The “Try this instead” prompts are a useful part of the printable, giving adults simple words to use when a child is crying, overwhelmed or unable to calm down. It focuses on emotional regulation for children, big feelings, coping skills and supportive responses that can be used at home, in family work or during child-focused sessions.
Emotional regulation is the central theme, with a clear message that children’s big emotions are a normal part of growing up rather than something to shut down. The printable explains that the aim is not to stop feelings, but to help children understand, express and manage emotions in healthier ways.
The content is organised into short, practical sections covering what emotional dysregulation may look like, what does not help, and what supportive adults can do instead. It names signs such as strong emotional reactions, difficulty settling after upset, quick frustration responses, deep feelings and needing help to manage emotions.
Parents, foster carers, kinship carers and family support workers may find it helpful as a quick visual reminder during parenting support, direct work or conversations about children’s behaviour. It also suits social workers, school staff and counsellors looking for a child emotional regulation handout, emotional literacy prompt or calm down strategy sheet.
The wording encourages adults to name feelings, stay calm, acknowledge the child’s experience, teach healthy coping skills and allow recovery time. Example phrases include alternatives to “stop crying” and “calm down right now”, such as staying present, asking what happened and taking slow breaths together. Created by Edita Stiborova.
