Getting something done takes more than knowing the task. A child has to notice it, understand it, own it, know who to be while doing it, and picture what “done” looks and feels like.
That is a lot to ask of a kid who is fully immersed in a show, a game, a book, or their own thoughts.
A DoDone helps load the mental picture of what needs to happen next, showing both the task and what “done” looks like.
“Clean your room” means one thing to you and something else entirely to a seven-year-old. A photo can show the actual room and the actual job, so they see what you mean before they start, instead of finding out afterward that their idea of “clean” was not yours.
Kids can help make their own DoDones and decide how to lay them out. Then the list becomes theirs, and they are responsible for moving each task from DO to DONE.
You may still remind them, especially at first. But now there is something else doing the prompting, and something they can check without asking you what comes next.
I don’t think this gets enough attention. Context and purpose only get you so far. More than anything, kids need a mental image of who they need to be while doing it.
A DoDone can model that mindset for them: focused, playful, patient, helpful, or simply ready to get started. The DO image can show them engaged in the task, while DONE shows how good finishing can feel.
DoDones go on the fridge, dishwasher, bathroom mirror, schoolroom whiteboard, or wherever the task actually happens. Instead of having to remember something you told them earlier, the reminder is there when they can act on it.
Finishing means physically moving the cover and revealing the finished picture. The task visibly changes from unfinished to done, and their progress builds up in front of them.
DoDones can be used for chores, schoolwork, practicing skills, routines, or even learning how to calm down. Anything that is easier when it is made visible and finishable can become a DoDone.
See it. Do it. Done!
Made by one family at home, for our own kids first. About us.