From connection to cognition.
A five-principle educational framework for early childhood, built on one idea: children learn best when connection comes first.
5 Principles
That guide how adults play, teach, and design learning
5 Weeks
REPAL Foundations: one principle per week for educators
3 Audiences
Families, Educators, and Therapists
EN • ES
Every resource designed for bilingual families and classrooms
THE FIVE PRINCIPLES
Each principle has a color, a Guardian, and a practice
R
Guardian: Rami
Regulation & Relationship
Emotional security, co-regulation and connection: a calm, trusted adult is the starting point for learning.
At home: five minutes of “just us” play every day
In class: greeting rituals and a calm corner
E
Guardian: Eniko
Engagement & Executive Support
Attention, working memory and flexible problem-solving, supported step by step by the adult.
At home: turn chores into games with simple steps
In class: visual routines and stop-and-go games
P
Guardian: Pip
Play with Purpose
Exploration and intentional play that follows the child’s interests toward meaningful learning.
At home: follow your child’s lead for ten minutes
In class: play centers with a clear learning goal
A
Guardian: Ari
Autonomy & Adaptive Thinking
Independence, choice-making, and the flexibility to adapt when things change.
At home: offer two choices instead of one command
In class: classroom jobs that build independence
L
Guardian: Lumi
Learning with Developmentally Appropriate Technology
Purposeful, ethical, and accessible technology that supports – never replaces – human connection.
At home: watch together, then talk and play about it
In class: short, shared tech with an offline follow-up
REPAL™ FOR YOU
One framework, three editions
Families
• Luna Little Books collection (ages 3–8)
• Family activity kits, one per Guardian
• Family manual
• Connection First — 5-week video course for families
Educators
• REPAL Foundations: 5-week implementation pathway
• Educator Course of Study
• Educator manual and classroom kits
• Workshops for schools and centers
Therapists
• Therapist edition manual
• Professional edition activity kits
• Continuing education module – in development
FOR CHILDREN
Meet Luna, REPI, and the Guardians
In our children’s books, Luna discovers the five superpowers of her brain with the help of REPI the axolotl, and five Guardians: Rami, Eniko, Pip, Ari, and Lumi.
Small guardians for brighter futures.
RESEARCH
An emerging framework, studied with care
REPAL™ is grounded in developmental neuroscience and early childhood research. Its implementation with early childhood educators is the focus of Karla Proaño’s doctoral research at Kean University, and findings will be shared here as they become available.
Coming soon: From Connection to Cognition: A Practical Neuroeducational Guide for Early Childhood Educators (English and Spanish).