1) take off shoes; 2) hang up the jacket; 3) wash hands; 4) take things out of the backpack; 5) put dirty clothes where they belong; 6) rest for a little while.
Free printable chart
One page, US Letter, with a box for every step and every day of the week. Put it on the fridge and let your child tick the boxes.
Prefer A4? It prints fine with “fit to page”.
The 6 steps, with a tip for you
- Take off shoesParent tip: Shoes go straight to their place.
- Hang up the jacketParent tip: Or put it in the assigned spot.
- Wash handsParent tip: After being outside, this is the first home step.
- Take things out of the backpackParent tip: Check the bottle, lunchbox, and notebooks.
- Put dirty clothes where they belongParent tip: In the laundry basket or laundry area.
- Rest for a little whileParent tip: 5–10 minutes without demands can help with the transition.
Make it a quest instead of a reminder
Instead of repeating the instruction, start with a tiny story. In Mess Monsters this routine opens like this: “Backpack Seeker came home and wants to stop things from running away. Shall we tidy up after the day?”
You stay the game master. Your child does the real step, you confirm it on your phone, and Backpack Seeker gets a little happier with every step. The phone stays with the adult; the routine happens in the real world.
Run this routine in Mess Monsters
This routine is part of Mess Monsters Premium. The core routines are free. You can also make your own quest by describing the routine in your own words.
