Feelings Thermometer – Emotional Regulation Toolkit

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A complete visual system for building children’s emotional awareness, regulation skills, and emotional safety.

Children experience emotions in their bodies long before they have the words to explain them. Without the right support, big feelings can quickly become overwhelming, misunderstood, or mislabelled as “behaviour.”

The Feelings Thermometer – Emotional Regulation Toolkit is a comprehensive, research-informed resource designed to help children recognise emotional intensity, understand body signals, and learn safe, practical ways to regulate emotions with adult support.

This toolkit reflects a prevention-first approach to children’s mental health — supporting emotional development early, consistently, and compassionately.

This is not a behaviour chart.
It is a wellbeing, safeguarding, and co-regulation framework.

What This Toolkit Is Designed to Do

The Feelings Thermometer helps children:

• recognise how big their feelings are

• notice physical body cues linked to emotions

• develop emotional vocabulary and non-verbal expression

• learn what helps their body feel safe and steady

• ask for help before emotions escalate

It helps adults:

• respond to emotions without judgement or punishment

• support regulation instead of controlling behaviour

• use consistent, trauma-informed language

• create emotionally safe classrooms and homes

• identify early signs of distress

The Science Behind the Tool

The toolkit is grounded in:

• emotional regulation theory

• interoception (body awareness)

• trauma-informed practice

• co-regulation and attachment research

• SEN-inclusive communication strategies

Children learn best when emotions are viewed as information, not misbehaviour. The Feelings Thermometer supports children to notice emotional shifts early and access help before overwhelm occurs.

The Feelings Thermometer Levels

Children learn to identify where their feelings sit on the thermometer:

• Calm (Green) – steady, relaxed, ready to learn

• A Little Wiggly (Green–Yellow) – early signs of dysregulation

• Big Feelings (Yellow) – sadness, worry, frustration, tension

• Very Big Feelings (Orange) – overwhelm, fast heart, hot face

• Too Big (Red) – distress that requires immediate adult support

Each level is paired with:

• body signals

• regulation tools

• a simple child-friendly prompt

What’s Included in This Toolkit

This toolkit includes professionally designed, print-ready PDFs, organised into three clear categories:

1. Child-Facing Visual Resources

• Feelings Thermometer poster

• Individual regulation cards for each level:

  • Calm

  • A Little Wiggly

  • Big Feelings

  • Very Big Feelings

  • Too Big

• Clear visuals, icons, and colour cues

• SEN-accessible design with minimal text

2. Parent, Teacher & Practitioner Guidance

• Using the Feelings Thermometer – One-Page Quick Guide (Front & Back)

• How to Use the Feelings Thermometer (in-depth guide)

• Step-by-step explanations for:

  • introducing the tool

  • daily use

  • supporting regulation during distress

  • reflective conversations after incidents

• Guidance for SEND, trauma, and non-verbal children

• ** Includes Print-friendly versions

3. School & Professional Resources

• Feelings Thermometer Teaching Script (lesson-ready)

• Staff Guidance for Schools & Learning Support Teams

• SEN considerations and accessibility guidance

• Whole-school consistency guidance

• Safeguarding and pastoral care notes

• Common mistakes to avoid

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Resource licence and use policy

• ** Includes Print-friendly versions

Who This Toolkit Is For

• Parents and caregivers

• Early years and primary teachers

• SENCOs and learning support staff

• Pastoral teams

• Counsellors and therapists

• Schools implementing emotional wellbeing frameworks

It is particularly supportive for children with:

• SEND

• speech, language, and communication needs

• sensory processing differences

• anxiety or emotional overwhelm

• trauma histories

How to Use the Toolkit

The Feelings Thermometer can be used:

• as a daily emotional check-in

• before transitions

• after break or lunch

• in calm-down or sensory spaces

• during pastoral or therapeutic support

• as part of emotional literacy lessons

Short, regular use helps children internalise emotional awareness as a lifelong skill.

Language That Protects Emotional Safety

The toolkit models gentle, non-judgemental language such as:

• “It looks like your feelings are moving up the thermometer.”

• “I’m here. Let’s help your body feel safe.”

• “What helped bring your feelings back down?”

This supports emotional safety, connection, and trust — especially during moments of distress.

What This Toolkit Is Not

• Not a behaviour management system

• Not a reward or consequence chart

• Not a compliance tool

It is a supportive emotional regulation framework.

Format & Access

• Instant digital download

• Print-ready PDFs (Posters are A3 and A4 formats

• Clear licensing and usage guidance included

A Gentle Reminder

This resource supports emotional wellbeing and development but does not replace professional mental health care. If a child is experiencing persistent or severe distress, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional.