Free Printable Regulation Cards for Autism = Visual Schedule

Is the hardest part of your day getting your child dressed, leaving the park, turning off the TV, or getting ready for bed?

If so, you’re not alone.

Many young children — and especially children who have difficulty with language or social interaction — find transitions stressful. One reason is that they don’t yet have an internal sense of time. They don’t understand that an activity will end, or that something enjoyable may happen next.

When adults say, “Just one more minute,” young children often have no idea what that means.

A simple visual schedule — and the free printable regulation cards for autism and home use below — can make these transitions much easier.

What Is a Visual Schedule?

A visual schedule is simply a series of pictures that shows your child what will happen next. Free printable regulation cards for autism use exactly this idea — each card shows one familiar activity, simply and clearly, so your child can understand their day without relying on spoken language alone.

Instead of hearing a long explanation like, “First we’re going to the bathroom, then brush our teeth, then get dressed, then eat breakfast…” your child can see each step.

Pictures are often much easier for young children to understand than spoken directions.

The schedule makes the day more predictable, and predictability helps children feel safe.

Why Do Visual Schedules Work?

Imagine someone walked into your office every few minutes and suddenly said,

“Stop what you’re doing.”
“Now do this.”
“No, we’re finished.”
“Time for something else.”

Most adults would become frustrated.

Now imagine being two years old and still learning language.

Many children become upset during transitions simply because they don’t know what is happening next or when the current activity will end.

A visual schedule removes much of that uncertainty.

Instead of wondering, “What’s happening now?” your child can see, “First breakfast…then get dressed…then we go outside.”

Knowing what comes next helps many children feel calmer, more confident, and more cooperative. This is why free printable regulation cards for autism have become such a widely recommended tool — they reduce uncertainty and give children a way to navigate their day without relying only on words.

Giving Your Child a Small Amount of Control

One of the wonderful things about a visual schedule is that it gives your child a small amount of control in a world that is mostly controlled by adults.

Place the schedule where your child can easily reach it. When it’s time for the next activity, have your child remove that picture from the schedule. When the activity is finished, let them return the picture to the schedule face down (or place it in an “All Done” pocket) before choosing the next picture.

This simple routine often becomes one of children’s favourite parts of using a visual schedule because they can actually see themselves making progress through their day.

A Simple Morning Schedule

You don’t need anything fancy. Draw simple pictures, print photographs, or download the free printable regulation cards at the bottom of this page.

A morning schedule might include:

• 🚽 Bathroom
• 🪥 Brush teeth
• 👕 Get dressed
• 🥣 Breakfast
• 🎒 Backpack
• 🚗 Go to school

An evening schedule might include:

• 🍽️ Supper
• 🛁 Bath
• 🦷 Brush teeth
• 📖 Story
• 🛏️ Bed

Keep the pictures simple and arrange them from top to bottom. Young children understand “top to bottom” before they understand “left to right.”

Let the Schedule Do the Talking

One of the greatest benefits of a visual schedule is that it reduces the need for repeated reminders. Instead of saying, “Come on!” “Hurry up!” “I already told you!” simply point to the picture and say,

“Look…school now.”

or

“Bath time now.”

Use as few words as possible. The schedule becomes the reminder instead of you. Many children respond much better to predictable pictures than repeated verbal instructions.

Why I Recommend Using a Timer

Many home activities naturally end when they’re finished. Bath time ends when everyone is clean. Tooth brushing ends when the teeth are brushed. Dinner ends when everyone has eaten.

The problem is that young children often don’t know how long an activity should last, and they are not good at waiting for others to finish. If they don’t like brushing their teeth, they may swipe the toothbrush across their mouth once and proudly announce, “Done!”

A timer helps solve this problem. I recommend using a sand timer whenever possible because children can actually see the time running out. If you don’t have one, your phone works well too — but keep it out of your child’s reach. Some children become frustrated and may try to grab or throw it.

If your child strongly dislikes an activity, begin with a very short time — perhaps only 30 seconds. The goal at first isn’t perfect tooth brushing. The goal is simply helping your child learn that they stay with the activity until the timer finishes.

Once they understand that routine, you can gradually increase the time and begin working on the activity more effectively. Over time, both the length of the activity and your child’s cooperation usually improve.

One interesting thing I’ve noticed over the years is that the timer often becomes the one ending the activity instead of the parent. Many children accept this much more easily than repeated reminders from an adult.

A Few Tips for Success

• Start with just three or four pictures rather than trying to schedule the entire day.
• Set up the schedule before your child sees it. Once you’ve decided on the order of activities, try to stick with it. This helps your child learn that the schedule is predictable and reliable.
• Keep your language simple. Point to the picture and use only a few words.
• Let your child move each completed picture to the “All Done” section and choose the next activity.
• If your child protests, cries, or has a tantrum, stay calm. Point to the picture and quietly say, “Bath time now.” When the timer finishes, point to the picture and the timer again and say, “Bath all done!” Then let your child move the picture and choose the next one.
• If your child crumples a picture or tries to throw the timer, calmly uncrumple the picture and continue with the schedule. Your calmness teaches your child that the schedule remains the same.
• If you find you need a different picture, do not stress. You can take a photo of that activity with your phone and print it, use an app on your computer or tablet to make a picture, or simply draw a rough sketch. Children adapt to pictures easily and the quality rarely matters. If your child is literate, you can simply print the name of the activity.
• If plans unexpectedly change, quietly rearrange the schedule before showing it to your child whenever possible. For example, if Grandma is coming over before bath time, simply insert “Grandma” into the schedule and move bath time down.
• Whenever possible, end the schedule with an activity your child enjoys. Perhaps it’s story time, a favourite bath toy, or ten minutes of music. We all like having something pleasant to look forward to.

One Thing You Can Do Today

Choose one part of your day that often leads to frustration. Make a simple picture schedule with three or four steps. Add a timer and use the schedule every day for a week.

You may be surprised how quickly your child begins looking to the schedule instead of looking to you for what comes next.

A Thought from Cheryl

After more than 40 years as a speech-language pathologist, I’ve learned that many behaviour challenges aren’t really behaviour problems at all. Often, children are simply overwhelmed because they don’t know what is expected or what will happen next.

A visual schedule gives children something they can understand without relying only on spoken language. When children know what’s happening now — and what comes next — they often feel calmer, more confident, and more successful.

The Bottom Line

Visual schedules don’t just organize your day. They help organize your child’s world. With a few simple pictures, a predictable routine, and a timer, you can reduce stress, encourage independence, and make transitions easier for the whole family.

Sometimes the simplest tools make the biggest difference.

Free Printable Regulation Cards for Autism and Home Use

I have included a free set of visual schedule pictures for home use. I would encourage you to print them on card stock and laminate them if you can, and to make several copies — they are likely to get well-used! If there is an activity in your home that isn’t pictured, you can take a photo of that activity on your phone and simply add it to the schedule. In a pinch I have also hand-drawn pictures and then just said, “mini golf now” or “hospital now” — and it works just as well.

Watch this short video to see a visual schedule in action.