Free Printable Visual Schedule for Preschool: Daily Cards
Free Printable Visual Schedule for Preschool. I am a recovering to-do list sergeant, but that was before kids. When I started staying home with my girls, I tossed the list out the door. I used visual schedules in my therapy sessions with kids of all ages and different needs. FACE PALM. Why do applying techniques inside the home take a hard-learned lesson?
A visual schedule brings comfort to kids. They know what to expect of their day. Even young children who cannot read can see the picture schedule and determine the next activity. Visual schedules limit the many repetitive questions. This can give us more energy and extend our patience. Thus, I give you my FREE visual schedule cards. We are taking a gentle and loving approach to preschool, incorporating read-alouds and consistent routines with a rather large margin of grace. I hope these mini-maps guide you and your kiddos into more peaceful days filled with intention and joy!
Remember, you and your children are wonderfully made. Your family has been knit together with such fun threads of uniqueness and blessings of beautiful personalities, so your daily routines may look a bit different. And that’s okay!
Grab these fun visual supports, each featuring a corresponding icon for each daily task. In this blog post, you will find instructions for the free download, a list of benefits of visual schedules, methods for using a visual homeschool schedule, and a personal bit (at the end). Don’t worry! These visual pictures can be used in classrooms or therapy settings. I have used them in both. 🙂
What’s included in the Free Printable Visual Schedule for Preschool bundle?
- 18-page bundle with 70 individual cards with corresponding colorful icons for all daily tasks, editable blank cards for easy write-in options, and eight holiday-themed cards (more coming soon). I’ll continue to update the file with more picture cards as our daily schedule evolves. The current cards include labels such as snack time, play time, music lessons, meals, subject areas, chores, and more (every label as a visual cue).
Here is an example of what is included in the Free Printable Visual Schedule for Preschool:
How to get your Free Printable Visual Schedule for Preschool bundle?
To get your Free Printable Visual Schedule for Preschool print cards, subscribe to the mailing list in the pink box below. We won’t send you spam, and you can unsubscribe at any time. The digital download will be loaded after hitting confirm on the confirmation email sent to the email address entered in the pink box.
Once you have confirmed your email address, the Free Printable Visual Schedule for Preschool Digital file will download. You will have access to my password-protected subscriber library and receive a monthly newsletter. The password changes each month to prevent stolen content.
If you are already a part of the community, head over to the Subscriber Library and enter the password from your monthly newsletter. 🙂
Currently, I am a stay-at-home mama with two beautiful preschool-age children. I want to offer these resources for FREE as I develop them for my kids. For my products to remain free, I need visits to my website. If you share these products, please share by referring them to my website and email subscription. Thank you so much for your kindness and support. If you have any difficulties, find me on Instagram @mudpieswithsprinkles and send me a DM. That is the best way to get a hold of me.
How to Print the Visual Schedule Printables?
Print on Cardstock.
The pdf file includes 18 pages. Print at home, local library, or store. The pages contain low to moderate levels of color to help draw the attention and delight of younger children. For best results, print the activity cards on cardstock.
Laminate.
I highly recommend laminating the visual schedule cards for increased durability. Laminating the cards also allows you to write in various options on the blank cards with a dry-erase marker.
What are the benefits of a visual schedule?
A visual schedule can be a powerful tool and a fun educational resource in the home, classroom, or therapy setting.
Here are a few benefits of using a visual schedule at home and in the classroom with children:
- protect your family culture and morning routine by coming together to learn and live in a prepared, gentle, and loving environment
- set the tone for your home (order vs. chaos)
- creates consistency (consistent routines offers comfort to children in what comes next)
- aid with transitions for younger children or children with special needs
- develop known and clear expectations
- strengthen communication skills within the family or class
- improve vocabulary
- learn the sequence of events (first this and then that)*
- empower children to be responsible (one of our goals as a parent is independent kids)
- limit frequent questions and verbal instructions (when can I…?)
- make the day more manageable
* If a full visual schedule is too overwhelming, start with only adding two cards to the schedule. First breakfast, then reading. And keep building the schedule throughout the day. I used this technique a lot in the clinic and with anxious children.
How can I use a visual schedule with kids?
A visual schedule offers a sense of comfort to a child as they enter their day. It’s like having a mini-map of their day, and they know what to expect of their day. There are lots of ways to use these visual schedule cards.
Here are a few ways to use the visual schedule print cards?
- place velcro dots on the back of the laminated print cards and attach the cards to a ribbon of velcro or other surface
- insert visual cards in a pocket chart and flip the cards backwards once the task is completed
- place sticky tack (or poster putty) to the back of each laminated print card. Arrange the cards on a designated location like a chalkboard or white boards
- hole punch each laminated print card, arrange the cards in order, and fasten them with a binger ring
For simplicity, I arranged our daily schedule the night before. This helps us start our homeschool day peacefully. Mama is ready to roll first thing, and the kids have clear expectations.
Tips for using a visual schedule with kids:
- expect a learning curve for you and your children
- take time to teach your kids and family how to use the schedule
- start by listing only your morning routine or half-day schedule
- begin with simple time blocks such as clean up, learn, play, eat, etc.
- involve your kids in planning and maintaining the visual schedule, such as removing completed tasks
- make an individual schedule for the children it would benefit most
How I use the visual schedule in our home?
Confession: I am recurrently remodeling this area in my brain. I am a recovering to-do drill sergeant. So, I give this advice steeped in gentleness and grace. I prefer the term daily rhythm or schedule. A rhythm is a repeated pattern of musical sounds or movements. Oh, to be in a peaceful pattern of learning and rest. Our daily rhythm matches the atmosphere of our home. Our home thrives on margins of grace (leaving time for mistakes and learning opportunities), living books, and a consistent and orderly daily rhythm that matches the unique beat of our family values and goals. You are wonderfully made, and your family has been knit together in such fun uniqueness with blessings of beautiful personalities, so your daily routines may look a bit different. And that’s okay!
Our schedule doesn’t boss us around but rather gently guides us to the next thing. I do not list everything on the visual schedule. At this point, a daunting long list would be visually overwhelming. We keep it simple. I’ll write about learning loops soon. 😉
The biggest lesson I have learned: The more intentional I am at planning and preparing for my family’s day the more joyful and peaceful our home is.
Visual Schedule / Daily Rhythm Example
Remember at this time I have two preschool-age lovelies. This is only a tiny glimpse into our current daily lives.
- breakfast
- morning learning
- read aloud
- outside play
- morning chores
- snack
- learning loop (one of the following crafts, music, science, or math)
- lunch
- clean up
- quiet time
- tea time & poetry
- free play (or audio book)
- dinner
- evening chores
- bath
- bedtime routine (pajamas, bed time stories, prayers)
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More Early Learning Freebies
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Add these Farm Alphabet Flash Cards to your Morning basket for FREE. CLICK HERE.
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Get the early learning bundle HERE.
More Booklists And Free Printables Coming Soon!
Thanks for Stopping By!
Lastly, I want to thank you for stopping by! Please say Hi in the comment section and share your favorite part of your homeschool journey or learning time together as a whole family or class. I’ll continue to update my early learning freebies, including this Free Printable Visual Schedule for Preschool bundle. The good news is that all my digital products are going to be FREE.
Come grow with us by joining our monthly mailing list. I hope you have a beautiful day and happy early learning! I truly appreciate your support and kindness.
– With Great Joy, Katie
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