How to Use Visual Expectations in the Laundry Room

Visual Expectations like “Ways to be Helpful” and “Picture Rules” show children exactly what we want them to do in a given situation. The more information we give children about our expectations, the more likely they are to cooperate and succeed.

Many Visual Expectations pertain to the state in which you want children to leave something or do something. If remembering all your materials before leaving for school is important, take a photo of every item your child needs and post it by the door. Add words to support early literacy for young children and to serve as a checklist for older children. If having supplies stowed in a cubby is important, take a photo of the items stowed inside a cubby and post it on the cubby itself. If you struggle with misplacing your keys, put a photo of your keys above a hook as a helpful tool for scaffolding your own organizational skills! If you want children to hang their backpacks on a hook, take a photo of a backpack on each hook and post them above the hooks. You may feel exasperated by constantly reminding children how to hang up their backpacks and what they must gather before leaving for school, but your Visual Expectations never tire of delivering their messages!