About Us
While working with children in a school setting for over a decade, pediatric occupational therapist and child development expert Cris Rowan obseirved that learning difficulties weren’t necessarily relevant to a child’s intelligence, but more relevant to that child’s ability to stay focused and alert. Rowan observed that many children’s energies were either too charged, or alternatively too “zoned out” to be able to listen or learn. Rowan also noticed that many children were experiencing difficulty printing, which is the foundation for literacy in all subjects. Extensive research review by Rowan indicated that many of children’s school performance issues were related to increased use of TV, videogames and internet. As child developmental delays and behavior disorders continued to escalate, Rowan stepped away from the school setting and developed Zone’in Programs Inc. home to Zone’in Products, Workshops, and Training.
In order to help these children, Rowan has designed Zone’in, Move’in, Unplug’in and Live’in educational programs, which address attention, printing and reading, and technology balance. Zone’in optimizes sensory processing, attention, learning and listening ability by helping children to understand more about their body energy, and how to get their energy “Zone’in to Learn.” Move’in is a board game and computer program that provides a fine motor assessment and intervention for sensory and motor impairments, and improves printing and reading skill. Unplug’in is a developmental tool that builds performance skills in the Me, We, Earth and Spirit dimensions, essential for balancing technology with life. The Live’in Resource Guide offers schools and homes a comprehensive plan to “reduce the use”, with tools and techniques to manage balanced technology.
Rowan has also designed a series of seminars called the Foundation Series Workshops to educate teachers, therapists and parents regarding the damaging effects of technology on child development, and provides strategies and techniques to help children optimize learning, behavior and academic performance. Rowan’s Foundation Series Workshops have proved so successful, that she is now training other pediatric occupational therapists through her recently established Zone’in Training Programs.
About Cris Rowan
Cris Rowan is an impassioned occupational therapist who has first-hand understanding and knowledge of how technology can cause profound changes in a child’s development, behavior and their ability to learn. Cris received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy in 1989 from the University of British Columbia, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and is a SIPT certified sensory integration specialist. Cris is a member in good standing with the BC College of Occupational Therapists, and an approved provider with the American Occupational Therapy Association, the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, and Autism Community Training.
For the past fifteen years, Cris has specialized in pediatric rehabilitation, working for over a decade in the Sunshine Coast School District in British Columbia. Cris is CEO of Zone’in Programs Inc. offering products, workshops and training to improve child health and enhance academic performance. Cris designed Zone’in, Move’in, Unplug’in, and Live’in educational products for elementary children to address the rise in developmental delays, behavior disorders, and technology overuse. Cris has performed over 200 Foundation Series Workshops on topics such as sensory integration, attention and learning, fine motor development, printing and the impact of technology on child development for teachers, parents and health professionals throughout North America. Cris has recently created Zone’in Training Programs to train other pediatric occupational therapists to deliver these integral workshops in their own community.
Cris authors the monthly Zone’in Development Series Newsletter and is author of the following policy initiatives: Unplug – Don’t Drug, Creating Sustainable Futures Program, and Linking Corporations to Community. Cris is author of a forthcoming book Virtual Child – The terrifying truth about what technology is doing to children. Cris is a proud mom of Canadian Navy Submariner Officer Matt, and resides in Sechelt, British Columbia on the Sunshine Coast with her equestrian daughter Katie, two dogs, three cats, a bird and a horse. Cris loves the outdoors and spends a great deal of time with her family exploring the natural beauty of her community.