Slow Processing Kit
Your child is not ignoring you. Their brain needs more seconds to catch the words. Here is exactly what to do in the next 10 minutes.
The next 10 minutes
Five steps. Ten minutes. Start now.
Minutes 1–2
Step 1 — Get eyes, then ask once
Walk over. Say their name. Wait until they look at you before you say the direction.
"Look at me for a second. I have one thing to ask you."
Minutes 3–4
Step 2 — Say one short direction
One step only. No "and then." Five words or fewer if you can.
"Shoes on, please."
Minutes 5–6
Step 3 — Count 10 silent seconds
Do not repeat. Do not add words. Their brain is still catching the first sentence.
(Say nothing. Count in your head: 1… 10.)
Minutes 7–8
Step 4 — Ask them to say it back
If they can say it back, it landed. If not, say the same short words again — same words, not new ones.
"Tell me what you're doing first."
Minutes 9–10
Step 5 — Write down how long it took
Count the seconds they needed. That number is what the school needs to give extra time.
"Today it took about ___ seconds."
Now go straight to the right card or script
Every tool below is already tuned for slow processing.
- Hard Moment HelpYour 3-step plan for the moment they freeze, already set to slow processing.
- Monae's Calm CardsPrint the Stop · Breathe · Say what I need card for the fridge and the bookbag.
- Tonight's free scriptWord-for-word lines for directions, transitions and homework.
- Log the wait timeOne line a day. In a week you can prove how long your child needs.
- Extra-time accommodationsThe exact accommodation names to ask for by name.
- IEP / 504 wordingTurns your notes into a written request for wait time and one-step directions.
Say this to the school
My child needs extra processing time. I am asking the team to add wait time (at least 10 seconds), one-step directions, and a repeat-back check to the plan.
- Wait time of at least 10 seconds after a direction
- One-step directions, not multi-step
- A repeat-back check instead of "do you understand?"
- Extra time on tests and classwork
Share the calm
Send this to someone who needs it too
The message is already written. Send it to a teacher, doctor, therapist, family member, or another parent.
Prefilled message
I found something that actually helped me with slow processing and needing extra time. Say it once, wait 10 seconds, and let their brain catch up. You can get the free first step here: https://behaviorgps.org/start
You've got the free piece. Here's the whole map.
Free tools help in the moment. The Behavior Struggle Map gives you the step-by-step route from the hard moment to calm — built for your child.
Start tonight
The Behavior Struggle Map
$97$197
110 pieces in 12 kits
- Tonight's Script — word for word
- Meltdown Emergency Card (print it now)
- Behavior Tracker: spot it, stop it, support it, solve it
- School-ready summary for the teacher or IEP team
- + 106 more pages, cards and letters
12 kits · 110 ready-to-print pieces · was $197
What your $97 gets you
Every kit solves one hard part of your day. Nothing to build — open it, print it, use it.
Kit 1 · 10 pieces
Tonight — relief in 10 minutes
Kit 2 · 10 pieces
Spot the Clue
Kit 3 · 10 pieces
Daily Rhythm
Kit 4 · 10 pieces
Calm Tools
Kit 5 · 10 pieces
School Paper Trail
Kit 6 · 10 pieces
Meeting Day (IEP / 504)
Kit 7 · 8 pieces
Track & Prove
Kit 8 · 8 pieces
Slow Processing & Wait Time
Kit 9 · 12 pieces
Big Behaviors by Type
Kit 10 · 10 pieces
Kid-Facing Printables
Kit 11 · 6 pieces
Parent Care
Kit 12 · 6 pieces
Life Disruptions
How you use it
- Step 1 — Open tonight's kit: Pick the struggle you are in right now. Read the script out loud. Relief in about 10 minutes.
- Step 2 — Print the calm cards: Put them on the fridge and in your bag so anyone with your child knows the same 3 steps.
- Step 3 — Log what you saw: One line a day on the log page. In a week you can see the pattern behind the behavior.
- Step 4 — Hand the school the plan: Print the school summary and the letter. You walk in with facts, not a story.
How this solves your problem: the yelling and the meltdowns keep repeating because no one has named the clue behind them. The Map names the clue, gives you the words for the moment, and turns what happens at home into the documented plan the school will act on.
Not sure yet? Take the free 60-second quiz and we'll point you to the right one.
Bright Steps provides parent support and educational planning tools only and does not replace professional educational or legal advice.