Creating a Family Routines Chart

Gather your materials. Explain to your child that you are going to make a chart about family routines and ask how they would like to help write, draw, and decorate the chart.

Draw columns for each day of the week. Do you want to make a routine chart for the whole day or a specific time of day such as mornings, after school, homework, dinnertime, bedtime, or weekends. Let your child decorate the top of each column with pictures. Your child could also design a symbol for different routines or activities like school supplies, bedtime storytime, etc.

Fill in your chart by selecting one daily routine that goes well. Write in the chart what you do in that routine, outlining each step of the routine in a simple way. What step comes first, second, and third? Who is responsible for each step?

Next talk about what routines could be improved. First, talk about what’s working well for that routine. Then talk about what might make that routine even better.. If you outline each step of the routine, it might be easier to think about which steps need improvement.

Ask “Are there routines that feel challenging or could be smoother if we work on it together?” When discussing what’s challenging about the routine, parents/caregivers might model open communication by using an “I” statements. For example, “I feel frustrated when we are running late for swim lessons because I know your instructor wants to get started on time. I know we can figure out a better way to be on time.” Ask each person to express how they feel in an “I” statement about the routine you’ve chosen. When a person shares, be sure they know that their feelings are heard and valued.

Then, you might ask:

• “What can we do as a family to help meet everyone’s needs and consider everyone’s feelings?”
• “What can we look for to understand how someone might be feeling?”
• “Everyone’s job is important, and we all help in different ways. How can we plan our routine so that each person understands their part?”

Take the time you need to discuss. Keep track of your great ideas so that they can be incorporated into your plan. Remind children that they can ask questions about daily routines anytime, especially when they are wondering what’s happening because the needs of a family member may be changing. This could also be a time for children to express how the changes make them feel.

Continue adding routines to the chart paper or posterboard, listing the routines step-by-step. Note who is responsible for each step. When finished, you might create a care team cheer to rally around and use when you need it!