How to Help Your Neurodivergent Child Learn to Shower Independently
Showering can be surprisingly complicated—especially for kids who are neurodivergent. My own daughter really struggled with it. There were so many steps to remember, and her challenges with reading made it hard to even get started. I felt like I had to narrate the entire routine every single time.
As a mom, a teacher, and someone who’s spent most of my career working with kids who learn differently, I knew this wasn’t about laziness. My child needed a different kind of support. But when I went looking for tools, I couldn’t find anything that felt right. So I made one.
Why Showering Can Be Hard for Neurodivergent Kids:
Showering can be overwhelming for neurodivergent children, especially if they have dyslexia, ADHD, Autism or sensory issues.
Here are a few common challenges:
Executive Functioning: Kids may forget which step they’re on, repeat steps, or get overwhelmed by the number of tasks involved.
Language & Comprehension: Shampoo bottles are full of tiny, confusing instructions. If your child struggles with reading, this can be a roadblock. And if they struggle with processing language, verbal reminders often fall flat.
Sensory Processing: The feel of water, changes in temperature, or even the sound of the shower can cause distress. While a guide can’t change those sensations, it can provide a consistent routine that helps reduce uncertainty and increase predictability.
Desire for Independence: You want to give them space. They want to feel grown-up. But without the right support, everyone ends up frustrated.
How Visual Shower Guides Help Neurodivergent Kids
I realized that what my child really needed was a visual breakdown of the entire shower process—something consistent, clear, and accessible.
So I created a printable guide. I hand-illustrated each step of the shower routine and designed it in two formats:
One with rhyming text for kids who can read
One with no words at all for kids who learn best through pictures
Each version breaks down the shower into five pages: Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Drying Off, and a How-To page for caregivers. I also created options with different skin tones and hair lengths, so kids could feel represented.
How this Shower Guide Supports Kids with Learning Differences
There’s nothing to plug in, no devices to charge here. Kids hang the pages in the shower, and they simply follow the visuals, step by step.
It’s low-tech, high-support way for kids to take ownership of their routine. It’s especially helpful for kids with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, sensory processing challenges, or executive functioning differences.
Even though a shower guide won’t reduce sensory issues in the shower, it will help reduce overwhelm by giving kids a predictable visual structure to follow.”
More than 80 families are already using these guides, and the messages I’ve received from parents, educators, and even neurodivergent adults have been deeply moving.
“I wish I had this growing up.”
“My child finally showered independently.”
“This is exactly what we needed.”
How to Use this Visual Shower Guide at Home:
Laminate it or use waterproof paper for durability.
Hang each page in sequence on the wall or shower door.
Preview the guide together before your child tries it solo.
Pair with a sand timer (this one is featured in the guide illustrations!) I loved adding this into our shower routine because it doesn’t need any batters (who has time for that?). It’s just sand, it suction cups to your wall, and it lasts 2 minutes. Just the right amount for each step in the process.
Simplify your shower with these 3 simple bottles that attach to your wall. I feature the ones we use in the illustrations. I love these because I simply fill the bottles with any products I buy, and my daughter doesn’t have to relearn which is which. It reduces environmental overwhelm in that tiny space called a shower.
You’re not failing—and your child isn’t either
If showering feels like a daily battle in your house, I want you to know you’re not doing anything wrong. Some kids just need more structure and support—and that doesn’t make them less capable. It just means they learn differently.
That’s why I created these guides. And I’d love for you to try one.
👉 Click here to explore the guides and download one instantly.
Learn more about how this guide supports neurodivergent learners on the FAQ page.”
This isn’t just about showering—it’s about helping our kids feel confident, seen, and independent.