Visual Checklist: A Tool for All Ages and Cultures
A regular checklist needs to be read, and this limits its audience. In this difficult situation, a visual checklist comes to the rescue.
Exploring a Familiar Topic
Recently, the “So List” blog featured a post about checklists for kids. Young children are often perceived as those who can’t read, which is why checklists for them typically take a visual format. These can include traditional checklists with pictures, visual checklists, and visual schedules.
But what about adults? Do only children need visual support? No, we all benefit from it. In this article, we will explore different types of visual checklists and recognize that nearly everyone in the world has interacted with some form of visual checklist.
What is a Visual Checklist?
In the “So List” blog, several types of checklists are mentioned: action (READ-DO), inspection (DO-CONFIRM), defensive, negative, and more. Visual checklists might be any of these types.
This means that a visual checklist may consist of a predefined set of steps to follow, as seen with the visual action checklist. Alternatively, it may include criteria to verify the achievement of a goal, as in the case of a visual inspection checklist. The image below depicts a good example of a negative checklist.
Benefits of Using a Visual Checklist
- No reading skills are required when using a visual checklist.
- Ideas are grasped more quickly through visual representation.
- Children experience a sense of independence and motivation when using visual checklists.
- Provides a single source of truth and reduces the need for reminders.
- More effective in supporting individuals with special needs, such as autism, ADHD, and other learning disabilities.
- Simplifies the representation of complex tasks for workers.
No Need for Reading Skills
It’s common to see visual checklists in airports guiding travelers through sequences of steps. The image below depicts the steps for hand washing. This type of personal care and hygiene instruction became especially popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quicker Grasp of the Depicted Ideas
The graphics below clearly convey what is required in an emergency, even before reading all the text. At the very least, they illustrate the space that supplies will occupy.
Feeling of Independence and Motivation for Children
Earlier in the article, I referenced the post about checklists for kids, where you can find more information on this topic. In brief, static and concise rules make daily schedules at home and in the classroom more predictable. When kids create their own checklists, they feel empowered, almost as if they have legislative power. Plus, these checklists can be easily customized!
When students on the classroom agree on and implement their own rules, they also enhance their social skills.
Single Source of Truth and Less Nagging
Okay, parents. I know the rules, and you know the rules. I follow them and keep track, so you don’t have to come up with new rules every minute.
Works Better to Support People With Special Needs
Special needs can arise at any age. The image below shows a routine checklist with daily tasks for a person with early dementia. This example illustrates a morning routine.
Easier Depiction of Complex Tasks for Workers
Which is easier for you to understand: the phrase “damaged socket cover” or an actual illustration of it? Refer to the second-to-last image below, and you’ll see what I mean. In this case, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Drawbacks of Visual Checklists
Two drawbacks come to mind regarding visual checklists:
- These tools can be expensive. They often require color printing and, at times, higher-quality materials than a simple piece of paper.
- Visual checklists are costly to change. This is a direct consequence of the previous point. Consider the effort required to update thousands of already printed and possibly laminated materials. You can find more on this topic in a blog post about digital and paper checklists.
Creating an Effective Visual Checklist
So, the list of some recommendations:
- Use clear and concise language and graphics to make the checklist easy to understand.
- Break down large tasks into discrete, smaller steps or actions.
- Post the checklist prominently where it is most useful.
- Role-play the checklist with its users to ensure they understand what each step instructs them to do.
Visual Checklists, Visual Checklist Schedules, Visual Support: Is This All?
As I finish this blog post, there are more than 20 articles on this topic on the blog. There is much more wisdom and information on how to bring order with this simple yet extremely effective tool — the checklist.
Feeling empowered after reading about visual checklists? Subscribe to the “So List” blog — you won’t miss other tips about these subtle yet powerful tools. Are you already familiar with them? I doubt it — there are too many secrets they hold.
List of Links
[1] Image from the page “What should we put in our Emergency Supply Kit?” from the “Falmouth, MA” website
[2] Image from the page “Daily Routine Checklist, Daily Responsibilities, Tasks for Kids, Responsibility Task List Job, Hanging Responsibilities Board, Task Pane” from the “Etsy” website
[3] Image from the page “Test and Tag Visual Inspection: Step-by-Step Checklist and Tips” from the “Test & Tag Training” website
