About the store
Welcome to Applied Behavior Essentials!
I’m Melissa, the creator behind this shop. As a behavioral therapist with experience supporting children on the autism spectrum, I understand how important it is to have resources that are clear, engaging, and easy to use in everyday settings.
My goal is to create practical materials that support learning, communication, social skills, emotional regulation, and independence. Many of my resources include visual supports, social stories, task cards, activities, and structured teaching tools designed to make learning more approachable and meaningful for different learners.
At Applied Behavior Essentials, I focus on creating resources that are both effective and realistic for educators, therapists, and parents to use. I believe learning should feel supportive, encouraging, and accessible while recognizing each child’s individual strengths and needs.
Thank you for visiting my shop! I hope these resources help support your learners and make teaching a little easier along the way.
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Supports
Keeping My Hands to Myself | Touching Other People : A Social Story
This social story is designed to help children understand the importance of respecting personal space and keeping their hands to themselves. Through simple, clear language, it explains that while it’s normal to feel excited or happy and want to touch others, it’s important to recognize that not everyone wants to be touched. This story teaches children to respect others’ boundaries, use words to greet or show affection, and engage in appropriate ways to express themselves. Key lessons in this sto
Not Specific
For All Subjects, Social Emotional Learning
Shower Routine Visual: How To Take A Shower (Light Skin Visual Icons)
This resource includes 20 step-by-step picture icons that outline the process of taking a shower. Each icon provides a clear visual representation to help guide individuals through each step, making it perfect for those who benefit from visual learning or need extra support with daily routines. The icons are designed to be simple, easy to understand, and visually engaging, ensuring that individuals can follow along independently.
Not Specific
Emotion Flashcards - Real pictures of Males & Females All Ages
Encourage language development, communication, and conversation with these engaging emotion flashcards! Perfect for helping children identify and express their feelings, these cards feature vibrant, high-quality photos that represent five key emotions: Happy, Sad, Angry, Shocked, and Tired. Features:80 photo cards (approx. 5”H x 3 3/4”W each)Depicting a diverse range of males and females of all agesEach page contains 4 images for easy printing, laminating, and cuttingIdeal for sparking meaningfu
K - 5th
Vocabulary
Banging My Head Is Not Okay: A Social Story
This story is designed to help students understand the importance of expressing emotions in a safe and healthy way, rather than resorting to harmful behaviors like head-banging when they feel upset, frustrated, or angry. This story uses simple language and relatable scenarios to explain why head-banging can hurt both physically and emotionally, and encourages students to use their words to express their feelings instead. It offers copying skills, such as taking deep breaths, asking for help, or
Not Specific
Social Emotional Learning
Shower Routine Visual: How To Take A Shower (Dark Skin Visual Icons)
This resource includes 20 step-by-step picture icons that outline the process of taking a shower. Each icon provides a clear visual representation to help guide individuals through each step, making it perfect for those who benefit from visual learning or need extra support with daily routines. The icons are designed to be simple, easy to understand, and visually engaging, ensuring that individuals can follow along independently.
Not Specific
Intraverbal Fill-ins | File Folder
This resource includes 3 engaging boards designed to support intraverbal fill-in practice. Each board features 15 prompts that encourage students to complete simple sentences with the correct word. Perfect for building language skills, students will be prompted to fill in the blanks with words like "pencil," "fork," or "crayon." These boards are ideal for reinforcing vocabulary, sentence structure, and intraverbal responses. Great for both classroom and home use, this resource can be customized
Not Specific
English Language Arts
Sort Same vs Different Items | File Folder
Sort Same vs Different Items ActivityThis engaging sorting activity helps students develop critical thinking and categorization skills by distinguishing between items that are the same and those that are different.
Not Specific
Going for a Walk in the Community: A Social Story
Social Story: Going for a Walk in the Community | Autism, SEL, Life SkillsHelp learners feel confident and safe while exploring their neighborhood with this engaging and supportive social story: "Going for a Walk in the Community."This social narrative is perfect for teaching community awareness, safety rules, and expected behaviors during neighborhood walks. It's designed with clear, positive language and is ideal for students with autism, special needs, or those working on social-emotional
Not Specific
Not Subject Specific
Visual Phrases Unisex Picture Icons
This resource includes 72 Unisex Picture Icons designed to support communication with phrases for a variety of classroom or therapeutic settings. Each icon measures 2" and is presented in a convenient grid format. Simply laminate the sheet and cut along the lines for easy use. These icons can be used to help students express themselves effectively and encourage communication skills. Included phrases:I want / I want that / I want those / I don't wantI don't knowI want to talk to youThank you / N
Not Specific
Pronoun + Action Verb Sentence Match | File Folder
File Folder Activity: Pronoun + Action Verbs MatchingThis engaging activity is designed to help students practice identifying and matching pronouns (He, She, They) and action verbs to corresponding pictures. Students will read a sentence and choose the picture that best illustrates the pronoun and action described. It includes six different boards with various action verbs to reinforce vocabulary and comprehension skills. Example Sentences:She is eating.He is singing.They are pointing.Verbs Incl
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My Personal Space : A Social Story
My Personal Space – Social Story This social story helps students understand what personal space is and how being too close can affect others. Using simple, clear language, learners are shown what personal space looks like in everyday situations. What’s Included A social story with simple, direct language Clear visual examples of Having personal space Being too close to others Everyday scenarios (line, table, hallway, conversation) Positive, supportive ending that reinforces appropriate behavi
Not Specific
For All Subjects, Speaking & Listening
Celebrating My Birthday: A Social Story
Celebrating My Birthday is a story that explains what birthdays are, why we celebrate them, and the many different ways a birthday can be special! Perfect for preschool, kindergarten, early elementary, or special education settings, this story supports emotional development and social understanding while promoting self-love and inclusion. Whether birthdays are big, quiet, filled with cake, or celebrated in a unique way, this story reassures every child that their birthday is important. What’s
Not Specific
Not Subject Specific
Handwashing Visual Aid (Dark Skin Tone Option)
This resource provides three visual aid options for teaching proper handwashing techniques, with icons designed in dark skin tone to ensure inclusivity and representation. Perfect for use in classrooms, therapy settings, or at home, these visual aids break down the handwashing process into simple steps to promote hygiene and independence. The three options include: Twelve-Step Handwashing GuideThis option outlines the full handwashing process with twelve clear and easy-to-follow steps, ideal for
Not Specific
Feelings Check-In Visual Board/ Coping Strategies (Sad, Angry, Frustrated)
Help your students in identifying their emotions and advocating for their needs using clear visuals and simple phrases with this Feelings Check-In Visual Board. This resource includes: 3 separate emotion boards: Sad, Angry, and Frustrated with matching "I feel ___ / I need/want ___" prompts 8 visual choices to support self-regulation and emotional response strategies 1 combined board with all three emotions to use as a quick reference or choice board
Not Specific
Social Emotional Learning
Waiting: A Social Story & Visual Support Tool
"I Can Wait" Social Story & Visual Supports Help your students build essential self-regulation and waiting skills with this "I Can Wait" Social Story and set of three visual support tools designed for early learners, students with autism, or those with executive functioning challenges. This resource is ideal for teaching the concept of waiting in a simple, supportive, and visual way—perfect for classrooms, therapy sessions, and home routines. What’s Included: "I Can Wait" Social Story A chil
Not Specific
For All Subjects, Speaking & Listening
Name the Category | File Folder
This resource features a set of 4 engaging file folder activities that use realistic pictures to support hands-on learning. With a total of 20 categories, this resource is perfect for helping students build vocabulary, categorize items, and strengthen their cognitive and language skills. Categories Included: fruits, colors, shapes, letters, wild animals, toys, transportation, vegetables, clothes, numbers, farm animal, tools, body parts, flowers, electronics, instruments, sea animals, utensils,
Not Specific
Following Rules in the Library: A Social Story
Help your students learn appropriate behavior and expectations for visiting the library with this easy-to-understand social story! "Following Rules in the Library" is a simple, visual-friendly story that teaches children how to act respectfully in a shared learning space. This social story covers: ✅ What a library is and what people do there ✅ Why it's important to be quiet and calm ✅ Positive behaviors to practice (like whispering, walking slowly, and asking for help) ❌ Behaviors to avoid
Not Specific
For All Subjects
Waiting for the Elevator: A Social Story
This social story is designed to help learner understand what to do when the elevator is full and they need to wait their turn. Waiting can be hard—but with clear language and positive strategies, this story empowers children to manage their feelings and make safe choices. What’s Included: A printable social story: "I Can Wait for the Elevator" Simple sentences and supportive visuals Strategies for staying calm (deep breathing, counting, using a fidget, positive self-talk, and more) Help your
Not Specific
Not Subject Specific
Waiting in the Community: A Social Story
Waiting in the Community – A Social Story for Kids Learning Patience and Self-RegulationTeaching learners to wait can be challenging—but it’s an important life skill! This social story is designed to support learners in understanding what waiting looks like, why it’s important, and how to cope while they wait. With simple, supportive language and relatable real-life examples, this printable social narrative helps children build independence and emotional regulation in everyday community settings
Not Specific
For All Subjects, Social Emotional Learning
The Wheels On the Bus | File Folder
This interactive resource features a fun and engaging activity where students will fill in the corresponding picture card to complete the lyrics of the popular song, The Wheels on the Bus. With one board included, students will match picture cards to specific parts of the song, reinforcing vocabulary and helping with sentence structure. This activity promotes language development, listening skills, and visual recognition. It’s a great way to make learning through music both educational and enjo
Not Specific
Showing 1-20 of 35 results
About the store
Experience
Welcome to Applied Behavior Essentials!
I’m Melissa, the creator behind this shop. As a behavioral therapist with experience supporting children on the autism spectrum, I understand how important it is to have resources that are clear, engaging, and easy to use in everyday settings.
My goal is to create practical materials that support learning, communication, social skills, emotional regulation, and independence. Many of my resources include visual supports, social stories, task cards, activities, and structured teaching tools designed to make learning more approachable and meaningful for different learners.
At Applied Behavior Essentials, I focus on creating resources that are both effective and realistic for educators, therapists, and parents to use. I believe learning should feel supportive, encouraging, and accessible while recognizing each child’s individual strengths and needs.
Thank you for visiting my shop! I hope these resources help support your learners and make teaching a little easier along the way.
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