Visual Schedule Template

Use this template to plan your child’s weekly routine. Write or draw activities in each time block. Incorporate sensory breaks, clear transitions, and visual cues as needed.

Monday

Morning





Midday





Afternoon





Evening

Tuesday

Morning





Midday





Afternoon





Evening

Wednesday

Morning





Midday





Afternoon





Evening

Thursday

Morning





Midday





Afternoon





Evening

Friday

Morning





Midday





Afternoon





Evening

Saturday

Morning





Midday





Afternoon





Evening

Sunday

Morning





Midday





Afternoon





Evening

Sensory Breaks & Notes

Plan specific sensory supports and reminders for the week.

• Scheduled Breaks (time & activity):
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Transition Cues (visual/timer):
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Rewards & Reinforcement Ideas:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Use this schedule as a living document: adjust times, swap activities, and celebrate small successes as you build a routine that works for your child.

Sensory Tools Overview Handout

Children with ADHD and sensory processing differences often benefit from targeted tools that help regulate their bodies and minds. This handout summarizes common sensory tools, when to use them, and tips for successful home implementation.

1. Tactile (Touch) Tools

Purpose: Provide calming or alerting input through the sense of touch.

• Fidget toys (e.g., spinners, stretchy bands, stress balls)
– Use during seated tasks to improve focus and reduce restlessness.
– Tip: Choose quiet options (e.g., soft putty) for classroom or reading time.

• Textured items (e.g., fabric swatches, tactile stickers)
– Offer brief skin stimulation when anxious or distracted.
– Tip: Rotate textures weekly to maintain novelty and engagement.

2. Proprioceptive (Muscle/Joint) Tools

Purpose: Provide deep pressure or heavy work input to promote body awareness and calm.

• Weighted lap pad or vest
– Use during homework or screen time to reduce fidgeting.
– Tip: Start with 5–10% of child’s body weight; increase gradually if needed.

• Therapy putty / resistance bands
– Incorporate hand exercises between tasks to reset attention.

• Heavy work activities (e.g., animal walks, carrying books)
– Schedule as sensory breaks: push a laundry basket, stomp like a bear.
– Tip: Pair with transitions (“After clean-up, let’s do five wall push-ups.”).

3. Vestibular (Movement) Tools

Purpose: Regulate arousal through movement, either calming or alerting depending on pacing.

• Rocking chair / glider
– Offer gentle, rhythmic motion for calming.

• Balance disc or wobble cushion
– Place on chair for seated movement to improve alertness.

• Trampoline or swing
– Use short bursts (1–2 minutes) before sitting tasks to dissipate excess energy.
– Tip: Supervise closely; integrate into daily routine (e.g., morning or after school).

4. Auditory (Hearing) Tools

Purpose: Modify sound environment to support focus or reduce distress.

• Noise-cancelling headphones or ear defenders
– Use during loud tasks, community outings, or homework when background noise is distracting.

• White noise machine or soft music
– Provide consistent background sound to mask unpredictable noises.
– Tip: Experiment with nature sounds vs. instrumental tracks to find what soothes best.

5. Visual (Sight) Tools

Purpose: Control visual clutter or provide clear cues to support attention and transitions.

• Visual schedule
– Use with pictures or icons to outline daily routines.
– See the Visual Schedule Template for examples.

• Timetimer or visual countdown
– Show passing time clearly to prepare for transitions.

• Calm-down jar or glitter bottle
– Provide a soothing visual focus while emotions settle.

Implementing Sensory Tools at Home

1. Identify current challenges: Note moments of frustration, distractibility, or meltdown.
2. Match tools to needs: Choose one or two tools in each sensory category.
3. Create a sensory corner: Arrange tools in a designated space with clear labels.
4. Set schedules & cues: Integrate short sensory breaks before or after demanding tasks.
5. Observe & adjust: Track what works best; rotate tools monthly to maintain interest.

By thoughtfully selecting and scheduling sensory supports, parents can help their children with ADHD maintain focus, regulate emotions, and navigate daily routines with greater ease.

Interactive Scenarios Cards

Use these scenario cards in your small group role-plays. For each card:

1. Assign roles: Parent and Child.
2. Act out the situation, using strategies from today’s workshop (visual cues, sensory breaks, clear instructions, positive reinforcement).
3. After each role-play, discuss:
   • Which supports felt most effective?
   • How could you adapt this for your own home routine?

Scenario 1: Morning Routine Slow-Down

Description: It’s 8:00 AM. Your child is in pajamas, distracted by toys, and brushing teeth and getting dressed has not started.
Challenge: Difficulty with multi-step transitions and time awareness.
Try: Use a visual morning schedule, set a 5-minute timer for each step, and offer a simple choice (“Would you like the blue shirt or the red shirt?”).

Scenario 2: Homework Frustration

Description: After school, your child sits at the table but quickly loses focus, tapping a pencil and complaining that the work is “too hard.”
Challenge: Sustaining attention and tolerating frustration.
Try: Break the assignment into 5-minute chunks, intersperse with proprioceptive breaks (e.g., 5 wall push-ups), and reinforce each completed section with specific praise.

Scenario 3: Midday Snack Meltdown

Description: The kitchen is busy, pots clanging. Your child becomes overwhelmed, covers ears, and refuses to eat snack.
Challenge: Auditory overload and rigidity around eating.
Try: Offer noise-canceling headphones, move to a quieter spot, and present snack choices with pictures to give control.

Scenario 4: Transition to Leaving the House

Description: You announce it’s time to go to a playdate in 10 minutes. Your child ignores you, continues playing, and then resists putting on shoes.
Challenge: Resistance to ending preferred activities and switching tasks.
Try: Give a 5-minute visual countdown, follow with a quick heavy-work break (carry a small backpack), then use a fun hand-off (“Let’s hop to the car like bunnies!”).

Scenario 5: Bedtime Wind-Down Struggles

Description: It’s bedtime. Your child runs around the room, tossing toys, and refuses to lie still for a story.
Challenge: Hyperactivity and difficulty calming before sleep.
Try: Implement a sensory wind-down: 2 minutes of soft music with dimmed lights, followed by a 5-minute quiet cuddle with a weighted lap pad and a short story.

Reflection Questions (for each scenario):

• What sensory supports eased the challenge?
• How did clear cues or choices help?
• What would you try first at home?

Use these scenarios to practice and personalize techniques for your child’s unique needs.

Parent Support Workbook

Welcome to your personal workbook for the Calming the Storm: ADHD Support workshop. Use this guide to capture reflections, plan strategies, and develop a home action plan tailored to your child’s needs.

1. Understanding Your Child’s ADHD & Sensory Profile

1. Describe your child’s primary ADHD presentation (Inattentive, Hyperactive-Impulsive, or Combined). What behaviors stand out at home?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Note any sensory-seeking or sensory-avoidance behaviors you’ve observed. In which settings do these occur?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. How do these ADHD and sensory tendencies impact your family’s daily routines?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Sensory Tools Exploration

Using the Sensory Tools Overview Handout and station samples:

1. Which two sensory tools appealed most to you? Why?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What observations did your group record about tool effectiveness (e.g., calming, alerting)?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. How might you set up a sensory corner or basket at home? List materials and placement ideas.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Strategy Brainstorm & Sharing

1. Morning Routine Supports: Brainstorm at least three concrete strategies to ease your child’s morning transitions.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Transition Supports: List at least three visual or sensory cues to smooth between activities (e.g., timers, songs, heavy-work breaks).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. During group sharing, what idea from another parent will you adopt? How will you adapt it for your home?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Role-Play Scenarios Reflection

Refer to the Interactive Scenarios Cards you practiced. For each scenario you role-played, record:

Scenario #1: Morning Routine Slow-Down

• Strategies used:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Which felt most effective and why?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Adaptation ideas for home:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Scenario #2: Homework Frustration

• Strategies used:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Most effective element:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Home adaptation plan:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

(Continue for other scenarios as time allows)

5. Home Action Plan Creation

Use the Visual Schedule Template to draft your weekly plan. Answer the prompts below to guide your design:

1. Current morning routine – list steps and pain points:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Revised morning routine – incorporate visual cues, timers, or choices:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Scheduled sensory breaks – time, tool/activity, and location:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Transition cues – describe visual or auditory signals you’ll use:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Rewards & reinforcement – select or design a simple system (e.g., stickers, high-fives):
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

6. Reflection & Next Steps

1. What is one key insight or “aha!” moment from today’s workshop?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is one concrete commitment you will implement in the next week?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. What questions or concerns remain as you prepare to put these strategies into action?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Thank you for engaging deeply in today’s session. Keep this workbook as a living document—review, revise, and celebrate each step forward with your child!

Workshop Feedback Form

Thank you for participating in Calming the Storm: ADHD Support. Your feedback helps us improve future sessions.

Name (optional): _______________________________

1. Overall Satisfaction

On a scale of 1–5, please circle your response for each item (1 = Poor, 5 = Excellent).

1. Workshop met my expectations: 1 2 3 4 5

2. Clarity of presentation: 1 2 3 4 5

3. Usefulness of strategies: 1 2 3 4 5

4. Quality of materials (workbook, handouts): 1 2 3 4 5

5. Hands-on activities (sensory tools, role-play): 1 2 3 4 5

6. Pace and time management: 1 2 3 4 5

2. Most Valuable Elements

1. What activity or topic did you find most helpful?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Which sensory tool or strategy will you be most likely to use at home?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Suggestions for Improvement

1. What could be improved or changed in this workshop?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Are there additional topics you’d like to see covered in future sessions?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Additional Comments

Please share any other thoughts, concerns, or feedback:

Thank you for your time and insights! Your input is valuable in shaping future support for families.