Visual routines for autism: how to make them step by step
A visual routine is a sequence of pictograms or images that represents, step by step, an everyday activity: getting dressed, brushing teeth, getting ready to leave the house. According to the visual supports guide by Autismo Sevilla, published by the regional government of Castilla y León, this type of resource improves comprehension and communication and reduces anxiety around change, while also fostering the child's independence. In this tutorial we go straight to the practical side: how to create your first visual routine in six steps, with no complicated materials and no prior knowledge.
What this tutorial covers
How to create a visual routine in 6 steps
Step 1. Choose a single, specific routine to start with
Don't try to cover the whole day at once. Choose a single routine that repeats every day and that usually causes the most tension, for example the morning routine before going to school. Starting with a very well-defined moment, with a clear beginning and end, makes the rest of the process much easier and lets you see results sooner.
Step 2. Break the routine into 4-6 very concrete actions
Divide that routine into small, observable steps, avoiding vague instructions. For the morning routine, for example: 1) get up, 2) get dressed, 3) have breakfast, 4) brush teeth, 5) pick up the school bag, 6) put on shoes and leave. Four to six steps is usually enough: if there are too many, the sequence becomes hard to follow at a glance.
Step 3. Choose or draw a simple pictogram for each action
Each step needs a clear image with no distracting background elements: a simple drawing, a cut-out photo or a downloaded pictogram is enough. What matters is not the artistic quality, but that the image is always recognisable and used consistently to represent that same action.
Step 4. Arrange the pictograms on a strip or card
Stick or lay out the pictograms in the order in which they happen, in a vertical or horizontal strip on card or laminated paper. The order must match the real sequence of the routine exactly, left to right or top to bottom, so it can be followed with the eyes without confusion.
Step 5. Place it in a fixed, visible spot
Choose a stable place —the bedroom door, a spot in the hallway, the wall next to the bathroom mirror— and always keep the routine there, at the child's eye level. Moving it around from one day to the next takes away predictability, exactly the opposite of what this resource aims for.
Step 6. Let the child mark off or remove each step as they complete it
Add a simple tracking system: a peg that moves, a box that gets crossed off or a piece of Velcro to remove the pictogram once done. Letting the child themselves mark the progress reinforces independence and turns the routine into an active tool, not just a decorative poster.
A tip that applies throughout: start with a single routine and master it well before creating the next one. A morning routine that genuinely works is better than three half-finished routines used irregularly.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Changing the pictogram for an action from one day to the next. Always use the same image for the same action; changing it adds confusion where clarity was the goal.
- Placing the routine in a different spot each time. The stability of the location is as important as the content: a fixed placement is what makes it reliable.
- Removing it as soon as it "seems" no longer needed. Keep it as a stable support even when the child already appears to master the sequence; removing it too soon can make the routine fall apart at any change or bad day.
How to save time when making it
Making a visual routine by hand works, but it takes time: finding pictograms that fit, adjusting the size, printing them, cutting them out and laminating them so they survive daily use. If you'd rather skip that part of the process, a workbook or card generated with the pictograms already ordered and adapted to your child's specific routine can save you that preparatory work, leaving you only the printing and placing.
This article offers general information and support activities. Zubibook is not a healthcare provider or an accredited educational institution: it does not replace the diagnosis or follow-up of a professional. If you have any doubt about a child's development, consult a specialist.
Remember: this material is for general support. It does not replace the assessment or follow-up of a healthcare or educational professional specialised in autism.
Next step
If you want to move faster than hunting for loose pictograms online, at Zubibook you can generate a tailored visual routine —with the steps, language and pictogram style adjusted to your child or pupil— ready to print as a PDF in just a few minutes.
Create a visual routine tailored to your child
Choose the routine, the age and the language, and generate a print-ready PDF sequence of pictograms to print and put up at home.
- Autismo Sevilla / Regional Government of Castilla y León — Guide to Visual Supports for people with autism (ASD): educa.jcyl.es