How to Create Your Own Task Boxes

Task boxes are often used in special education classrooms to teach functional life skills to students with learning disabilities. Teachers either make their own or order them through a catalog or purchase them on line. Parent can also use task boxes at home, with a few simple tips on how to make them.

1. Decide on which skill or task your child needs to learn. The task should be concrete, hands on, and simple enough to be completed in a few steps. The task will fit into one of four categories; education, domestic, independent living, or vocation. Domestic and independent living are more readily adapted to the home setting.

2. Make a list of supplies needed to complete the task. For a task box, a box will be needed. This can be a shoe box, cardboard box, Tupperware container or clothes basket. The size of the container should be appropriate to the task so the child will not be overwhelmed. Velcro is a must. A lot of task boxes incorporate Velcro to hold items, lists or pictures to the bottom of the container. Remember to buy both soft Velcro and sticky Velcro as both will be needed. Decide if items needed are already in the home or if they need to be purchased.

3. Create a completion visual chart if the task requires more than one task. The child can then refer to the visual cue chart to compare their steps in the task. Professional programs such as Board Maker can be used for pictures. Some schools will share their licensed copy of the software or advise parents on purchasing it. This is the type of visual communication software used most often. However, on line pictures can be downloaded. Sometimes parents take pictures themselves to include in the visual checklist. Check the Board Maker website for sample pictures and checklists.

4. If the task list is needed rather than a box, a visual task chart will be needed. For example, a chore of sweeping the floor could be created with a picture of the broom, floor, dust pan and then a picture of the dust pan emptying into the trashcan. Other visual cues can be added to the floor itself. Tape can be used to mark where the child should sweep. A square can be added to show where all the dirt is swept into. This is just an example of many possible types of task lists that can be created.

A great book that helps with idea for task boxes is Tasks Galore for the Real World. The book includes task box idea for all four task box areas. Instructions are include on how to design the task and what to include. Some websites that will help parents include http://teachinglearnerswithmultipleneeds.blogspot.com/2008/09/diy-vocational-training-boxes.html and http://heartofwisdom.com/blog/need-to-get-organized-check-out-homeschool-workboxes/.

With a few easy steps and patience, your child can use task boxes or task lists at home. The hard work will be worth it when your see the look of pride on your child's face.