Tools, strategies, and tips for families, child life specialists, therapists, medical professionals, teachers, and counselors when guiding social skills, routines/schedules, emotions, and addressing challenging behavior for young children with chronic illness and their siblings.

We are grateful to the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations for giving us permission to adapt and share many of their resources.

Pandemic Resources

Emotions

Medical Specific Resources

General Social Skills

Addressing Challenging Behavior

Routines and Schedules

Other Social Emotional Resources

PANDEMIC RESOURCES

Wearing Masks

(print-and-use scripted story)

By: LJ Werner, MA ECSE &
Ashley Marotta, MS ECE

Why Can’t I Go to School?

(print-and-use scripted story)

 

I Can Be Safe and Healthy by Washing My Hands

(print-and-use scripted story)

Greeting Board for Social Distancing

(print-and-use visual cards)

Helping Children Understand Emotions When Wearing Masks

Helping Your Child During a Pandemic

Tips for Helping Your Child During a Pandemic

Tips for Supporting Yourself During the Pandemic

EMOTIONS

Feeling Wheels

(Print and use resource)

School Age Feeling Wheel

Click here to see instructional video

Feeling Wheels Pointers

(Print and use resource)

Feeling Wheel Pointer

Page Full of Pointers

Book of Feelings and Problem solving

(Print and use resource)

Book of Feelings Cover

Tucker Turtle problem-solving booklet

(Print and use visual wallet card)

Tucker Turtle Steps and Coping Clues

Click here to see instructional video

Feeling Faces

(Print and use visual cards)

Feeling Faces Visual Cards

Feeling Faces Play Dough Mat

Helping Children Understand Emotions When Wearing Masks 

(Print and use resource)

Helping Children Understand Emotions When Wearing Masks 

MEDICAL SPECIFIC RESOURCES

Puffy Learns to Be Brave for His Shots and You Can Too

(Print and use scripted story)

A scripted story to assist young children who may feel anxious or scared about shots.

1, 2, 3…Blow (2 pages)

(Print and use.  Page one can be used as a poster in clinic.  Page 2 can be printed/cut and used to distribute to families to keep in wallet to use when needed with child.)

A visual to assist young children who may feel anxious or scared about shots.  Poking the shot as the child blows may lesson the intensity.

Shot Plan:  I Want to Use…

(Print, laminate, add soft Velcro to squares and use with visual cue cards)

A planning poster for children to choose how to plan getting their shots and self-regulate.  

Numbing Choices

(Print, laminate, cut into individual cues and add rought Velcro to back.  Use with Planning Poster.)

Visual cue cards to make choices in how to numb an area that will be “poked” with a shot, I.V., port access, etc.

Belly Breathing Choices (2 pages)

(Print front-to-back, laminate, cut into individual cues and add rough Velcro to back.  Use with Planning Poster.)

.Visual cue cards to make choices in how breathe deeply to assist with self-regulation and to keep one’s body calm

Activity Choices (2 pages)

(Print, laminate, cut into individual cues and add rough Velcro to back.  Use with Planning Poster.)

Visual cue cards to make choices in distraction activities to assist with self-regulation and to keep one’s body calm.

Internal Thermometer Check

(Print, laminate, and use visual poster.  Place soft Velcro on poster squares.  Print, laminate, and cut feeling visual cues.  Place rough Velcro on back. Use a clothespin to move up and down thermometer.)

Doing a feeling check before and/or after a scary medical procedure validates feelings and can assist with self-regulation and to keep one’s body calm.

Tucker Turtle problem-solving booklet

(Print and use visual wallet card)

Tucker Turtle Steps and Coping Clues

Click here to see instructional video

Power Pointers

(Tip Sheets)

A series of quick tip sheets on various topics such as medical self-advocacy, strengthening resiliency, communicating with young children, emotions, transitioning to adult care, supporting siblings, person-first language, and more.

GENERAL SOCIAL SKILLS

We Can Be Problem Solvers

(print-and-use scripted story)

Home Greeting Board for Social Distancing

(print-and-use visual cards)

Home Greeting Board for Social Distancing

(print-and-use visual cards)

“You Got It!”

Teaching Social and Emotional Skills

(Print and use resource)

By Lise Fox and Rochelle Harper Lentini

ADDRESSING CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR

Help Us Calm Down: 
Strategies for Children

(Print and use visual poster)

Self-Regulation: 
Breathing Strategies

(Print and use visual card)

Self-Regulation Skills:
Relaxation Thermometer

(Print and use visual poster)

Tucker Turtle Takes Time to Tuck and Think
at Home

(Print and use scripted story)

Taking a Break: 
Using a Calm Down Area at Home

(Print and use tip sheet)

ROUTINES and SCHEDULES

Teaching Rules at Home

(Print and use visual cards)

Transitioning Activities/Place-to-Place

(Print and use visual cards)

Cleaning Up My Toys

I Brush My Teeth

(print-and-use scripted stories)

Making Life Easier Series

(Tip Sheets)

The “Making Life Easier” series of family friendly tips (in multiple languages) for making routines/events easier and even enjoyable. 

Topics include:  bedtime and naps, diapering, going to the doctor, holidays, and running errands

OTHER SOCIAL EMOTIONAL RESOURCES

How to Make Your Own “Visual Supports” to Print-and-Use

(Print and use visual cards)

Family Articles (playtime, biting, feelings, routines, cooperating with requests, emotions) in multiple languages.

(Tip sheets)

The Backpack Connection Series:  

(Tip sheets)

A collection of one-page handouts, in multiple languages, for addressing challenging behavior, emotions, routines and schedules, and social skills such as:

  • following directions, difficult behaviors (biting, hitting, pushing, whining, melt downs, etc.),
  • feelings (fear, anger, disappointment, etc.),
  • routines/schedules (bedtime, getting ready in morning, going from place to place, rules and expectations, etc.),
  • social skills (sharing, getting attention, taking turns,).

Positive Solutions for Families:
Family Routine Guide

(Tip sheets)

Includes strategies for supporting young children during common family routines and activities such as:

  • dressing/undressing,
  • brushing teeth and hair
  • meals/restaurants
  • bedtime
  • playing
  • clean-up
  • shopping
  • doctor appointments
  • taking meds/treatments
  • and more.