What Is A Visual Diary With Pictograms? – Being Parents

The visual diary with pictograms is a very useful tool for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Do you know how to use this type of diaries? We will explain it to you throughout this article.

Before that, you should know that  ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder  which is characterized mainly by the manifestation of difficulties in two areas: communication / social interaction and flexibility of thought and behavior.

Moreover, in many cases,  one can also observe a significant alteration in language development. This therefore explains why it is advisable to use pictograms to communicate.

What is a visual diary with pictograms?

The visual diary with pictograms is a kind of notebook in which there is space to place certain images or illustrations that represent, in a simple and clear way, objects, people, actions, feelings, situations, etc. .

You can also use photos that are familiar and known to the child (photos of family members, teachers, their personal items, etc.).

The purpose of the visual agenda is to anticipate, visually, the activities that will be carried out at a specific time. This is ideal for many children with autism spectrum disorder because,  due to the mental rigidity that characterizes them, they usually need anticipation and planning  to better understand what is going on around them. them.

Thus, these calendars can be used in many contexts, such as:

• At home : to anticipate all the tasks that must be carried out in the daily routine (showering, having lunch, brushing your teeth, going to school, etc.).
• At school : to anticipate the activities that take place during the school day.
• In therapy : to anticipate what you are going to do and the aspects that you will work on during the session.

How to use it

To correctly use the visual diary with pictograms, the following steps must be followed:

1. Spend a few minutes on the agenda in  the morning, at the start of the school day or therapy, depending on the context in which you are going to use it.
2. As a mother, father, teacher or therapist,  choose, with the child, the pictograms representing the activities that will be carried out  during the daily day, the school day or during the therapy.
3. Place the pictograms on the agenda.
4. Read the pictograms aloud  so that the child assimilates the order of the activities.

In this way, the little one structures the information in his head. He can also be sure of what is going to happen every moment. This, in children who present with ASD, is very positive for their peace of mind and their good functioning.

Other uses of visual agendas with pictograms

Visual agendas with pictograms can be used for other purposes, such as:

• Put the date and the weather.
• Represent important events that take place on this day (anniversary date, holidays, etc.)
• Allow the child to transmit and express his emotions and feelings at a certain time of the day.
• Anticipate what we are going to do all week.

• Anticipate the menus that will be there that day, whether it is at lunchtime, afternoon tea or dinner.
• Represent the school material that the child must have in his schoolbag, according to the subjects he will have during this day.