Montessori Routines

Does a toddler need a routine chart, and what goes on it?

A toddler doesn't need a chart to follow a routine, but a picture chart helps them see what comes next and join in. For a child under three, use three or four steps with big pictures and go through the chart together.

Updated

Make this chart

How to do it

  1. Use three or four steps

    Get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, and shoes on is plenty.

  2. Use the plain theme

    Fewer pictures on the page make the steps easier to find.

  3. Go through it together

    Point to each picture and say the word before you start each step.

  4. Hang it low

    At the height of your child's eyes when they stand.

  5. Add steps as they grow

    When your child starts naming the next step, add one more.

Make a picture routine chart

Chart

Steps

Add a step

  1. 1Use the toilet
  2. 2Get dressed
  3. 3Eat breakfast
  4. 4Brush my teeth
  5. 5Brush my hair
  6. 6Put on my shoes
Morning routine

Morning

  1. 1Use the toilet
  2. 2Get dressed
  3. 3Eat breakfast
  4. 4Brush my teeth
  5. 5Brush my hair
  6. 6Put on my shoes

Questions parents ask

At what age can a toddler use a chart?
From about eighteen months, children enjoy pointing to the pictures. Following the steps alone usually comes closer to three.
Should I laminate it?
A plastic sleeve works as well and lets you swap in a new chart.
Is a chart Montessori?
Montessori classrooms rely on order and visible routines. A picture chart brings the same idea home.