How Visual Routines Can Help Children Feel Calmer and More Independent
Make mornings, bedtime and after-school transitions clearer with practical visual routine ideas. Learn how to get started and create a free personalised printable routine.
-
-
Children as Young as Six Are Reaching Mental Health Crisis: What Can We Do Before A&E Becomes the Only Option?
Big Feelings Lab · Children’s emotional wellbeing Children as Young as Six Are Reaching Mental Health Crisis: How Can We Help Earlier? A parent’s perspective, informed by previous work in occupational therapy Go straight to urgent mental health support ↓ Small moments of connection. Photo: Ron Lach / Pexels. Yesterday morning, I was watching ITV’s…
-
5 Simple Ways to Help Children Calm Down When Big Feelings Take Over
Big feelings are a normal part of childhood. Anger, sadness, frustration, worry and overwhelm can feel very big for children, especially when they do not yet have the words or skills to manage them. As parents, carers or teachers, the goal is not to stop children from feeling emotions. The goal is to help them…
-
Anxiety in Children: A Simple Parent Guide (What It Looks Like + What Helps)
What Anxiety Actually Looks Like in Children Plus your free PDF download guide This is where it gets confusing for most parents — because the signs of anxiety in children often look like something else entirely. You might be dealing with a child who: None of these scream anxiety on their surface. They can look…
-
Free Printable Birthday Card for Kids (An Easy DIY Activity That Quietly Builds Confidence)
Scroll down to get your free printable – There’s something that happens when a child makes something for someone else. Not buys. Not chooses off a shelf. Makes. They’ll lean over the table, deciding which colour goes where. They’ll redo a bit they didn’t like. They’ll hold it up to check. And when they finally…
-
Free Printable Emotions Wheel
Children feel everything deeply — joy, worry, confusion, love — often long before they have the words to explain it. When a child can’t describe what they’re feeling, those big emotions can build into frustration, meltdowns, or withdrawal. That’s where a simple visual tool can make a surprising difference. This free printable Emotions Wheel gives…
-
How to Use Communication Cards with Children with Selective Mutism
Children with Selective Mutism often understand exactly what they want to say but feel unable to speak in certain situations, especially at school. This can make everyday tasks — like asking to go to the toilet or telling a teacher they feel unwell — very difficult. Communication cards can provide a gentle and supportive way…
-
Free “Listening to My Body” Emotional Regulation Worksheet for Kids
Children often experience emotions through their bodies before they are able to explain them in words. A child might feel a tight stomach, tense muscles, or restless energy without understanding why. Learning to notice body signals is an important step in developing emotional awareness and self-regulation. This free printable worksheet helps children begin to recognise…
-
A Real Account of Stimulus Fading + Free Printable Brave Talking Ladder
Scroll down to download your free printable and learn how to use it with your child. When a child has Selective Mutism, the instinct for many adults around them — teachers, family members, even well-meaning strangers — is to gently encourage them to “just try.” Just try saying hello. Just try answering the question. Just…
-
Why Won’t My Child Talk at School? Understanding Selective Mutism in Young Children
Many parents first notice something is different when their child starts nursery or school. At home, their child is talkative, playful, and full of personality. But at school, something changes. They become very quiet. Teachers might say things like “she just needs time to settle” or “he’s on the shy side” — and for a…
-
When Silence Isn’t Shyness: Our Journey with Selective Mutism
There is a particular kind of helplessness that comes with watching your child freeze. At home, my son was everything. Loud, funny, curious, full of stories about dinosaurs and superheroes. But the moment he stepped through the school gates, it was as if someone had reached inside him and switched something off. Teachers would speak…
-
Meltdown vs Tantrum: Understanding Emotional Overload in Autism
Many parents feel unsure how to respond when their child has intense emotional reactions. For autistic children, what looks like difficult behaviour is often a sign of overwhelm rather than defiance. Understanding the difference between a meltdown and a tantrum can help parents respond with greater calm, confidence, and compassion. What Is an Autism Meltdown?…
-
Helping Your Autistic Child Regulate Big Emotions
Big emotions are part of being human. For autistic children, those emotions can feel especially intense, fast-moving, or overwhelming. Emotional regulation is not about stopping feelings.It is about learning how to move through them safely and confidently. When a child struggles to regulate, it is not defiance.It is often a sign that their nervous system…
-
Understanding Autism: A Parent’s Guide to Emotional Support and Strength
Autism is not something to “fix.” It is a different way of experiencing the world. Autistic children and teens often feel emotions deeply, notice details others miss, and process the world in unique and powerful ways. With the right understanding and support, they can develop strong emotional awareness, confidence, and lifelong resilience. This guide is…
