What do I do with my hands? (and how to make the best of free time)

Written By: Nicole Snow, BCBA & Market Director

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends about 5 hoursper day in selected leisure activities. That’s a whooping 35 hours per week of leisure time! That much free time sounds great on paper, but many kiddos diagnosed with ASD have deficits in social skills, planning, organizing time, sequencing activities, problem solving and communicating. These barriers can make leisure time stressful and increase the likelihood of dysregulation. Fortunately, we can use visual schedules to help! 

What is a visual schedule? 

A visual schedule is a series of pictures, symbols, or words that specify what to do, in what order, and for how long. Visual schedules can often be introduced as early as 2-3 years old. The timing and complexity will depend on the child’s developmental stage and ability to understand and respond to visual cues. 

What are the benefits of a visual schedule? 

• Increase on-task behavior 
• Provides structure and predictability by specifying what comes next 
• Teach abstract concepts like time and organization 
• Reduce anxiety about transitions 
• Increase independence 
• Improve comprehension 

Tips for Success 

• Make it Personal: The more your child can relate to the visual cues, the more successful the visual schedule will be.  
• Use Photos: You can incorporate photos of your child completing different activities to increase understanding. 
• Start Small: Begin with just one or two activities and gradually expand. 
• Teach: Use timers and verbal/physical prompts (cues), especially when the schedule is new.  
• Reinforce: Offer a small reward for completing activities on the schedule 
• Expect the Unexpected: Incorporate a symbol that represents unexpected changes and use the visual schedule to introduce those changes ahead of time. Consider having a question mark icon to prepare your child for a change in their typical routine/schedule. 
• Backup Choices: Provide a visual choice board with alternative activities just in case the originally selected activity is unavailable or unwanted. 

If you’re a visual learner yourself, check out this video for more information!  

https://youtu.be/-9UtEaEoAiU

Happy scheduling! 

References 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Time spent in leisure and sports activities, 2022 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2023/time-spent-in-leisure-and-sports-activities-2022.htm 

ATN/AIR-P Network. (2019, December 18). Visual Schedule for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/-9UtEaEoAiU?si=inpgFJIiuDWkXWpC