Using Visuals to Empower Our Children (free printable included)

Visual aids often rank high as a tool for productivity in children (and adults).  Visuals offer clear and concise directions for success.  They can allow for increased independence, which in turn can be very empowering for our children.  Just to clarify, we do not utilize rewards in our homes, these are simply visual aids that encourage independence and success.  

For some children, following a bed time schedule is easier than having Mom or Dad directing every move, and its also nice to have if you are trying to put multiple children to bed at the same time.

Bed time routine RL created for her middle daughter - bathroom, pajamas, brush teeth, books, stuffed chipmunk

It's not imperative that they do each step in succession, its just something that assists them along the way.  The routine is printed and laminated so it can be used each night.  The child checks off each task as its completed.

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Another tool that is fun and encourages independence is creating a packing list for our children to utilize prior to vacations, school days, camp, etc.  For children who are not reading, take pictures of each item that needs to be packed (or use clip art).  You can also have the child take an active role in creating the list - they can draw and/or write items to be packed.  This is the visual list I created for our upcoming trip.  The printable is simply a chart.  In the middle I added the picture and name of item to be packed and left the other two blocks blank.  If you laminate it, you can then write in the number (cause this may change from trip to trip) and the child can check off each item as he/she adds it to the bag.  Of course, the number of items are always negotiable. 

Left - visual list before numbers
Right - visual list with numbers written in

Visual packing list for my son.

Packing and checking off the list.

For a free bed time visual template click on the links below. 

The template includes a chart like you see above with 10 options for pictures. 

Invitation in Green

This summer we struggled to maintain enjoyed the benefits of a bountiful garden. We had more summer squash than we knew what to do with, so we gave a lot away and made a lot of squash muffins (think "zucchini muffins" but with squash...yes, it works, but it's not the same). We also had a lot of okra - yum! And we soon discovered that it was better to pick small okra in the morning because by evening they were too tough to eat (seriously, they grew THAT fast). Anyway, one day we had some giant okra, so I decided to create an invitation in green. We'd already done the Yellow Invitation using the squash so it made sense - why not?!

 I set up an invitation on the light table after collecting a number of green tools for measuring, cutting, writing, and general exploration. Lately Addi shows interest in having a variety of collected items to create with, so I really did include a a lot (last year this many items would have overwhelmed her, so it's important to research your child's individual interests and needs when setting up an invitation).



Addi immediately took the lid off the homemade light table and brought it to the ground along with all the supplies; she always knows just how she wants to play, lol. Then she set to work pouring the paint into the translucent cups.  She noticed the cups with paint were now opaque and explored how to completely cover all the cups...the green popsicle sticks worked well.

"I can see through these, but not that one. Can you help me? Oh, I got it."

This summer her interest in letters grew, so I try to include them in most invitations. I didn't know how she would use them in her work; she started off by painting around them while singing a song from one of her favorite books (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom).

"Weeee said D to E F G I'll beat you to the top of the coconut tree."
"K is out of bed & this is what she said, dare double dare you can't catch me..."

And she painted her hand, around her hand, and made a hand print.



"I'm painting my fingers, not your fingers. Is that cool?"

Luckily there was quite a lot of paint on the ground because Addi LOVES to spray and wipe up...well, she loves to spray. And she likes knowing she can get her own cleaning cloths out of the closet.

I make my own cleaning products, so she's welcome to spray away!

Researching our children's interests can be a fun challenge as long as we don't set ourselves (or our children) up for failure. There are several ways to do this:

• Does your child work more deeply with a few items or many?
• How does lighting affect his/her play?
• Include your child's favorite colors
• Include an object your child visits often (lion, letters, etc.)
• Consider a theme: color, animal, letter, medium (art, sand, water, etc.)
• Give yourself a pep-talk before setting up a potentially mess-making invitation, "This is going to be messy and fun. The more mess the more learning. I will ignore the mess until after dinner if I have to, even until after bedtime." If you start to panic, focus on the sheer joy on your child's face!
• Keep your sense of humor and playfulness.
• Follow their lead: if they want you to play you can whisper, "what should I do?" Otherwise you can simply enjoy the show.
• Jot down their reactions and responses. Their facial expressions and words can bring new and deeper meaning for everyone.
• Let go of how you want the materials to be used and instead notice how your child chooses to use them - become curious! "Why did he paint the cup rather than the paper? Interesting: she took apart the light table before using the other materials! I wonder why she included the horse?"

Raising children is full of magical moments when we are able find within ourselves the time and space to watch and listen. I hope you'll find some today...or tomorrow!

Fostering Independence and Empowering Our Children (A compilation)

We have written several posts about ways to instill capability in our children.  When we provide an environment where they can succeed independently, we send so many wonderful underlying messages to them - you are capable, you are worthy, etc.  Giving children choices and power over their world translates in to happy, confident toddlers as well as less power struggles and challenging behaviors.  Here is a compilation of ideas we implement for our children - ranging from ages 7 months to 3 years old.

Accessible and organized clothes....

We hung an extra bar low in my son's closet for easy access to shirts

My son's platform bed has drawers - organized for easy access.

My husband built a shoe rack in our garage where we organize our shoes.  My son's shoes are kept at his height - easy to find, easy to access.

We added hooks low in the entry hall closet for easy access to his jackets

Organized living.....

(Organized, clutter-free spaces lead to organized minds)

My son has his plates, bowls, and utensils in a low drawer where he can access them himself.

We do all of our laundry together - there is no reason to separate anything except into colors, whites, and towels.  I have two baskets in the bottom of the linen closet - one for colors, one for whites - my son puts his dirty clothes in the baskets and has been known to pull them down to the washer to do a load on his own - he's 3.

In another linen closet I have a basket for towels

Glue a CD sleeve inside the book to hold its Audio CD

I don't use this (I did in my classroom when I was teaching, though), but a great way to organize books on tape/CD is by using Ziploc bags.  Easily accessible to the child.

OR

My son has full  access to a CD player and his CDs.  To help him be successful I print the images on sticker paper and stick them to the CDs.

Here is a closer look

Put books on child's level

We installed an extendable shower head so my son can wash his hair independently.

Provide them with stools and such so they can make their own meals.

Tie yarn around doors to allow them to open them.

Make language magnets of food to give them choices.

Give them rhythm charts to allow them some control over planning their day.

Organize snack and have them at child level to give them power over their own eating.

Lastly, and mostly because we just love it, we installed kid friendly toilet seats to offer comfort......





Im sure looking at this some people are thinking - wow, that's so anal - poor kids.  However, its not like we run a boot camp here.  Our children appreciate these opportunities to be independent and we are always there to lend a hand on days where they are feeling less than confident about their abilities.  Imagine living in a home where you can't touch or reach a thing and cant do anything for yourself.  Our homes belong to our children just as much as they do to us.  We are a team and we all help each other.  :)

- AK (MESE, MECD)