Free Printable Visual Schedule for Autism: The 'Good & Fun' Routine Planner

Turn daily struggles into successes with our easy-to-use, 5-step visual roadmap designed specifically for children with special needs.

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Why parents love this planner:

  • Reduces Transition Anxiety: Clearly shows what is happening now and what comes next.
  • Built-in Motivation: The 'Good & Fun' system ensures every necessary task leads to a reward.
  • Promotes Independence: Teaches children to follow their own schedule without nagging.
  • Customizable: Includes over 50 'Good Things' and 'Fun Stuff' icons for your routine.
visual schedule autism and first then board - free printable PDF - The Catbears
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Why parents love this planner:

  • Reduces Transition Anxiety: Clearly shows what is happening now and what comes next.
  • Built-in Motivation: The 'Good & Fun' system ensures every necessary task leads to a reward.
  • Promotes Independence: Teaches children to follow their own schedule without nagging.
  • Customizable: Includes over 50 'Good Things' and 'Fun Stuff' icons for your routine.

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When children struggle with transitions, it's often due to anxiety from uncertainty. A visual roadmap makes the invisible passage of time concrete and safe.

My Day: First and Then

  • Pick your cards: Choose a task for 'Good Things' and a reward for 'Fun Stuff'
  • Follow the arrows: Do the 'Good Thing' to get to your fun activity
  • Celebrate your wins: Move your card or give a high-five when a job is done
Good thingGood thing
Fun stuffFun stuff
Good thingGood thing
Fun stuffFun stuff

Over time you’ll see progress

Children learn to manage their own routines, reducing 'prompt dependency' and building true life-long independence.

The 'Good & Fun' language transforms clinical demands into a positive daily partnership.

Child feeling empowered using a visual schedule

How to Use:

  1. Cut out the Good & Fun cards
  2. Tape your routine together
  3. Follow the arrows and celebrate
A visual schedule is a teaching tool that uses icons and photos to help children understand the sequence of daily events. By making routines predictable, it reduces the anxiety many autistic children feel when facing transitions or changes in their day.
Traditional schedules can feel like a list of demands. By framing tasks as 'Good Things' (necessary jobs) that lead to 'Fun Stuff' (preferred rewards), we use positive reinforcement to increase a child's internal motivation to complete their routine.
Yes. Children with ADHD often struggle with executive functioning and 'losing track' of multi-step verbal directions. This visual checklist acts as an external reminder that keeps them focused on one step at a time.
Five steps is the 'sweet spot' for teaching sequencing without causing overwhelm. It allows for a complete routine (like the morning launch or bedtime) while providing 5 immediate opportunities for the child to feel successful.
Yes. As part of The Catbears mission to empower families, this 50+ icon set and planner template is a 100% free resource for home and school use.

Yes. In a busy home, spoken words are 'fleeting'—they disappear.

  • Permanent Roadmap: A printed schedule stays visible, providing a constant sense of security.
  • Shift in Authority: The schedule becomes the 'boss,' allowing parents to step out of the nagging role and into the role of a supportive coach.
The Catbears is an EdTech initiative founded by therapists and educators. We translate clinical knowledge into 'cool' and accessible tools that children actually enjoy using, developed in collaboration with SLPs and OTs.

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