We're two pediatric occupational therapists with a love of play-based learning, caregiver education + support, and anything that incorporates art and creativity!
Visuals have shown to be a proven support when it comes to learning - and that includes when little ones are mastering regulation skills! This download features two designs (7 total versions) to help children visualize and identify with what zone(s) they might be in. This resource includes the following:- Zones Feelings Strip, Blank (Blue Background)- Zones Feelings Strip, Blank (Green Background)- Zones Feelings Strip, With Coping Skills (Blue Background)- Zones Feelings Strip, With Coping Sk
Sensory paths are all the rage in therapeutic and educational spaces - and with good reason! Children’s brains are wired to explore and learn through movement and play. While custom made sensory paths can be astronomical in price, we created this printable resource that allows you choose from dozens of images to create an obstacle course your little one(s) will benefit from. Whether it’s teaching left from right, working on balance and coordination, focusing on sequencing and timing, bilateral
All the resources you need to get started with teaching the Zones! These resources are appropriate and adaptable for multiple ages. Read the descriptions for each listing below!
When little ones are navigating big feelings, it can be challenging for them to identify their emotional state, along with their needs or wants. These full-color posters with hand-drawn illustrations can help your little one(s) visualize zones in which their feelings may be categorized into. Display these in your therapy room, classroom or calm down corner. UPDATE 7/13/23: This download now includes (8) high-resolution .pdf designs! 4 higher-contrast versions are now added.Please note, this pro
Within this bundle, we've combined our current visual schedule options to assist with transitions in the clinic, classroom or community! Best of all? Many of these resources can be laminated for continued use! -- Your download and use of this product implies understanding of the Terms of Use, which can be found on the second page of this document. Want to see more? Check out some of our other resource packets on the topics below! Visuals + Schedules:Bedtime Routine Visual Schedule (6 Versions,
Dive into the world of emotions with our comprehensive 'Zones of Regulation Social Story Bundle.' Explore feelings, build self-awareness, and develop emotional regulation skills through engaging narratives and interactive activities. Perfect for educators, therapists, and parents seeking to support social-emotional learning journeys This purchase contains (5) separate products: - "Learning About The Zones" Social Story - "Green Zone" Social Story - "Red Zone" Social Story - "Yellow Zone" Social
Identifying how you are feeling is the first step in emotional regulation. Sometimes it can be difficult to articulate those feelings. Use this visual feelings wheel for younger one’s to help guide & accurately label how they are feeling with visual supports. -- Your download and use of this product implies understanding of the Terms of Use, which can be found within this document. Want to see more? Check out some of our other resource packets on the topics below! Visuals + Schedules:Bedtime
It's all of our favorite sensory resources in one! We've created this bundle to provide our helpful set of sensory handouts at a discounted cost. Within this download, you'll get: Sensory Simplified Part 1: All 8 Systems (+BONUS: Oral Sensory Processing) Sensory Simplified: 2-Sided Informational Handout with Definitions + Activities Sensory Simplified: Sensory Processing + the H2O Analogy Oral Motor + Oral Sensory: Informational Handout for Sensory Diet Sensory + LanguageSensory Diet Resource Pa
A sensory diet focuses on what a child's sensory system needs in order to achieve a regulated and "ready to learn" state. So what exactly is a sensory diet, what does it need to include, and how can you tell if it's actually working to provide what the child needs? This resource we created answers all of the above and more! This resource packet covers the following topics:What is a sensory diet and what does it include? Important considerations Creating a sensory diet that works A printable lis
Let's assume that a child has 3 meals and 2 snacks per day. A therapist treating that child may see them twice a week, leaving that caregiver with 33 opportunities each week to continuing addressing feeding! Looking at these numbers, it's easy to see that equipping the caregiver with the tools and strategies to encourage their child's progress is paramount. This resource packet focuses on the approach of food chaining, a proven, positive approach to increasing the variety of a child's diet and
We can all agree that as therapists, our schedules are busy enough as it is (can we get an amen?!)We found that by utilizing a thoughtfully pre-determined evaluation guide, we could take the stress out of an evaluation and get back to the fun of it. We made this resource with the intention to outline the evaluation process, or to serve as an extra guide in addition to a standardized assessment for identifying potential factors that impact a child's performance. This 14-page evaluation template
Interoception (our awareness of internal body sensations), can be a tricky topic to cover. This sensory system plays an important role in emotional regulation, as it allows little ones to detect and respond to the internal sensations experienced during different feelings. This includes our heart pounding when we're scared, our body feeling hot when we're angry, and more! This packet was created to provide information on this sensory system, a variety of exercises to practice interoceptive awaren
Toileting is a routine where sequencing is absolutely necessary - or a mess is quick to happen! This resource was created to provide both no-prep schedules and more individualized options for children still learning their toileting routine. Included in this resource, you'll find:32 hand-drawn images with 3 skin tones to choose from, including (but not limited to): close door, lift toilet lid, lift toilet seat, pull down/up underpants, pull down/up pants, sit on toilet, set timer, pee in toilet (
These first/then boards provide students with clear expectations and a visual support for transitioning between activities. Use these first/then boards by printing, laminating, and affixing your velcro pictures where appropriate. This packet offers TEN template options when structuring a visual schedule board: Two-step first/then schedule (2)Three-step first, next, then (2)Four-step to-do, all done schedule (1)Four-step first, next, then, last schedule (2)Four-step numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 schedule
When little ones are navigating big feelings, it can be challenging for them to identify their emotional state, along with their needs or wants. Use these no-prep sorting activities to help your child identify and visualize their feeling(s) in certain situations. Just print this resource and have your little one cut + paste or color as they decipher how they might feel in these situations! This download includes:(1) full-color zones sorting mat(24) scenarios with hand-drawn illustrations(2) no-p
When little ones are navigating big feelings, it can be challenging for them to identify their emotional state, along with their needs or wants. Use these no-prep print and go worksheets to help your child identify the internal body sensations they might experience in each zone. Just print this resource and have your little one identify and color the internal changes they may experience in green, blue, red and yellow zones! This download includes:(1) "Where I Feel My Feelings" body scan labeling
Children with learning disabilities have a significantly higher level of primitive retained reflexes compared to other children (Hickey & Feldhacker, 2021). When we think of reflexes, we may envision being tapped on the knee at the doctor's office, or yanking our hand away from a hot stove. These reflexes allow our bodies and brains to complete motor movements without having to consciously think about it. Primitive reflexes are named for the part of the brain in which they originate - the prim
Looking for sensory diet visuals that can be used in the classroom, clinic, and at home? This packet includes 84 bright, realistic sensory diet visuals that can address a variety of sensory needs, including: Tactile + messy playHeavy work + proprioceptionCalming and regulating inputAlerting and arousing inputAnimal walks Classroom tasks + activities...and more!Your download and use of this product implies understanding of the Terms of Use, which can be found within this document. Want to see mo
Having an easy to follow, visual exercise to calm your body can be a helpful tool. We've compiled this resource of simple but effective cards that little ones can trace their finger along as they focus on regulating their breathing. Put them on a ring for easy choosing, or select one from the deck to implement! Included in this packet:16 Color Finger-Tracing Paths (2 per page, making them the perfect size for little hands)Calming Card Deck Cover + Instruction PageRecommended Assembly Instruction
When it comes to teaching feelings identification and regulation techniques, we found it hard to find a resource that was digestible for little ones while still being a thorough explanation of the Zones approach. That's how this resource came about! This social story provides approachable language + hand-drawn illustrations to help teach about emotions and self regulation using zones inspired content. Story telling has been used an effective way to teach for centuries (Green, 2004). Stories pea
We're two pediatric occupational therapists with a love of play-based learning, caregiver education + support, and anything that incorporates art and creativity!
My own education history
Alison + Maddie both earned their Doctorate of Occupational Therapy at Belmont University in 2017.
Additional biographical information
Both Alison and Maddie currently practice in TN + KY providing occupational therapy services.
For more information on us, check out on Instagram at @developmentools or on our website at www.developmentools.net.
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