The Day I Stopped Being a Human Broken Record (Thanks to Visual Routine Charts!)
Let me paint you a picture of my mornings before I discovered visual routine charts: Me, following my toddler around like a desperate tour guide, repeating "It's breakfast time!" for what felt like the millionth time, while my coffee got cold (again). Sound familiar?
If you're nodding your head so hard it might fall off, keep reading, mama. I've got a sanity-saving tip that literally changed my life – and might just save your voice box.
My Breaking Point
It happened on a Monday. I had just finished saying "time to brush teeth" fifteen times in five minutes when I realized something had to give. My toddler wasn't trying to drive me crazy (though she was succeeding spectacularly) – she just needed a better way to understand her day. That's when an old teaching trick I used to use, popped in my head… visual routine charts, and oh my goodness, why had I not thought to use these at home sooner?
What's a Visual Routine Chart? (AKA My New Best Friend)
Think of it as a GPS for your toddler's day, minus the annoying "recalculating" voice. It's basically a series of pictures showing what happens throughout the day. Wake up, brush teeth, eat breakfast – you get the idea. And the best part? No words needed! (Because let's be honest, my toddler can't read yet, unless you count reading my last nerve.) Although, you can add words in to work on those letters when the time comes…
Why These Charts Are Pure Magic
Here's what I've learned since implementing our chart:
Toddlers are like tiny CEOs – they want to feel in control. When they can see what's coming next, they're way more likely to cooperate. Who knew?
It's like having a silent assistant. Instead of me always being the "bad guy" saying it's time to clean up, I can just point to the chart. "Oh look, what's next on our schedule?" Suddenly, I'm not the mean mom – I'm just the messenger!
My daughter actually gets excited about following the routine. Yesterday, she literally cheered when she saw it was outside play time next. (I may have teared up a little.)
How I Made Our Chart (Without Being Pinterest-Perfect)
Listen, I'm no Martha Stewart. My artistic ability peaks at stick figures, and you know what? That's totally fine! Here's what I did:
Grabbed some cardboard from an Amazon box (finally, a use for all those boxes!)
Printed some basic clipart (stick figures work too!)
Used some Command strips to hang it at toddler eye level
Added a clothespin for tracking our progress (fancy, I know)
Click here to download a FREE simple visual chart that I made and use regularly!
The Real Talk Results
Let me be honest – the first few days were... interesting. My daughter used the clothespin as a hair clip, and tried to add "eat chocolate" between every activity. But by day four? MAGIC.
Now, instead of our morning power struggles, she checks the chart herself. Last week, she actually got dressed without me asking because "that's what comes after breakfast, Mom!" I nearly fainted.
Quick Tips from My Trenches
Start small! I began with just our morning routine because, let's face it, that's when I needed the most help
Make it fun: We sometimes add silly dance moves between activities
Be consistent: This isn't like that diet you started last January (no judgment, we've all been there)
Celebrate the wins: Even if "winning" means they only asked "what's next?" 47 times instead of 48
The Plot Twist
The funniest part? Now my husband uses the chart too. Apparently, he also needed help remembering what comes next in our evening routine. (Yes, honey, I see you reading this.)
Your Turn!
Ready to join the visual routine chart revolution? Start simple, keep it fun, and remember – even if your drawings look like they were done by your toddler, they'll still work! Trust me, if I can do this, anyone can.
Drop a comment below if you try this out – I'd love to hear your stories! Are you already using routine charts? Share your tips! And if you're still just using them as impromptu hair accessories, well, we've all been there too. 😉
Don't forget to follow me @raisingmyteenagedtoddler on socials for more real-talk parenting tips and the occasional story about how my toddler outsmarted me... again.
