learn from their own Activity Schedule.  This is something I learned about during one of my Discrete Trial workshops.  I love PLAY, but I also love learning different interventions as well :)  This can also be adapted for the home.

Here's how to get started.  I will highlight in red, skills the child is working on.

-These are the $1 photo books from Walmart.
-I put the child's name on the front cover.-Name Recognition. You can also use letter links, photos, etc.

-Each child's book has 4-5 different activities they need to complete, they must finish them in order-Sequencing.

-Each box has a picture on it that matches the pictures in the student's books.  (I use either pecs, photos, or images off of google images)-Matching with distance (looking at the picture in their book then walking to the shelf and remembering which picture they are looking for)
-Stay tuned for the next several posts, I'll be posting activity ideas to go along with your Activity Schedules.  **The important thing to remember is that the purpose of the Activity Schedule is for the child to become independent.  So, when you are choosing activities, you should choose activities you know the child can do independently already.  The purpose of this is not to teach new skills with the box activities.  They should be taught prior to using them in the Activity Schedule.
-Other ideas-you could do this for chores, getting dressed, getting ready for bed, etc.
-After each activity, the child cleans up and puts their box back on the shelf before moving on to the next page. -Clean up

-The last picture I have in each book is an 'all done' pec.  It's amazing how quick all the kids catch on to this one.  They will all try at one time or another to get to this page first.

-When my kids get to this page they know to put their book away on the shelf, turn their book over and take off the icon on the back that tells them where to go next. -transitioning, and matching

-In my class, purple oval means free play time.  That's why all the kids want to get there as fast as possible.  Once they put their purple oval in the envelope, they're free to play.  The funny thing is that a lot of the kids will go and do their books again, just for fun. -finishing their work before receiving an incentive.

*When a child is first learning how to do their activity schedule, they will need assistance.  Some kids may become prompt dependent if verbal prompts are used.  Depending on the child, you may want to consider only doing physical prompts (no talking) then slowly backing off until they are dependent.

*I usually changed the activities weekly or biweekly.  Some kids will memorize the order the pictures are in, so occasionally I would mix the pictures up during the week.

Joy Mano

Utah PLAY Project Home Consultant

Early Intervention Treatment for Children With Autism

There's so much a child can learn from their own Activity Schedule.  This is something I learned about during one of my Discrete Trial workshops.  I love PLAY, but I also love learning different interventions as well :)  This can also be adapted for the home.

Here's how to get started.  I will highlight in red, skills the child is working on.

-These are the $1 photo books from Walmart.
-I put the child's name on the front cover.-Name Recognition. You can also use letter links, photos, etc.

-Each child's book has 4-5 different activities they need to complete, they must finish them in order-Sequencing.

-Each box has a picture on it that matches the pictures in the student's books.  (I use either pecs, photos, or images off of google images)-Matching with distance (looking at the picture in their book then walking to the shelf and remembering which picture they are looking for)
-Stay tuned for the next several posts, I'll be posting activity ideas to go along with your Activity Schedules.  **The important thing to remember is that the purpose of the Activity Schedule is for the child to become independent.  So, when you are choosing activities, you should choose activities you know the child can do independently already.  The purpose of this is not to teach new skills with the box activities.  They should be taught prior to using them in the Activity Schedule.
-Other ideas-you could do this for chores, getting dressed, getting ready for bed, etc.
-After each activity, the child cleans up and puts their box back on the shelf before moving on to the next page. -Clean up

-The last picture I have in each book is an 'all done' pec.  It's amazing how quick all the kids catch on to this one.  They will all try at one time or another to get to this page first.

-When my kids get to this page they know to put their book away on the shelf, turn their book over and take off the icon on the back that tells them where to go next. -transitioning, and matching

-In my class, purple oval means free play time.  That's why all the kids want to get there as fast as possible.  Once they put their purple oval in the envelope, they're free to play.  The funny thing is that a lot of the kids will go and do their books again, just for fun. -finishing their work before receiving an incentive.

*When a child is first learning how to do their activity schedule, they will need assistance.  Some kids may become prompt dependent if verbal prompts are used.  Depending on the child, you may want to consider only doing physical prompts (no talking) then slowly backing off until they are dependent.

*I usually changed the activities weekly or biweekly.  Some kids will memorize the order the pictures are in, so occasionally I would mix the pictures up during the week.

Joy Mano

Utah PLAY Project Home Consultant

Early Intervention Treatment for Children With Autism