Helping Children Turn Big Reactions Into Better Choices
Every child experiences moments of anxiety, sadness, fear, frustration, anger, or overwhelm. In those moments, behavior is often communication. FERB FRIENDS helps children learn a new way to communicate what they need.
Created from years of experience using functionally equivalent replacement behaviors, FERB FRIENDS introduces children to seven memorable characters, each with a special super strength. Together, these characters teach students how to recognize their feelings, understand their triggers, and choose more helpful ways to respond at home, at school, and in everyday life.
At the heart of the curriculum is Candice, whose super strength is: "I can instead..." Candice helps children pause and ask, "What can I do instead?" Rather than focusing on what a child did wrong, FERB FRIENDS teaches what a child can do next. Through relatable real-life scenarios, children learn replacement behaviors that meet the same need in a more socially acceptable, less intrusive, and more successful way.
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The FERB Formula
A Child-Friendly Way to Teach Behavior Change
FERB FRIENDS helps children understand that behavior has a purpose. A child may be trying to escape something difficult, gain attention, access something they want, or meet a sensory need. Instead of using adult-heavy language, the curriculum turns these concepts into simple, meaningful lessons children can understand and practice.
Students learn how to:
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Recognize feelings and triggers
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Understand what their behavior may be communicating
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Practice safer and more respectful responses
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Use words, choices, breaks, requests, and coping strategies
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Build confidence in handling difficult moments
Designed for Real Homes and Real Classrooms
FERB FRIENDS uses everyday situations children actually experience: being told “no,” waiting for a turn, feeling embarrassed, needing help, wanting attention, feeling overwhelmed, or trying to avoid something hard.
Each lesson gives educators, caregivers, and school teams practical tools to teach replacement behaviors before challenging moments happen, not just respond after they occur.
Why this works?
Why FERB FRIENDS Works
Children connect with characters. They remember stories. They practice best when the skills feel real, playful, and possible.
FERB FRIENDS gives children a shared language for behavior, emotions, and problem-solving. It helps adults move from correction to instruction, from frustration to support, and from “stop doing that” to:
“What can you do instead?”
