SHOW AND TELL:

Tools for Creating Visuals to Help Children Understand, Listen, and Follow Directions

THE POWER OF VISUALS

Visuals are for everyone. Adults use visual aids to remember schedules, instructions, and tasks. If adults benefi t from visuals, it’s understandable that children, especially those with special needs, will too.

│ Adult Planners │ Calendar │ Menus

│ Street signs │ To do lists │ Recipes

Kids learn best by seeing and doing. Most people, especially children who struggle with communication, need to “see it in order to understand it.” When we show our kids what to do rather than just telling them verbally, we make it easier for them to understand and remember what they need to do.

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Benefi ts of using visuals with kids:

• You won’t have to keep repeating yourself! Visuals are always present, while verbal statements are gone as soon as they are said.

• Visuals are a powerful tool a child can use to communicate his or her wants and needs. Th is decreases frustration for both adults and kids and results in fewer tantrums and unwanted behaviors.

• Children develop a clearer understanding of what they are being asked to do, because they can see the requests.

Visuals can be used with all children, regardless of age or skill level. Styles include:

│ Photos │ Picture symbols

│ Black and white line drawing │ Text

3. First-then boards: Children are often faced with tasks that they don’t like to do, and need mo-tivation to help them get through the unwanted activity. First-then boards help kids to see that while they do have to complete the unwanted task, they will get to do something they enjoy afterward.

4. Reminder strips: Many tasks are challenging for children simply because they require too many steps. Reminder strips help kids by sequencing daily tasks and breaking them down step by step.

5. Cue cards: As we teach our children about appropriate behaviors, we find ourselves needing to share numerous tips and directions with them through-out the day. Similarly, our children are constantly trying to communicate their needs to us. Cue cards allow a mutual exchange of information and serve as a subtle prompt. This helps adults and kids to understand each other better, and helps move our children towards greater independence.

Types of Visual Supports │ Page 4

TYPES OF VISUAL SUPPORTS

1. Visual schedules: Many of the negative behaviors exhibited by children are rooted in a feeling of anxiety over not knowing what’s coming. When we use visual sched-ules with kids, we make their world more predictable, which helps them to feel more safe and calm. This helps children to go through tasks and routines more willingly.

2. Choice boards: Kids often struggle for a sense of control. They may show this by challenging our requests, refusing to listen, and saying no. Offering choices to kids allows them to feel more powerful and promotes independence and self-reliance.

Page 3 │ Show and Tell

│ Mealtime choice boards │ Homework choice boards

│ Morning schedule │ Evening schedule

│ Mini schedule

HOW TO CREATE VISUALS

1. Materials:• Hard paper, like poster board • Scissors• Glue• Tape• Markers• Velcro• Magnets• Images or photos• Protection- clear packing tape,

contact paper, laminating sheets, overhead transparence sheets, small photo album, picture frame

2. Displaying visual supports: Choose where and how you want to dis-play your visuals based on what works for you and your child and on the needs of the situation. Some visuals can always remain in the same place, such as mealtime choices in the kitchen, while others will move with your child, like an evening schedule. Options for displaying include:

│ Placing images on a ring and holding in pocket or wearing on a string

│ Placing in a picture frame

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│ Mounting into a clipboard to be hung up or carried around

│ Placing in a small photo album

│ Mounting onto poster board or a card board

3. Introducing and using visual supports with children

• Offer kids the option of helping to create the visuals, or let them watch you making them

• Model and practice using the visuals. At first, children will need to be shown step by step how to look at the picture and do what’s being asked

• Praise kids for using the visual correctly• Make transitions clear by having a place for the images of tasks that

have been completed, such as an envelope or “finished” pocket or basket

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www.ramapoforchildren.org

Copyright © 2012 All Rights ReservedThese materials are copyrighted. They cannot be copied, excerpted or distributed in whole or in part without the prior written consent of Ramapo for Children.

Ramapo Training empowers teachers, parents, and other youth-service professionals with practical tools they need to foster positive behaviors and promote success.