Find Your Perfect Board: A Quick Start Guide for Fern Families

If I were sitting with you at your kitchen table, helping you figure out where to begin, this is exactly what I’d say.

Start With Why

When my son Beckham was young, transitions were hard. He was nonverbal, and we were desperate for a way to bring more predictability and peace into our home. I couldn’t find a visual calendar that worked for us—so I made one.

That calendar, taped to our fridge, changed everything. It gave Beckham a way to understand what was coming next. It gave me a way to stop repeating myself. And it sparked what would become Fern Family Co.

Over the years, we’ve added more boards as our family grew and our needs changed. Each board was built to solve a problem I was facing as a parent—because I needed them too.

Here’s a quick guide to help you find what fits best for your child, your routines, and your season of life.

What do you need help with?

  • 1. 🕒 Structure

    Use the Routine Daily Board
    Great if your child thrives on clear, repeatable steps: Morning, Daytime, Evening. This is what helped us survive morning battles and get out the door with less stress.

  • 2. ⚖️ Choice & Balance

    Use the Balanced Daily Board
    I created this when I wanted my kids to see that a good day doesn’t just mean chores done—it means we moved, learned, rested, and helped. Thea (my middle child) loves getting to choose what she does first.

  • 3. 📆 Monthly Overview

    Use the Monthly Calendar
    The very first board I ever made. When Beckham kept asking, "When is the party? When do we go to Grandma’s?" I knew he needed a visual way to understand time. This is still on our fridge today.

  • 4. 🗂️ Weekly Planning

    Use the Weekly Board
    When your child has outgrown step-by-step daily reminders but still needs structure across the week. Crew uses this now to know what’s happening Monday through Friday.

  • 5. 💛 Calming Strategies

    Use the Zones Board
    Built with an OT, this board helps kids name what they feel and find a coping strategy that works. It helped Beckham recognize anxiety before he melted down.

  • 6. 🗣️ Naming Feelings

    Use the Spot the Feelings Board
    Designed after Beckham’s school team asked for a way to help all kids name their feelings. Works beautifully in both homes and classrooms.

  • 7. ➡️ One-Step Tasks

    Use the First, Then Board
    When transitions were brutal for Beckham, this board helped us say: "First shoes, then outside." Clear, visual, and simple. We still use it.

  • 8. ⭐ Visual Motivation

    Use the Reward Path Board
    Crew used this for potty training. Beckham used it for earning school breaks. It helps kids see progress and understand delayed gratification—even when the reward timing shifts.

  • 9. 🏫 School-Day Structure

    Use the School Board
    Great for kids juggling pull-outs, speech, or rotating subjects. This was made after Beckham’s team needed a way to show daily changes at school.

Still not sure?

If you need a quick comparison, scroll to the table on the Find Your Perfect Board page. It shows what each board teaches, who it’s best for, and how often you reset it.

And remember:

You don’t have to do it all at once. Start with one board that solves your biggest struggle. The rest can grow with you.