As seen on NBC 5 TX | TODAY
Rachel Schneider, founder of PRE BOX, LLC, was interviewed for a local morning show, NBC 5 TX | TODAY. She discusses how her career as a Speech-Language Pathologist inspired the PRE BOX sensory play box that helps toddlers and neurodiverse children understand and prepare for new situations in a fun way!
Q. Why did you start PRE BOX?
A. I noticed that other sensory boxes were missing a key opportunity to prepare kids for an experience using the five senses. And I noticed that parents were missing the power of play. I decided to pack my knowledge in a box to help elicit language and help parents engage with their children in a fun and functional way.
Q. What is the science behind the boxes?
A. The science behind the boxes is based on the science behind emotional regulation. For kids to maintain a state of calm, curiosity they need to maintain a state of neutral emotional regulation. The more your child can prepare for an experience, the easier it is, especially for a developing brain, to regulate your emotions. In essence it's preparing your kid's brain to learn throughout the experience, instead of experiencing anxiety.
Q. What is inside each PRE Box?
A. PRE BOX stands for Proactive Regulatory Experience. It helps prepare kids for a life experience or an adventure. I try and come out with a new theme periodically. All our boxes come with visual supports, which include:
- a PRE story, which is a social story
- a visual schedule to give you an idea of what to expect when you're going into that situation
- a list of ways to play, which also targets speech and language
These visual supports are primarily for the parents and caregivers, but they also provide visual prompts to the child as well. All the items in the box allow the child to play in many different ways and practice for these situations while also having fun.
Q. What makes PRE BOX different from other sensory boxes?
A. PRE BOX has taken out the guesswork for how to harness the power of play and learning through play. It involves the element of "nature", which are the toys and sensory elements in the box, and how your kid learns through exploratory play on their own about an experience. Then combines that with the element of "nurture", which are the visual supports and how we teach our kids to navigate a new experience. When you combine those elements of "nurture" AND "nature" you create a powerful tool of helping your child navigate a new experience in a fun way... and in an effective way, where they can learn about the experience and making it a positive experience!
