About Positively Prepared
Stories that ease the anxiety and behaviors that come with challenging situations, written by a speech-language pathologist and childhood cancer survivor.
Hi, I'm Heather
I'm a speech-language pathologist who works with children in a school setting, and I'm also a survivor of childhood cancer.
“I understand the anxiety that children and parents go through when experiencing medical procedures and treatments.”
Working with my students, I have seen first-hand how powerful these stories are at reducing a child's anxiety and helping them reach a positive behavior. Using my childhood cancer experience and my professional skill in writing social narratives, I created Positively Prepared stories.
Our story
As adults, we often prepare for medical, dental and other events in our lives based on our own experiences. Why shouldn't children have the same reassurance about what is going to happen in situations they find challenging?
Think about the first time you flew on an airplane, were told you needed an MRI, walked into your first day of school, or needed a tooth pulled. Think about the anxiety you may have felt, not knowing what was going to happen or what was expected of you. Your child may be feeling the same way.
Positively Prepared stories don't only reduce the child's anxiety, they help parents too. When parents feel they have prepared their child for a challenging situation, their own anxiety goes down. Children feed off adult energy, and when parents feel less anxious, so do their children.
What every kit includes
- A story explaining the event or procedure.
- Visuals to use during the event or procedure.
- A short story reinforcing the positive behavior the child showed.
- Stickers that can be printed on labels.
Newer kits also add picture cards, a First/Then board, a sticker chart, an implementation guide, and a Boy or Girl version of the story.
Positive reviews
I pass these books out to my patients so they feel good about coming to the dentist.
Dr. Susan Cable, DDS Dentist
These stories have helped my son when he had to have surgery. He knew what to expect several days before the surgery, which made my anxiety less the day of the surgery.
Nicola S. Parent
Heather worked with my autistic daughter for several years of her early life, during which she often put together stories to help her through both small and big changes. The stories helped my daughter through so many things, including learning to use the bathroom, interacting with her peers, and the big transition from elementary to middle school.
Katie Burke Parent
Heather's stories take a skill or situation and break it down into simple, easily understood steps. I use these stories to ease anxiety and prepare my special education student for new situations or guide them through positive behavior.
Cathy Schmitz Special Education Teacher
These stories have been one of the most impactful methods to change a student's learning and behavior trajectories in my 30 years of teaching. The student feels in control of tough moments and can get back to the important job of being a kid.
Chris Vasarella Classroom Teacher
The pictures in the stories are so helpful, as well as the wording. It is nice because I can use these stories over and over.
Haley Jensen Teacher of ASD