Calm Your Big Feelings

Personal & Social Development · Self-Regulation & Resilience · ages 5-7

Name ______________________ Date ____________

What can help you calm down when you feel upset?
- Slamming a door
- Counting to ten
- Holding in your feelings
Which one is a calming strategy?
- Taking deep breaths
- Yelling loudly
- Throwing your toys
Calming down first helps your mind think more clearly.
Circle one: True False
Zara feels overwhelmed at a loud party. What is a good calming strategy for her?
- Go to a quiet space
- Scream louder than the noise
- Cover her ears and cry
Leo loses a board game and feels like yelling. What should he try first?
- Yell at his friend
- Throw the game pieces
- Take slow deep breaths
You count slowly to calm down. What number do you say last?
Answer: ______________
Why does calming down help you think better after being upset?
- Calming down makes you forget what happened
- Calming down makes the problem disappear
- A calm body lets your mind slow down and think clearly
Sam starts counting to calm down but stops after three and yells instead. What went wrong?
- Counting never helps anyone calm down
- He stopped before his body had time to settle
- He should have counted faster

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Counting to ten · Counting slowly gives your body time to settle down.
Taking deep breaths · Deep breaths help your body slow down and feel calm.
True · When your body is calm, it is easier for your mind to think.
Go to a quiet space · A quiet space gives Zara's body a chance to settle down.
Take slow deep breaths · Slow breaths help Leo's body calm down before he reacts.
10 · Counting all the way to ten gives your body enough time to settle.
A calm body lets your mind slow down and think clearly · When your body settles, your mind has room to think things through.
He stopped before his body had time to settle · Stopping early means the strategy did not get the chance to work.