Emotion thermometer
A visual scale that helps a child recognise and name the emotion rising inside. The sooner they see it, the easier it is to manage.
It's an A4 chart with a scale — from calm, through rising tension, to a meltdown — that a child can use to point to "where I am right now." Naming an emotion is the first step to regulating it; the thermometer gives the child both the words and the picture when they lack both.
For children who feel emotions intensely, erupt in anger or can't say what they feel. It works especially well with younger and neurodivergent children. The assistant tailors the level descriptions to the age.
A scale of emotion levels with colours and descriptions, suggested calming strategies at each level (e.g. deep breaths, a break), and space for the child's name. The graphics are legible even for children who can't read.
It's best to hang it somewhere visible and refer to it calmly: "show me where you are." Over time the child starts reaching for it on their own.
From preschool, if we use colours and pictures. The assistant simplifies or expands the descriptions depending on age.
No. It's a tool to support conversations about emotions at home, grounded in trusted materials — it doesn't replace a specialist's help when that's needed.
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