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Visual Schedules

Here's how to use Visual Schedules to simplify routines, manage tasks, and empower kids!

Malak Abdelghaffar avatar
Written by Malak Abdelghaffar
Updated over 2 weeks ago

Whether it’s getting ready for school, winding down for bedtime, or gearing up for a dentist visit, visual schedules make life easier (and way more fun) for both kids and adults! Here’s why they’re a game-changer:

Simplify Tasks: Break down activities into manageable steps.
📅 Boost Confidence: Help kids feel secure and prepared with clear routines.
🌟 Tackle Transitions: Smoothly navigate new experiences and changes.


Step 1: Choose your Task 🎯

🕵️ Find your perfect starting point!

  • Have a specific goal? Type it in the search bar to get started.

  • Looking for a read-made option? Pick from our customizable task templates.

  • Need inspiration? Explore our pre-made decks for popular ideas and inspiration!


Step 2: Cast Your Hero 👦

Make your creation personal by adding your kiddo (or kiddos!) as the star of the visual schedule:

  • Enter details: Add their characteristics like age or hair color to create a character.

  • Upload a photo: Transform your child’s picture into a learning buddy.

  • Let Nookly choose: Want a quick start? We’ll generate a character at random.

💡 Reuse saved profiles anytime to keep your child’s familiar hero in every activity.


Step 3: Customize your Cards 🎨

🎨 Tailor and customize every detail!

  • Pick a Card Style: Pick from rules, sequential steps, or recurring schedules.

  • Set Reading Level: Match the text to your child’s reading ability.

  • Decide on the # of Cards: Highlight one task or step per card.

  • Add Details: Tailor your cards to make them unique to your learner.


Step 4: Edit Your Draft Language ✏️

🎨 Time to make any tweaks to your text or add your personal touches! You have two ways to edit text on your emotion cards:

  1. Direct Text Editing

    • Click directly on the text you want to change.

    • Type your new word, phrase, or sentence.

    • Changes will save automatically.

    Example:
    ❌ “wake up and stretch” → ✅ “Wake up!”

2. Chat with Nookly

Sometimes you want bigger changes, and that’s where the chat comes in. You can:

  • Ask for a complete rewrite of your cards.

  • Request simpler or more complex versions.

  • Suggest specific text you’d like swapped in.

  • Let Nookly generate another version for you.

Example prompts to try:

  • “Rewrite the schedule so that the whole day is all based at home.”

  • “Switch the order of the 1st and 6th cards.”

👉 Want more tips on how to edit your creation's text? Check out this guide!

Pro Tip: You’ll still be able to edit text after images generate, so don’t worry if you change your mind later.


Step 5: Bring Your Cards to Life! 🎉

Your visual schedule will start generating (this usually takes ~5 minutes). As they cards start to appear, you can:

  1. Edit text (add, remove, or tweak).

  2. Stylize text (bold, resize, reposition).

  3. Edit images with full controls.

Click the ✏️ pencil icon on any image to regenerate with tweaks. Use chat for detailed requests (the clearer your prompt, the better the results!).

Your Image Editing Settings:

  • Zoom In/Out 🔍 – frame the character exactly how you envision.

  • Stability 🔧 – choose subtle or bold changes you'd like to see.

  • Expressiveness 🎭 – adjust how animated the hero looks.

💡 Tip: When you're editing using the chat, the way you phrase your request matters. Clear, specific prompts lead to the best results. [Check out this guide for examples of effective vs. less effective prompts.]

Once new images generate, pick your favorite—or keep tweaking until it matches your vision. You can edit one card at a time, and always return later for more changes.

✅ Don’t forget to hit Save Updates when you’re happy with an edit.
🎉 When your schedule is ready, click Save Edits & View.


It's Learning Time! 🎉

  • View Your Schedule: Toggle between static and interactive modes.

  • Interactive Mode: Drag completed tasks to create a checklist of accomplishments.

The Nookly interactive schedule screen invites you to “Drag each card to the corresponding step when done.” On the left, three rounded-corner task cards feature child characters and captions—“Wake up and get dressed,” “Eat a healthy breakfast,” and “Brush your teeth.” Each card has an arrow pointing to a matching step placeholder on the right: the first slot is labeled “Step 1” and, once the card is dropped there, shows “Done ✅,” while the second and third slots remain empty and are colored pink (“Step 2”) and lavender (“Step 3”). This interactive mode makes it easy for children to toggle between viewing their visual schedule and dragging completed tasks into place to celebrate their accomplishments.

🔄 You can find your Visual Schedule in your Reading Nook whenever you need it!


Spread the love!

❤️ Love your Visual Schedule? Share your creation!

✨ Click the Share button at the top-right corner to get a shareable link.
✨ Share your creation with friends, family, or peers to inspire them to create!

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