Pictograms for educators
Professional visual materials for kindergarten, after-school care, and special education.
Updated August 2026 · Pictofy, Denmark
As an educator, you use visual schedules every day. Circle time, activities, lunch, outdoor play — each element needs clear pictograms. Pictofy lets you create pictograms in the style that fits your group of children, with exactly the content you need. No limitations from standard libraries.
Visual schedules carry the day
In a daycare, school, or after-school program, visual schedules are a central part of daily life. The daily program on the wall, the activity board in the cloakroom, the rules at the lunch table — pictograms are used everywhere to create structure and predictability. For educators, it's about having the right images for the right situations.
When the library runs out
The challenge with standard libraries is that they rarely cover exactly what you need. Maybe your setting has a specific activity, a particular routine, or a unique space that doesn't exist in the available material. So you print something that almost fits — but "almost" creates confusion for the children who need clarity the most.
Individual needs in special education
In special education settings, the need is even more specific. Each child may have individual schedules adapted to their functioning level and communication needs. A child using TEACCH structure needs different pictograms than a child using PECS. Being able to create pictograms in the style and level of detail that suits each child is a significant advantage.
Same images, every adult
Consistency across staff is also important. When all adults use the same pictograms, children learn them faster. A shared visual language across the institution — from morning arrival to the cloakroom to circle time — creates calm and familiarity in daily life.
From cloakroom to circle time: routines in the institution
The routines that get pictograms first are usually the cloakroom (snowsuit, hat, mittens — in order), handwashing, circle time and the transition to outdoor play. Hang the schedule at child height exactly where the routine happens — the cloakroom schedule in the cloakroom, not on the notice board. And let children point and move the pieces themselves: a schedule works best as something children use, not something they are shown.
How to build a visual schedule
- Pick the situation. Start with one routine that causes friction — the morning, the cloakroom, or the play-to-mealtime transition. One schedule at a time.
- Create the pictograms. Describe each step in plain words (e.g. "brush teeth") and generate the motif in the style that fits the child — and stick with it.
- Print and place. Print at the right physical size (3–8 cm), laminate, and mount the schedule at eye level where the routine happens.
- Use it the same way every time. Point to the step, do it, mark it done. Consistency beats perfect images — and use the same motifs everywhere.
You can also build the schedule digitally in Pictofy's schedule tool and share it — or start from ready-made motifs in the free library.
Use pictograms for
Frequently asked questions
What are pictograms for educators?
As an educator, you use visual schedules every day. Circle time, activities, lunch, outdoor play — each element needs clear pictograms. Pictofy lets you create pictograms in the style that fits your group of children, with exactly the content you need. No limitations from standard libraries.
How do I make a pictogram with Pictofy?
Describe the image and choose a style. Review the result before using it. You can also choose a pack with several activities.
Are the pictograms free?
You can try the generator without an account and download free printable materials. Personal images and packs may cost credits — the price is shown before you start.
Can the pictograms be printed for school and home use?
Yes. Pictofy generates print-ready PDFs with precise physical sizing (from 3×3 to 8×8 cm) that you can laminate and use in visual schedules.
Can the whole institution use the same pictograms?
Yes — that's where the value is. With a shared account, staff share one library of motifs in one style, so the cloakroom, circle time and individual schedules speak the same language. Institution and municipal licences cover the whole staff.
What about motifs that don't exist in ready-made libraries?
That's exactly what Pictofy solves: describe the motif in plain words — the sensory room, your local playground, your bus — and get it as a pictogram in your style in under a minute.