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đź’ś FEELINGS & REGULATION đź’ś
Visuals to help your child recognize and communicate feelings while also supporting regulation and calming strategies. I’ll also share how we’re using them with James along the way. đź’ś
My Feelings – Pocket Size
A pocket-size feelings and regulation visual designed to help your child communicate how they’re feeling and explore what might help in the moment. One side includes feelings, while the other offers support and regulation choices.
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How We’re Using It With James:
We use this with James as a visual he can refer to when communicating how he feels or what might help. One side gives him choices for feelings like happy, sad, mad, tired, silly, and scared. The other gives him options such as water, headphones, a hug, a comfort item, a walk break, or deep breaths. He can point, use his AAC, use his voice, or communicate another way—the goal is giving him more ways to share what he’s feeling and what he needs. đź’ś
Emotion Wheel
A visual wheel designed to help your child recognize and communicate different emotions, including happy, angry, sad, tired, scared, and silly.
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How We're Using It With James:
We use the Emotion Wheel with James as another visual way to talk about feelings. We can point to the different emotions, name them together, or give him the opportunity to show us which one matches how he’s feeling. You can even add a spinner to the middle of the wheel to make it more interactive and turn learning about emotions into an activity. James can respond by pointing, using his AAC, using his voice, or another way that works for him. The goal is helping him connect feelings with words and visuals without putting pressure on how he communicates. đź’ś
I Need Space
Sometimes a child knows they need space but may not have the words to explain exactly what they need. This visual gives them different ways to communicate those needs—from asking someone to move back or be quiet to requesting a quiet place or a little more time.
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How We're Using It With James:
We mainly bring this visual out when we’re spending time with friends or family. As James’ parent, I know his body language and can usually tell what he needs in the moment, even when he can’t find the words to tell me. Other people may not recognize those same cues.
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This gives James another way to show them exactly what he needs—whether that’s for someone to move back, be quiet, not touch him, give him a quiet place, or just give him a minute. đź’› It helps take some of the guessing out of the moment while still giving James a way to communicate for himself.
When I Feel... Regulation Visual
Big feelings can be hard to explain, especially when your child is already having a hard time. This visual gives them something they can look at to connect how they’re feeling with what they can do next. It includes feeling angry, sad, upset, and tired, along with choices like squeezing a ball, getting a comfort toy or hug, going to a quiet space, or resting.
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How We're Using It With James:
With James, I like to introduce visuals like this when he’s calm instead of waiting until he’s already upset. We can look at the different feelings together and talk about what he can do when he feels that way. Then when he is having a harder moment, he already knows the visual and we can point him back to it without using a bunch of words when he may not be ready to process them.
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Personalization note:
Every child is different, and what helps James may not be what helps your child. I can personalize this visual with your child’s own feelings, comfort items, calming choices, or things that help them regulate. Visit Book Now to request a personalized version. đź’›
Calm Down Steps
Sometimes when our kids are upset, giving them a bunch of directions or trying to talk through everything in that moment just isn’t going to work. This visual gives them something they can look at and follow one step at a time: stop, breathe, take a break, and then try again when they’re ready.
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How We're Using It With James:
With James, I want him to know that being upset is okay and that he doesn’t have to immediately jump back into whatever was hard for him. We can use this visual to show him what to do next without giving him a bunch of verbal directions. He can stop, take some breaths, have a break, and then come back and try again when he’s ready.
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Want this personalized for your child?
Not every child calms down the same way! If your child needs different steps or has certain things that help them regulate, I can personalize this visual to fit what actually works for your child. Visit Book Now to request a personalized version. đź’›
Match the Emotions to the Pictures
A hands-on matching activity for exploring emotion words and connecting them with facial expressions. đź’› Kiddos can match each word to the corresponding picture while becoming more familiar with words like happy, mad, sick, tired, and excited.
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How We're Using It With James:
I can use this with James to help connect the words for different feelings and body states with a picture he can see. We can also find the same words on his AAC as we go, giving him another way to explore and become familiar with the words without expecting him to label how he feels.​
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đź’ˇ Tip: Laminate the pages and add Velcro dots to make it reusable!
How My Body Feels
Sometimes it can be hard for children to explain what doesn’t feel right or what might help. These interactive visual cards give children a way to identify where they’re uncomfortable and explore options that may help them communicate what they need. đź’™
The set includes cards for head, throat, tummy, and ear discomfort, plus a “When I Need More Help” card for additional support options.
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How We're Using It With James:
I created these because I want James to have another way to communicate when something in his body doesn’t feel right. Instead of having to find all the words to explain what hurts and what he needs, he can use the visuals and move the Velcro arrow to point to an option that may help him. It gives us another tool to support his communication while helping him build body awareness and self-advocacy. đź’›
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Want It Personalized for Your Child?
Every child communicates discomfort differently and may have different things that help them feel comfortable. I can personalize this set with different body feelings, support options, wording, or visuals to better fit your child and your family’s needs. ✨
Personalized versions can be booked under Book Online.