Get up from the couch
The couch is comfy, and that is exactly why it is hard to leave. The visual support below shows a child getting up and heading for the next step. It makes the transition concrete and gives your child something to look at instead of yet another reminder.
♀Get up from the couch
A girl with a ponytail gets up from an orange couch.
♀Get off the couch
A girl steps down from a purple couch.
♀Get up from the couch
A woman steps up off a green couch. An arrow shows the upward movement.
♀Get up from the sofa
A girl with braids gets up from an orange sofa with an upward arrow above.
About this visual support
Transitions are often harder than the activities themselves. A child who loves dinner can still find it very hard to leave the couch and come to the table. The body has settled, the brain has switched into rest mode, and changing gear takes more energy than adults tend to think. Every time someone calls come on now, the request gets a little weaker, until it turns into a tug of war nobody wins.
A picture of someone getting up from the couch names the switch itself. It does not show what comes next, only that it is time to stand up. Pair it with a picture of the next activity, such as the kitchen or outdoor clothes, so your child sees both the step and the goal. With a timer or a short countdown beforehand, the end of rest time becomes predictable.
A practical trick is to let your child choose how to get up: jump, roll or take three giant steps away from the couch. It makes the change a bit more fun and gives a sense of control. Be consistent about where the picture is shown, ideally in the same spot every time. In the Routined app you can add the transition as its own step between rest and the next activity, with a timer that shows when it is time. You can try the app for 14 days before you pay.
Use this image in a schedule
Build your own visual schedule with this image and download it as a print-ready PDF. Completely free.
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This visual support in other languages
Take the visual supports with you
In Routined you build schedules from these pictures, add timers and voice instructions, and your child follows the day on their own.
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