42% of school-aged children do sports, 30% take lessons, and 28% are in clubs. What’s even more impressive is 9% of children participate in all 3! Having a weekly schedule for kids can give your children a clear picture of what the upcoming days will be like and what they need to do. While it’s nice for kids to do extracurricular activities, these can add to an already hectic schedule. And as a result, it can be tough to wrangle everyone to get them where they need to be. Prevent meltdowns and help your kiddos mentally prepare for the flurry of activities coming up by creating a weekly schedule template for kids.
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What Should You Put in the Schedule?
Planning a weekly schedule for your kids can seem overwhelming, right? But don’t worry, help is here. Have you considered using a weekly schedule template for kids? It’s a great starting point. It’s important to remember that weekly schedules should be more general than daily schedules. The daily ones are where you can add more details like waking up and brushing your teeth.
Monday Through Friday
The weekdays should be pretty similar to one another since the kids are in school. Plus, an established routine is excellent for your children to feel comfortable and confident.
Here’s an example of what each day should look like:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Wake up, eat breakfast, and get ready for school |
| 9:00 am – 2:30 pm | School |
| 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm | Extracurriculars and homework |
| 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Dinner |
| 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Family time |
| 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Free time |
| 10:00 pm | Bedtime |
Saturday and Sunday
The weekend is where you can be a bit more flexible, especially since there’s more time for playdates and outings. To keep your kiddos stimulated, healthy, and happy, feel free to switch around activities every week to keep it fresh.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 10:00 am | Wake up and eat breakfast |
| 10:00 am – 5:00 pm | Playdates, outings, extracurriculars, etc. |
| 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Dinner |
| 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Family time |
| 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Free time |
| 10:00 pm | Bedtime |
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How To Get the Kids Involved
Assuming you already made a rough draft of your kids’ weekly schedule! You’re off to a great start. But, there’s still some work to do. Although the schedule may look good to you, it might not be as exciting for your little ones. The key to creating an optimal schedule is to involve them in the process and make adjustments if necessary. This will ensure that the schedule meets their needs and keeps them motivated.
Goally | The Safest Tablet for Kids
Here are some ways to get your kids excited and involved about weekly schedules:
Include Them
Nobody likes to be told what to do, especially children. Handing them a schedule you’ve come up with 100% on your own is almost guaranteed to backfire and you’ll be met with resistance. Instead, sit down with your kids and show them the weekly schedule you’ve plotted out. Go over each item and discuss whether or not they like it and why. Make changes accordingly and show your kids you listen to them and respect their opinions. When your children feel like they’re involved and have some control, they’ll feel more comfortable with following the weekly schedule. Not only that, but they’ll also learn some valuable planning skills!
Build Custom Printable Visual Schedules
Is your child having trouble managing their routines? Here’s a free visual schedule builder. Goally’s custom tool allows you to create printable personalized schedules that motivate your child to focus on their tasks. Perfect for morning, homework, and bedtime routines, this free visual schedule builder is easy to use and will help your child reach their full potential.
Click below to make your CUSTOM printable visual schedule! 👇
Give Rewards
How many times have you punished your little ones for not doing a chore and they’ve thrown a tantrum? Even worse is, the next time you ask them to do the chore, there’s lots of tension in the air and they’re even more resistant to completing the task. A better alternative is positive reinforcement, as it’s always better than punishments for kids. If you’ve praised your child for taking out the trash, you might notice they’re more eager to do it again.
This same concept can be applied to your kids’ weekly schedule. Some of the tasks on there may not be the most pleasant ones for them, so your kiddos might dread doing them. But if you give them rewards for completing these tasks, and extra rewards for doing them efficiently, they’ll be more open to the schedule.
Setting different rewards for various tasks can be tedious and hard to keep track of, especially if you’re using pen and paper. Consider using a service like Goally, which involves devices and apps for daily routines. Rewards are totally built in. You can set customized points systems and rewards so you don’t have to do the hard work. Your child can just show you their accomplishments on Goally and you can reward them accordingly.
How To Display Your Kids’ Weekly Schedule
You and your kids have finalized a weekly schedule that works for everyone. Now the challenging part is sticking to it! And this can be hard to do if you don’t have a visual reminder.
Here are 2 ways to display your kids’ weekly routine so everyone can stay on track.
Hang a Paper Schedule
Printing out your schedule and hanging it up around the house will be useful. Whenever someone has trouble remembering what’s coming up later in the day, they can just head over and take a look.
Consider laminating these pieces of paper if your children are messy or if you’re hanging the schedules where they might get wet.
Have a Digital Schedule
Paper schedules are nice and easy, but if you’re not in the house or around one, you’re out of luck. Plus, they’re static and don’t have handy features like reminders, so it’s easy to accidentally skip over an activity. So in addition to having a paper schedule, you should have a digital one as well. Goally’s perfect for this because you can put in daily and weekly tasks and your kids can keep up with them independently.
Goally | Apps To Structure Your Kiddo’s Routine
Does your child struggle with transitions or staying on task? Goally’s visual schedule app breaks down large tasks into small, achievable steps. It helps kids complete their tasks independently!
Create custom routines with your own videos & pictures for every step. The steps come in small, bite-sized pieces to help your child learn the little fundamentals (like putting the toothpaste on their toothbrush!) to achieve bigger goals. And that’s just the beginning.
Use This Weekly Schedule Template for Kids To Organize Your Family Life
We hope that this weekly schedule template for kids has helped you come up with a personalized schedule that works for you and your little ones. When everyone can see clearly what needs to be done and when, this can decrease chaos. And as a result, you’ll be able to carry out errands and tasks smoothly, and you’ll see happy little faces too! To get started on having a digital schedule for your kiddos, take a look at the pricing plans for Goally. We offer devices and apps with our services!
FAQs About Weekly Schedule Template for Kids
What is a weekly schedule template for kids? A weekly schedule template for kids is a pre-designed format that helps parents and caregivers plan out their children's activities and routines for the week ahead. How can a weekly schedule template help special needs kids? A weekly schedule template can be particularly useful for special needs kids, who may benefit from having a predictable routine to follow. It can also help parents and caregivers ensure that they are incorporating necessary therapies, appointments, and other activities into their child's schedule. What should be included in a weekly schedule template for special needs kids? A weekly schedule template for special needs kids should include a variety of activities that address their unique needs and interests. This may include therapy sessions, educational activities, social outings, and leisure activities. How can parents and caregivers create a weekly schedule template for their special needs kids? Parents and caregivers can create a weekly schedule template for their special needs kids by first identifying their child's needs and preferences. They can then use a template or create their own format to map out the activities and routines for the week ahead. Can a weekly schedule template be adjusted as needed? Yes, a weekly schedule template should be flexible and adjusted as needed to accommodate changes in the child's schedule or routine. Parents and caregivers can make tweaks to the schedule to ensure that it remains effective and appropriate for their child's needs.
This post was originally published on 02/15/2022. It was updated on 03/21/2024.
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