Bedtime Routine Visual Schedule
A bedtime routine visual schedule puts the evening into six picture steps, from dinner to bed. A familiar order can make winding down feel calmer for a child who finds the end of the day hard, and it gives everyone at home the same plan to follow.
Free to print with no account. The customized board also runs on a tablet in a session.
About this template
Evenings can be tiring for children and adults alike, and bedtime is the time of day when patience tends to run out. A routine that always runs in the same order takes some of the guessing out of it, and the story at the end gives the learner something to look forward to.
How to use it
- Print the schedule and put it where the evening routine starts, perhaps on the fridge or the bathroom door.
- Start the routine at the same time most nights and go through the pictures in the same order.
- Tick each step together as it is finished, so the learner can see how many are left.
- Keep the last step quiet and calm, with dim lights and a favorite book, so the routine ends in the bedroom.
Make it yours
- Cut the schedule to four steps for a learner who is just getting used to a routine.
- Add a step for a night light, a favorite soft toy or a drink of water.
- Swap the bath for a quick wash on nights when there is no time, and cross it off the schedule ahead of time so it does not come as a surprise.
- Give the learner a pen to tick the boxes, which turns the schedule into a small job they own.
Questions
What time should the routine start?
Pick a time that works for your family and repeat it. A schedule works best when it happens at about the same time each evening.
Can I use this for a child who does not sleep well?
A predictable routine may help, but sleep problems can have many causes. Talk to your doctor or care team if sleep is a worry, and use the schedule as one part of the plan.
Should screens be part of the routine?
That is a family choice. Many families leave screens out of the last steps, and you can add or remove any step by customizing the schedule.
Related templates
- Visual schedulesMorning routine
- First/then boardsFirst work, then break
- Choice boardsCalm down choices
- Build one from scratch with the Visual Schedule Maker maker.
- Read more: First/then boards for autism.
- See all free templates.
General information only. Your BCBA or team can adapt this for your learner.
Pictures are from open symbol sets. See the credits.