Author
Elizabeth Sautter
Author
Elizabeth Sautter, MA CCC-Speech Language Pathologist is an author and presenter specializing in social communication, self-regulation and executive functioning. She travels the country and Canada to present on her work related to Make Social Learning Stick and as a collaborative speaker for The Zones of Regulation. She is the co-author of the Whole Body Listening Larry series (Home and School). On a personal note, she supports her son, sister and cousin with special needs and is passionate about supporting her clients and their families.
Author
Dr. Rebecca Bransetter
Author
Rebecca Branstetter, Ph.D., is a School Psychologist, author and expert in the area of child development and education. She has published several books for parents and professionals on supporting struggling students, particularly those with attention and executive functioning challenges. Her insights have been published in a variety of media outlets, such as US News and World Report, CNN Health, WebMD, Good Housekeeping,Education.com, NBC BayArea News, and National Public Radio and she travels the country to share her knowledge and expertise.
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Recent Posts
Social Skills are Not Just for the Playground: How Teaching Social ...
An Interview with Michelle Garcia-Winner When we think of social skills, we often think about nice behaviors we want to see our children doing--sharing, taking turns,...
5 Simple Steps for Setting Intentions for Yourself and Your Family
As we approach the new year, you’re likely being bombarded with reminders or some internal pressure to make resolutions about all the changes that you should be...
3 ways to help your child think about others over the holidays
Wow, the year seems to be speeding past. I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a very challenging year. From Covid to virtual learning to politics, we could all use...
Cultivating gratitude
I can’t believe that it’s been so long of COVID living! And it's been since the beginning of COVID that I’ve been creating these free monthly...
Flexible Thinking to the Rescue for a Safe and Fun Halloween
This Halloween is definitely going to be a tricky proposition. But even though it will certainly be different, it’s still a perfect time to encourage your...
Simple daily activities to teach kids about emotions
Frowns, tears, meltdowns. Smiles, giggles, belly laughs. These are all natural reactions to the many emotions we feel...every single day. Feelings come and go on a regular...
How to Activate Your Child’s ADHD Brain for Distance Learning
Weak executive functions sabotage our kids’ efforts to organize, plan ahead, and make smooth transitions to demanding environments – like virtual or hybrid...
Is Fear of Failure Your Child's Worst Enemy? Help to boost learning...
It’s easy to see why kids might be having a hard time staying motivated right now. The usual fun and flurry of activities that come with a new school year are no...
The Three Es of Learning
With everything going on today in the world, the transition back to school this year is bringing on more stress than usual. Whether you’re going to have school in...
Transitioning During Uncertain Times
*Daily activities to help you and your child make the transition smoother* Transitions happen all day long, from getting out of bed to getting out the door to getting ready...
Using Improv to Build Social Skills
“Play is the answer to the question, ‘how does anything new ever come about’?” ~Jean Piaget Maja Watkins, author of The Brain’s Playground:...
Daily Sensory and Movement Breaks for Regulation
From the feeling of the sheets we sleep in to the texture of the food we eat, from the birds chirping around us and the smells coming from the kitchen to the clothes we...
How to Get Your Child to Talk about Their Feelings Instead of Actin...
“Calm down!”, “Wake up!”, “Stop goofing around!”, “Listen to me!” What do these commands all have in common? ...
Teaching about Race and Social Justice is Part of Social-Emotional ...
Communication. Social Justice. Kindness. Perspective-taking. Conflict resolution. These skills are fundamental to social-emotional learning...
Fun, Celebration and Safety
June is here, and with it all the excitement of a wonderful summer! Day camps for the kids, your traditional family outings, and all the ice cream the neighborhood truck...
My Personal Journey to Get My Son’s Needs Met
It’s not easy to retell and relive situations that were difficult so I don’t tell this story very often. It’s about the day I broke down, trying to...
3 Keys to Stay Calm and Connected During Sheltering in Place & Free...
Parenting in this pandemic has been intense in so many ways! It’s been hard for so many families but having a child with additional needs adds another layer of...
3 Tips to Support Sensory Processing at Home
Many kids have challenges with sensory processing, If your child seems to struggle with staying calm, well-regulated and balanced with their mood or behavior, sensory...
Mindfulness in May: A Daily Dose for YOU and YOUR CHILD
I trained to practice and teach mindfulness seven years ago, and it’s changed my life, helping me get out of my future thinking (anxiety) and past...
Supporting Challenging Behavior at Home during COVID-19: An Intervi...
With nationwide school closures in effect, many parents are trying to keep it all together at home managing their own work, their finances, and their own stress. All...
Coping with Overwhelm through Connection
If it isn’t clear yet, I am super passionate about Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and helping kids (and people in general) to build these skills. I think...
Kids and Screen Time During COVID-19
Rules about screen time are usually pretty strict in our house, but everything is changing in the face of COVID-19. Up until now, screens weren’t allowed on...
Keep Calm and Structure On: How to manage emotions and build struct...
by Elizabeth Sautter and Dr. Rebecca Branstetter “I’m scared of getting sick and I miss my friends” -5 year old“I’m scared you are...
Building Executive Functioning and Interview with Sarah Ward
by Elizabeth Sautter and Dr. Rebecca Branstetter Does your child seem forgetful? Does she do things at the last minute? Does he act before thinking? If you...
Seven Tips to Build Your Child’s Social Competence Through Everyday...
Have you ever been concerned about your child’s or student’s social abilities? Do they seem younger or more immature than other kids? Maybe they...
Why Listening Can be So Difficult for Kids
by Elizabeth Sautter Have you ever wondered “How can I get my child to listen to me?” or “Why is my child struggling to listen to the teacher...
Four Ways to Boost your Child’s Emotional Intelligence During Simpl...
by Elizabeth Sautter One of the more difficult things about being a child is learning to deal with emotions. It’s especially hard for younger kids, who...
Three Ways to Get Your Kids Back in the Groove of School and Homework
by Elizabeth Sautter As a parent, I am eternally grateful to the teachers that educate my kids. School is one of society’s great inventions. But...
Four Tips to Get Your Kids to Do Their Chores PLUS Free Bonus
by Elizabeth Sautter As a speech pathologist and school psychologist, we often hear concerns from parents about their children’s social, emotional, and/or...
Setting Intentions for 20/20 Vision
by Elizabeth Sautter 2019 is on the cusp of wrapping up, and if you are anything like me, you are already looking ahead to the new year. It’s not just a new year...
Giving and Receiving: An Opportunity to Support Social and Emotiona...
by Elizabeth Sautter The holiday season is in full force with many social and family events to attend, not to mention winter break with children out of school for...
How To Practice Self-Compassion Over the Holidays
by Elizabeth Sautter Isn’t it sort of ironic that Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time to focus on what we are thankful for, and then, not even 24...
Embracing Teachable Moments from a Fight, Flight, or Freeze Situation
My family had to evacuate our house two weeks ago due to the risk posed by nearby wildfires. I’m thankful that this amounted to nothing more than an...
Give It a Try: Getting started with help from your inner coach
My son is starting off his year as a 7th grader with a focus on mindset. His Core Teacher (English and History combined) is laying a valuable foundation for students by...
Insights From A Five-Star Road Trip
As promised, I’m reporting back about my family’s recent road trip to the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell. WE SURVIVED! Actually, I’m happy to report that we...
Follow Your Child’s Lead to Boost Social, Emotional and Executive F...
I often find that my kids are my best teachers and reminders of best practices when it comes to parenting and supporting them. A recent experience with my 15-year-old son...
Building Speech, Language and Social Skills on the Road
My family will be heading out on a week-long summer road trip in a few days. We’re going to the Grand Canyon and everyone is pretty excited. And now that my boys are...
Lessons to Learn from People with Autism
Because April is Autism Awareness Month, it’s an ideal time to build awareness and acceptance about autism. It’s also an opportunity to consider what those of...
March Madness: Keeping Your Cool as a Sports Fan
As March Madness approaches in the world of college basketball, I’ve been thinking about a different definition of these words: namely, the emotional madness that can...
From Goal to Reality: Lunch Planning Builds Executive Functioning S...
This time of year, there’s lots of talk about setting goals and making life changes. It’s got me thinking about how we bridge the gap between knowing what we...
Gratitude & Giving Back: Help Your Child Take the Next Step to Buil...
The “season of giving” can mean far more than a friendly gift exchange or a donation to a favorite nonprofit. Giving often springs from feelings of gratitude...
Stuck Indoors? Use the Time to Build Social and Emotional Learning
The recent smoky conditions in the California Bay Area kept most of us indoors, creating long and sometimes stressful days for many families. We were forced to cope with a...
Gratitude with a Tween Twist
In the realm of social-emotional learning, the tables have been turned at our house. My middle-schooler, Gabe, has come up with a way to reward his parents and get some of...
Get Ready, Do, Done: Help your child build planning skills while cr...
My house is Halloween Central already, with both of my sons focused on their all-important costume choices. Their interest in these costumes makes Halloween an ideal time...
Parenting with a Growth Mindset: Helping Kids Believe in the Value ...
Sometimes, one of my sons will tell me he’s not good at something, like understanding algebra or catching pop flies. “You may not be ‘good’ yet...
iPhone Overboard: Using Co-regulation in a Sink-or-Swim Moment
Sometimes we surprise ourselves, especially in relation to our kids! Earlier this summer, my family took a ten-day vacation to Belgium and Germany. On the second day, while...
Autism & Friendship: Raising Awareness in Your Own Family
How can we raise awareness about autism within our own family? I see this as part of a larger goal I have as a parent—to teach my kids to be tolerant and curious...
Mindful March
What are your self-help tools when you feel sad? How about afraid? I find myself drawn to increase my mindfulness practice. This is the one thing that keeps me...
Practice Loving-kindness to Build Heartfulness on Valentine’s Day
With Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s a great time to teach empathy, perspective taking, and loving-kindness. In the world of mindfulness (paying...
Building Perspective Taking on Martin Luther King Jr. Day: It Takes...
Helping kids to think beyond themselves is one of the pleasures and responsibilities of being a parent or caregiver. Coming up on January 15, Martin Luther King Jr. Day...