Daily routine charts for kids

What a routine chart does that a chore chart does not

A chore chart lists jobs. A routine chart lists a sequence, and the sequence is what teaches the habit. The same order every day means your child stops asking what comes next and just moves.

A routine chart works for kids aged 3 to 9, because the order is always the same. Hang it on the door they use, the one they walk out of in the morning or come in after school. That is where the routine actually happens.

The chart does the reminding, so you do not have to. Your child follows the chart without being told bceause the steps are familiar and the clock is the boss.

The morning routine chart

The morning routine chart printable is a list of steps in order, with a picture for each step. There is a check box per step per day, and a reward line at the the bottom. The clock rule is simple: the routine is done before the time written on the chart.

Print it at 100 percent, not fit to page. Choose letter or A4, and a color version or an ink saving black outline version. The blank name line is ready for a marker.

The reward is the routine finishing before the clock does, so the chart works without a sticker for every step. The boxes fit a 1.5 inch round sticker or a 1/2 inch star sticker if you want to add them.

The after school routine chart

The after school routine chart printable follows the same idea: a list of steps in order, a check per step, and a reward line. The steps are snack, homework, play outside, clean up, dinner, and ready for bed.

This chart helps the after school hours move without nagging. Your child checks each step as it is done, and the order stays the same every day. Print letter or A4, color or ink saving.

The check mark is the proof of progress, and the reward line at the bottom is for the whole routine done before the time. You can use a star sticker or just a high five.

Building a routine in one week

You do not need to invent a new routine. You need to write down the one your child already does, in the order it happens. Here is a five step plan to build a routine chart that sticks.

1. Write the steps your child already does every morning or after school.
2. Put them in the order they happen, from first to last.
3. Add one new step, like making the bed or packing the backpack.
4. Print the chart and hang it on the door they use.
5. Walk it together for three days, pointing to each step as they do it.

After three days, your child will start checking steps on their own. Keep the same order for at least a week. The routine becomes automatic when the order never changes.

Routine charts by age

The number of steps and who checks them changes with age. Here is a simple guide for what to put on the chart and how much help your child needs.

For a 3 year old, keep the chart short and do the checking together. By age 8, the chart is a checklist they read and check on their own. The goal is that the chart becomes a habit, not a battle.

Responsibility charts and visual schedules

A routine chart is one kind of visual schedule. The responsibility chart on the next page adds a weekly view with more jobs. For non-readers, picture only charts work best, and the toddler chart uses simple images.

Some children need a visual schedule that shows the whole day, not just one routine. The feelings chart can help a child name emotions during transitions. Pick the chart that matches your child's reading level and attention span.

If you want more ideas for daily structure, see the bedtime routine chart or the chore charts for a different approach. For a step by step guide to making any chart, visit how to make a chore chart.