What Is RoutinePals?
RoutinePals is a visual routine app for kids ages 2–12. It converts verbal morning and bedtime routines into picture-based step sequences that children can follow on a tablet or phone — without waiting for a parent to tell them what comes next.
Each routine step shows a personalized illustrated character performing the action, paired with a visual countdown timer. Children complete each step at their own pace, mark it done, and move to the next one. The routine becomes self-directing. The parent's role shifts from repeating reminders to checking in at key phase transitions.
Why Visual Routines Work Better Than Verbal Reminders
Verbal instructions require children to hold a sequence in working memory while executing the first step. For most children under age 8 — and for children with ADHD, autism, or language-processing differences — this is genuinely difficult. They finish one step and lose the thread. A picture-based routine eliminates this entirely: the next step is always visible on the screen.
Verbal reminders also create parent dependency. The child learns to wait for the next prompt because that is the signal that moves them forward. A visual schedule makes the routine the authority, not the parent. This is why the same child who "can't get ready in the morning" can navigate a multi-step sequence in a game independently — they have a visual guide.
RoutinePals Core Features
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Personalized storybook character | A consistent illustrated character guides the child through each step — the same character every day, in the context of each activity |
| Visual countdown timer | Time shown as a visual bar, not a number — works for pre-readers and children with time blindness |
| Parent-voice alarm | Record your own voice as the wake-up alarm — a familiar voice at wake-up is less startling and easier to process than a phone alarm |
| 40+ activity templates | Pre-built illustrated steps for common morning, bedtime, hygiene, and after-school activities |
| Multiple child profiles (Pro) | Separate routines for each child — different characters, different step sequences, different timer durations |
| Unlimited routines (Pro) | Morning, bedtime, after-school, weekend, school-break routines — as many as the household needs |
| Parent-only edit mode | Changes to routines happen in the parent interface; children see only the completed routine view |
What Routines Can You Build in RoutinePals?
RoutinePals supports any step-based daily routine. The most common use cases are:
- Morning routine — wake-up alarm, hygiene, getting dressed, breakfast, and out-the-door steps
- Bedtime routine — screens off, bath or hygiene, pajamas, story, and lights-out sequence
- After-school routine — unpack backpack, homework, snack, and free time steps
- Visual schedule for autism and sensory kids — PECS-board-style daily schedule in a dynamic app format
- Weekend routine — a lighter routine for non-school days that maintains structure without rigidity
RoutinePals Pricing
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 child, 2 routines, 3 characters, 40 activity templates |
| Pro Monthly | $6.99/month | Unlimited children, unlimited routines, unlimited characters, all premium content |
| Pro Annual | $69.99/year (~$5.83/mo) | Everything in Pro Monthly — billed once per year |
The free tier is a real free tier — not a trial. You can use 1 child, 2 routines, and 40 templates indefinitely. No credit card required to start.
RoutinePals vs. Other Visual Routine Options
Families looking for visual routine tools often evaluate printed PECS boards, generic checklist apps, or AAC systems before finding RoutinePals. Here is how they compare.
| Option | Best for | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Printed PECS board | Low-tech, clinic-familiar format | No countdown timer, requires reprinting for changes, no parent voice, no completion tracking |
| Generic checklist app | Text-reading children who just need a list | No illustrations, no visual timer, no storybook character, not designed for young or pre-reader children |
| AAC app | Communication support for non-verbal children | Designed for communication, not routine navigation; complex interfaces not optimized for step-by-step daily use |
| RoutinePals | Daily home routines for ages 2–12 | Not a communication app; not a chore-assignment or allowance tracker (see TaskTroll for those) |
How RoutinePals Fits in the TaskTroll Family
RoutinePals and TaskTroll are companion apps from the same product family. They serve different purposes.
RoutinePals is for routine sequencing — teaching kids the step-by-step order of morning, bedtime, and daily routines through picture-based visual guidance. It does not assign chores, track allowance, or manage a family task list.
TaskTroll is for chore management and family operations — assigning age-appropriate chores, tracking photo-proof completion, managing allowance, meal planning, family messaging, and location sharing. It is the family OS; RoutinePals is the routine engine.
Many families use both: RoutinePals for the morning and bedtime routine sequence, TaskTroll for chores, allowance, and the household task list.
RoutinePals Guides
Deeper dives on specific routine types and use cases.
Washing Hands Routine for Kids: A Parent Playbook
A washing hands routine is pictures of wet, soap, scrub, rinse, and dry — not a shout at the sink. How to build one, the 20-second timer, when digital wins.
Packing Backpack Routine for Kids: A Parent Playbook
A packing backpack routine is pictures of homework, lunch, water, folder, and zip — not a shout at the door. How to build one and when digital wins.
Getting Dressed Routine for Kids: A Parent Playbook
A getting dressed routine is pictures of underwear, shirt, pants, socks, and shoes — not a lecture. How to build one, when a timer helps, when digital wins.
Brushing Teeth Routine for Kids: A Parent Playbook
A brushing teeth routine is pictures of wet, paste, brush, spit, and rinse — not a lecture. How to build one, the 2-minute timer, when digital wins.
Potty Training Chart for Toddlers: A Parent's Guide
A potty training chart is pictures of sit, wipe, flush, and wash — not a sticker grid. How to build one, when to start, and when digital beats paper.
Social Stories for Kids: A Parent's Complete Guide
Social stories for kids walk one hard moment in first person. How to write one, when pictures help, and when a digital story works better than paper.
Chore Chart for Toddlers: A Parent's Complete Guide
A chore chart for toddlers works as pictures, not a written list. Age-right chores for 2 and 3 year olds, how to build a picture chart, and when to go digital.
Visual Timer for Kids: The Parent's Complete Guide
A visual timer for kids makes time something they can see. How to pick one, use it for ADHD or autism, compare physical vs digital, and pair it with a routine.
First Then Board for Kids: A Parent's Complete Guide
How a first then board for kids works, when to use it for autism or ADHD, printable vs digital setups, and how to grow two cards into a full visual routine.
Routine Chart for Kids: The Parent's Complete Guide
Everything parents need to know about routine charts for kids — visual, printable, and digital options, age-by-age schedules, and how to build one that sticks.
Weekend Routine for Kids: A Family Schedule That Works
Build a relaxed but structured weekend routine for kids that prevents meltdowns, protects rest, and keeps weekday habits strong — with sample schedules by age.
School Morning Routine for Kids: Parent Guide
Build a calmer school morning routine for kids with age-based checklists, sample schedules, backpack prep, breakfast timing, and visual routine tips.
Kindergarten Morning Routine: The Complete Parent's Guide
Build a stress-free kindergarten morning routine with step-by-step checklists, sample schedules for bus and car, and tips for raising an independent 5- to 6-year-old.
Preschool Schedule: Daily Routine Template for Ages 3–5
Build a predictable preschool daily schedule with age-appropriate activities, nap times, and transitions for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds. Free templates included.
Morning Routine Checklist for Kids (Free Printable by Age)
A printable morning routine checklist for kids ages 2–12, broken by age with picture-step logic and a digital option. Download, customize, and stop nagging.
Bedtime Routine Chart for Kids: Printable & App-Based Guides
Create a bedtime routine chart your kids will actually follow — age-by-age schedules, printable chart ideas, and how RoutinePals makes it self-running.
Homework Routine for Kids: The After-School System That Actually Works
Build a homework routine for kids that ends the nightly battle — timing, environment, age-by-age schedules, and how to use a visual app to make it stick.
Screen Time Schedule for Kids: What Actually Works
Build a screen time schedule for kids that sticks — age-by-age limits, when to allow devices, and how to use a routine app to enforce the rules automatically.
Back to School Routine for Kids: The Parent Survival Guide
Build a back to school routine for kids that actually sticks. Visual schedules, morning checklists, and age-by-age tips for a smoother school year start.
Daily Schedule for Kids: The Parent's Playbook
A practical daily schedule for kids — age-by-age time blocks, morning to bedtime, with the structure research shows actually builds independent habits.
Chore List for Kids by Age: What to Expect and When
A realistic chore list for kids by age — what children can actually do at 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, and how to make chores stick without daily battles.
After School Routine for Kids: The Parent's Plan
A step-by-step after school routine for kids ages 5–12 that covers homework, snacks, screen time, and bedtime prep — no daily reminders needed.
Toddler Routine and Daily Schedule Guide
Build a toddler daily routine that prevents meltdowns — sample schedules by age, wake windows, and why RoutinePals makes routines run themselves.
Behavior Chart for Kids: Build One That Works
How to build a behavior chart that actually works — pick the right behaviors, set a reward threshold, and why RoutinePals outperforms paper charts.
Reward Chart for Kids: A Parent's Complete Guide
A practical guide to reward charts for kids — how they work, which mistakes to avoid, and why a digital visual reward app like RoutinePals outperforms paper sticker charts for building lasting habits.
ADHD Routine for Kids: How a Visual Schedule Stops the Meltdowns
Learn how to build an ADHD-friendly daily routine for kids that accounts for time blindness, working memory challenges, and transition difficulty. A visual app like RoutinePals gives children the structure ADHD brains need without constant parental prompting.
Visual Schedule App for Autism and Sensory Kids: Why Picture-Based Routines Work
A practical guide to using visual schedule apps for autistic children and sensory kids. Learn how picture-based routines reduce meltdowns and morning chaos, and why RoutinePals is built specifically for this.
Morning Routine for Kids: How a Visual App Cuts the Rush to Zero
A guide to building a picture-based morning routine for kids that works without yelling or nagging. Learn why visual steps beat verbal reminders, and how RoutinePals turns the morning rush into a calm sequence.
Bedtime Routine App for Kids: How to End the Bedtime Battle
A practical guide to using a visual bedtime routine app to end the bedtime battle. Learn why picture-based bedtime schedules work better than verbal reminders, and how RoutinePals makes the last hour of the day predictable and calm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is RoutinePals?
Is RoutinePals free?
What age is RoutinePals designed for?
Does RoutinePals work for children with autism or ADHD?
How is RoutinePals different from a chore app?
RoutinePals — Visual Routines for Kids
Turn this routine into pictures your child can follow
Picture-based routines, visual timers, personalized storybook characters, and wake-up alarms in your own voice.
Free tier includes 1 child, 2 routines, 3 characters. No credit card needed.