1) get dressed neatly; 2) take a small item if needed; 3) say hello; 4) play calmly; 5) say goodbye.
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 5 steps, with a tip for you
- Get dressed neatly
- Take a small item if neededParent tip: A comfort toy, if needed.
- Say helloParent tip: No pressure — short is enough.
- Play calmlyParent tip: Remind the child about other people's things.
- Say goodbyeParent tip: The final step before leaving.
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: “Bed Lump is going to visit and wants to remember polite rules. Shall we help?”
You stay the game master. Your child does the real step, you confirm it on your phone, and Bed Lump 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.
