What is a preschool picture schedule?

A picture schedule is a common tool used for preschool and early elementary school students to depict a daily routine. Preschool teachers use this tool because children in preschool often cannot read, and they rely on visual cues to understand order and to transition between activities.

Children are visually oriented, and picture schedules offer constant reminders of what is coming up during the day. Teachers can point to events on the picture schedule to remind students about the next activity. Picture schedules also benefit children on the autism spectrum because they align with their need for order and prompting to switch from one activity to the next.