Lurnsters 2027 Curriculum: The Power of Next

For the 2027 PedTech rollout of the Emoti Labs™ platform, the spotlight is on emotional readiness—equipping children with the exact executive tools they need to master their own nervous systems through The Power of Next. Through highly interactive Simulated Emotional Experiences (SEE) and cause-and-effect logic, our Lurnster characters explore the mechanics of human choices, teaching children that they are the sole architects of their own reality and consequences.

The impact of this platform is designed to immediately disrupt the chaos currently happening in pediatric waiting rooms, ABA clinics, group homes, and classrooms. For facilities, The Power of Next removes the friction from the staff. By transferring the behavioral de-escalation to a neutral, digital system, shift workers, nurses, and educators no longer have to spend all their time acting as child-wranglers; they can finally get back to providing care and instruction. For caregivers, it ends the exhausting power struggles. The software does the heavy lifting, providing the hard boundaries and simulated consequences that children need to see to understand their own actions.

For the learners themselves, the simulations offer the ultimate superpower: emotional control. Children are taught how to hack their own behavioral loops. By distinguishing between reactive, survival-driven "Me Choices" and regulated, disciplined "Power Choices," learners discover that applying a coping strategy isn't a punishment—it is the exact mechanism they use to navigate high-stress environments safely and achieve favorable outcomes. They stop feeling like victims of their own dysregulation and start realizing they hold the steering wheel.

“Your big feelings are yours, your actions are yours, and your consequences are yours too,” said James Catoe, Founder and CEO of Emoti Labs. “You can change what consequence you get right there at the action part—the action is the only thing you control in this equation. When a child finally grasps this, everything shifts. Meltdowns in the waiting room end, facilities regain their stability, and the child walks away with the confidence that they can navigate any hard transition without burning their world down.”

Throughout the new Interactive Emotional Readiness Platform, the Lurnsters will invite kids to step out of the passenger seat. When a character experiences a sudden emotional spike, the narrative freezes. The user at the screen must physically interact with the interface to choose how the character reacts, watching the unvarnished consequences of that choice play out in real-time. This cause-and-effect architecture inspires kids to replicate these "Power Choices" in the real world.

Read on for examples of how executive action and positive outcomes come to life in this year’s Simulated Emotional Experiences (SEE):

Baby O’s System Crash (Procedural Anxiety) – Baby O experiences a massive nervous system spike when sitting in a pediatric exam room waiting for a procedure. His internal fear peaks, and he is about to kick, scream, and throw his tablet. The simulation pauses, and the learner must choose his next move. The learner sees that the reactive "Me Choice" results in a chaotic, unsafe environment that makes the procedure take much longer. But by making the "Power Choice," Baby O executes his heavy breathing technique, regulating his body. The learner sees the immediate benefit: the room stays peaceful, and Baby O gets through the scary moment quickly and safely.

Calmy’s Screen Glitch (Sensory Overload & Avoidance) – Calmy is overwhelmed by a difficult task transition in a busy ABA clinic and attempts to retreat into her digital tablet, ignoring her clinician. The learner is tasked with breaking her behavioral loop. By choosing the "Power Choice," the learner helps Calmy log off, look the therapist in the eye, and attempt the hard work. The positive impact is undeniable: Calmy builds resilience, the session remains productive, and she earns the genuine pride of mastering a hard task instead of withdrawing from it.

Boldy Takes the Room (Rigidity & Transitions) – Boldy enters a new group environment and immediately demands the center of attention, crossing physical boundaries because she insists her way is the only "fair" way. The learner must intervene before Boldy's rigidity alienates her peers. The simulation demonstrates that the "Me Choice" leaves Boldy completely isolated and frustrated. By selecting the "Power Choice," Boldy executes the Bossy Check-In and respects the shared environment. The learner discovers that dropping the ego and adapting to a transition is the ultimate way to maintain a harmonious social space.