emotional regulation
The Energy Toolkit
Helping children recognise how their body feels, understand emotional energy states, and explore safe regulation strategies.
Children move through different emotional and energy states throughout the day. The Energy Toolkit helps children recognise what their body may need through visual check-ins, emotional awareness, movement supports, sensory tools, and calming strategies.
understanding emotional & energy states
emotional energy changes throughout the day
Children move through different emotional and body energy states throughout the day. Sometimes they may feel calm, balanced, and ready to engage, while at other times they may feel overwhelmed, restless, tired, disconnected, or emotionally overloaded. These shifts are a normal part of how the nervous system responds to the world around us.
why children struggle to explain feelings
Many children find it difficult to recognise these internal changes while they are happening. They may not yet have the language, body awareness, or emotional understanding needed to explain what they are feeling. Instead, adults may only see the outward behaviours — frustration, withdrawal, movement, emotional outbursts, shutdowns, or difficulty focusing — without seeing the stress or dysregulation building underneath.
Using four different energy states;
Steady Mode, Quiet Mode, Buzzing Mode, and Storm Mode;
Children can begin identifying how their body feels, what emotions may be connected to that state, and what kinds of support may help them feel safer or more regulated.
Some children may move quickly between different energy states throughout the day. Others may remain in one state for longer periods or struggle to recognise changes until emotions feel very big. Children with autism, ADHD, anxiety, sensory processing differences, trauma experiences, or additional learning needs may find these shifts especially difficult to manage without support.
The goal of emotional regulation is not perfection, constant calmness, or forcing difficult emotions away. The goal is to help children gradually build awareness, communication, emotional safety, and confidence in understanding what their body and nervous system may need.
All energy states are valid. Some states may simply require more support than others.
building body awareness through visual support
The Energy Toolkit helps children begin noticing these internal body signals in a simple, visual, and supportive way. Rather than focusing on “good” or “bad” behaviour, the toolkit encourages children to ask:
“What is my body trying to tell me?”
All energy states are valid.
signs a child may be struggling with emotional regulation
Children do not always communicate emotional dysregulation through words. Often, the body shows signs long before a child is able to explain how they are feeling internally. Some children become louder, busier, or more emotional, while others become quiet, withdrawn, exhausted, or disconnected.
The Energy Toolkit helps adults recognise that these responses are often linked to changing body and nervous system states rather than simply “bad behaviour.”
signs of a low-energy or withdrawn state
A child in a Quiet Mode state may appear:
tired or low energy
emotionally flat or withdrawn
disconnected from activities
difficult to motivate
quiet or wanting to be alone
slow to respond or engage
signs of restlessness and sensory seeking
A child in a Buzzing Mode state may:
struggle to sit still
move constantly
appear restless or wiggly
become overly excited or silly
interrupt frequently
seek movement or sensory input
appear physically “busy”
signs of emotional overwhelm and dysregulation
A child in a Storm Mode state may:
become emotionally overwhelmed very quickly
panic, cry, or shut down
become angry or reactive
try to escape situations
cover ears or avoid sensory input
struggle to communicate clearly
appear distressed, overloaded, or out of control
emotional regulation looks different in every child
Even children in a Steady Mode state still require support, balance, and regulation throughout the day. Emotional regulation is not about remaining calm all the time — it is about recognising changing needs before overwhelm becomes too difficult to manage.
Children with autism, ADHD, anxiety, sensory processing differences, trauma experiences, or additional learning needs may move between these states more frequently or require additional co-regulation support from adults. Some children may also mask their feelings during school or social situations before becoming emotionally exhausted later in the day.
Recognising these signs early allows adults to respond with empathy, structure, sensory support, movement, connection, or reassurance rather than punishment or pressure. Over time, children can begin developing a stronger understanding of how their body feels, what support helps, and how to communicate those needs more safely.
Behaviour is often communication.
why visual emotional regulation tools help
When children are emotionally overwhelmed, restless, anxious, dysregulated, or overloaded, it can become very difficult for them to explain what they are feeling using words alone. Many children experience emotions physically first — through movement, tension, exhaustion, sensory discomfort, panic, or restlessness — long before they are able to verbally identify what is happening internally.
Visual emotional regulation tools help make these internal experiences feel more understandable, predictable, and manageable.
reducing pressure during overwhelming moments
Instead of relying entirely on conversation during difficult moments, visual supports allow children to:
recognise body signals
identify emotional energy states
communicate needs more safely
explore support strategies visually
build emotional understanding gradually over time
For many children, this reduces pressure and emotional overload. Visual check-ins can feel safer and easier than answering direct questions such as “What’s wrong?” or “Why are you upset?”; especially during moments of stress, shutdown, panic, frustration, or sensory overwhelm.
helping children recognise body signals
The Energy Toolkit is designed to help children connect feelings, body sensations, energy levels, and regulation supports together in a calm and structured way. By introducing simple emotional energy states such as Quiet Mode, Buzzing Mode, Storm Mode, and Steady Mode, children can begin developing awareness of how their body feels and what types of support may help.
supporting co-regulation between children and adults
Visual regulation tools can also strengthen co-regulation between children and trusted adults. Rather than focusing only on outward behaviour, adults are encouraged to notice what the child’s nervous system may be communicating underneath the surface. This creates more supportive conversations around emotional wellbeing, sensory needs, movement, rest, connection, and regulation.
These approaches can be especially supportive for children with autism, ADHD, anxiety, sensory processing differences, trauma experiences, speech and language difficulties, or additional learning needs, but they can benefit any child who struggles to understand or communicate emotional overwhelm.
building emotional confidence over time
The goal is not to remove emotions or expect children to remain calm all the time. The goal is to help children gradually build body awareness, emotional confidence, communication skills, and safe regulation strategies in ways that feel achievable, supportive, and emotionally safe.
Children need support, not perfection.
who Is The Energy Toolkit for?
The Energy Toolkit has been designed to support children who struggle with emotional regulation, sensory overwhelm, body awareness, anxiety, emotional communication, or changing energy levels throughout the day.
The toolkit may be especially supportive for:
autistic children
children with ADHD
sensory processing differences
emotionally overwhelmed children
anxious children
children who struggle to explain feelings
children who become dysregulated at school or home
children who benefit from visual emotional supports
children accessing SEND or ALN provision.
The toolkit is also designed for flexibility across different environments and levels of support.
It can be used within:
homes and family routines
schools and classrooms
calm corners
nurture provision
ELSA interventions
emotional wellbeing support
one-to-one sessions
therapy environments
SEND support spaces
Some children may use the toolkit independently over time, while others may initially need co-regulation and support from a trusted adult. There is no “correct” way to move through the toolkit. The goal is to help children feel understood, supported, and more confident in recognising what their body may need.
“the energy toolkit”
printable resource
A calm, reusable toolkit designed to help children recognise their energy states, explore body signals, and choose supportive regulation tools in a safe and gentle way.
Created with a neuroaffirming approach, the ThinkaLearn Energy Toolkit helps children build emotional awareness through interactive check-ins, regulation supports, and child-led strategy choices — without shame, behaviour charts, or “good vs bad” emotions.
Designed for home, school, therapy spaces, calm corners, and emotional check-ins.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Printable Energy Wheel
A reusable emotional check-in wheel helping children identify their current energy state.
Companion Support Cards
Four categories of support tools:
Rest & Reset
Move & Reset
My Sensory Toolkit
Connect & Feel Safe
Instruction & Guidance Sheets
Clear, neuroaffirming guidance for parents, teachers, therapists, and support staff.
Interactive Regulation System
Designed for:
laminating
velcro
dry-wipe use
calm corners
home routines
classroom support
Body Awareness & Emotional Recognition
Helps children begin developing:
interoception
emotional vocabulary
nervous system awareness
self-advocacy skills
The Energy Toolkit is a visual emotional regulation resource designed to help children recognise how their body feels, understand different emotional energy states, and explore support strategies that help them feel safer, calmer, and more regulated throughout the day.
The toolkit is centred around four simple body and emotional energy states:
Quiet Mode
Buzzing Mode
Storm Mode
Steady Mode
Each state helps children begin identifying how their body may feel physically and emotionally, while also introducing supportive regulation strategies linked to that state.
The resource includes:
Four Energy State Board
A large visual check-in board introducing the four emotional and body energy states. Each section explains how the body may feel and what kinds of support may help during that state.
Visual Check-In Counters
Children can move visual markers onto the energy state they most connect with in the moment. This helps emotions and body sensations feel more visible, understandable, and easier to communicate.
Rest & Reset Support Cards
A collection of calming and restorative support ideas including breathing, quiet corners, blankets, cuddle toys, warm drinks, dim lighting, headphones, and rest-based supports.
Movement & Release Cards
Movement-focused regulation supports such as stretching, jumping, dancing, wall pushes, trampoline movement, throwing and catching, and physical energy release activities.
Sensory Support Cards
Sensory regulation strategies including chew tools, weighted blankets, calming music, fidgets, bubbles, sunglasses, headphones, and sensory calming supports.
Connection & Communication Cards
Emotionally supportive strategies focused on co-regulation and connection, including asking for help, sitting together, drawing feelings, reading together, hugs, holding hands, and talking to trusted adults.
Instruction & Guidance Sheets
The toolkit includes guidance explaining the four emotional energy states, how to introduce the toolkit safely, and how to support children through emotional check-ins without pressure, punishment, or shame.
Step-by-Step Emotional Check-In Guidance
Simple instructions help adults guide children through:
recognising body feelings
checking in emotionally
selecting support cards
trying regulation strategies
reflecting on what helped
This encourages gradual development of body awareness, emotional understanding, communication skills, and emotional confidence over time.
The Energy Toolkit is designed for flexible use across homes, schools, calm corners, nurture provision, therapy spaces, emotional wellbeing support, and SEND environments.
Rather than focusing on controlling behaviour, the toolkit helps children explore what their body and nervous system may need in a way that feels supportive, visual, calm, and emotionally safe.
supporting emotional regulation takes time
Emotional regulation is not something children learn overnight. Understanding body signals, recognising emotions, communicating needs, and finding safe regulation strategies all take time, repetition, support, and emotional safety.
Many children need adults to help co-regulate with them before they are able to regulate independently. Calm relationships, predictable support, visual communication tools, and emotionally safe environments can make a significant difference in helping children feel understood rather than overwhelmed.
The Energy Toolkit has been designed to support those moments gently and practically — helping children explore what their body may need without pressure, shame, or punishment.
Every child moves through different emotional and energy states. The goal is not constant calmness. The goal is awareness, support, communication, and safety.
not what you’re looking for?
A gentle visual support resource designed to help children communicate their needs during moments of overwhelm, frustration, anxiety, sensory overload, or emotional dysregulation.
Children do not always have the words to explain when their thoughts, emotions, or surroundings begin to feel “too loud.” During these moments, communication can become difficult, and children may instead express distress through behaviour, withdrawal, frustration, shutdown, or emotional outbursts.
When Things Feel Too Loud was created to provide children with a calm, accessible, and emotionally safe way to show what they need; without pressure, shame, or overwhelming verbal demands.
Designed with emotional wellbeing, regulation, and neurodiversity-informed support in mind, this printable resource helps families create supportive moments of connection and understanding at home.
What’s Included
Visual Calm Support Board
A simple visual board designed to be displayed at home, such as on a fridge, wall, or calm corner area.
Children can use the board to:
communicate what they need
choose calming supports
identify helpful regulation strategies
reduce the pressure of verbal communication during difficult moments
The board has been intentionally designed using calm visuals, soft colours, and low-demand layouts to avoid sensory overload and encourage emotional safety.
Cut-Out Regulation & Support Cards
A collection of visual support cards that children can place onto the board to communicate their needs.
Cards include support options related to:
quiet and sensory breaks
movement and regulation
comfort and reassurance
communication needs
emotional overwhelm
space and connection
The cards can be:
cut out and laminated
attached using Velcro dots or magnets
stored for repeated use at home or in support settings
Parent & Caregiver Guidance Sheet
An easy-to-understand information page explaining:
why children experience overwhelm
how emotional regulation develops
how to use the resource supportively
links to emotional literacy and the Zones of Regulation® framework
practical co-regulation guidance for adults
The guidance focuses on understanding behaviour through a supportive and compassionate lens, helping adults respond with calm, connection, and predictability.
A child-friendly emotional regulation curriculum designed to help children understand their body, emotions, sensory needs, and regulation in a safe, visual, and supportive way.
The ThinkaLearn Regulation Series is a connected set of printable emotional regulation resources created to support children through a step-by-step journey of body awareness, emotional understanding, sensory support, and personalised regulation strategies.
Rather than focusing on behaviour management, the series helps children gradually build awareness of:
overwhelm
body clues
emotional states
sensory needs
regulation tools
supportive strategies
The curriculum follows a simple developmental pathway that helps children move from recognising difficult feelings toward building their own personalised regulation toolkit.
THE FIVE STAGES OF THE THINKALEARN REGULATION SERIES
STAGE 1 — WHEN THINGS FEEL TOO LOUD
Children begin recognising overwhelm, sensory overload, and emotional escalation while exploring calming and safety supports.
STAGE 2 — ENERGY TOOLKIT
Children explore different body and energy states including Ready Mode, Quiet Mode, Buzzing Mode, and Storm Mode.
STAGE 3 — MY BODY FEELS
Children begin recognising physiological body clues and physical sensations connected to regulation states.
STAGE 4 — EMOTIONAL REGULATION TOOLKIT
Children explore different categories of support including calm tools, sensory tools, movement tools, comfort tools, focus tools, and connection tools.
STAGE 5 — MY EMOTIONAL REGULATION TOOLBOX
Children build their own personalised regulation toolkit by identifying tools and strategies that support their individual needs.
DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN WHO MAY EXPERIENCE:
emotional overwhelm
sensory overload
anxiety
autism
ADHD
emotional dysregulation
shutdowns and meltdowns
difficulty recognising emotions
body awareness difficulties
sensory seeking or avoidance
executive functioning challenges
IDEAL FOR:
parents
schools
teachers
nurture rooms
ELSA interventions
therapy settings
autism support
ADHD support
SEND and ALN interventions
emotional wellbeing work
calm corners and regulation spaces
A NEUROAFFIRMING APPROACH
The ThinkaLearn Regulation Series is designed to feel supportive, non-shaming, and child-friendly.
Children are not taught that emotions or body states are “bad.” Instead, the curriculum helps children understand that:
bodies give clues
feelings can change
all children need support sometimes
different tools help different bodies
The visual and accessible format helps children explore emotional regulation in a calm, structured, and supportive way both at home and in educational settings.
The resources can be used individually or together as part of a complete emotional regulation curriculum.
Different bodies need different supports.
“My Body Feels” is a child-friendly emotional regulation and body awareness resource designed to help children recognise the physical clues their body gives throughout the day.
Many children experience emotions physically before they are able to identify or explain them. This resource helps children begin noticing those body sensations in a simple, visual, and supportive way.
Children explore body clues connected to different regulation states including:
tight chest
wiggly body
feeling fast
hard to focus
heavy body
relaxed muscles
cold hands
tummy flutters
steady breathing
empty tummy feelings
The resource introduces four simple body modes:
Ready Mode
Quiet Mode
Buzzing Mode
Storm Mode
Children learn that bodies can move between different modes throughout the day, and that there are no “bad” body states.
This resource is designed to support:
emotional regulation
interoception
body awareness
sensory understanding
co-regulation
autism support
ADHD support
anxiety support
SEND and ALN interventions
emotional literacy
school and home support
The visual format helps make difficult concepts feel accessible and non-threatening for younger children and neurodivergent learners.
This resource works especially well alongside:
emotional regulation activities
sensory support tools
calm corner resources
Zones-style regulation work
autism and ADHD interventions
SEND classroom support
Included in this resource:
body clue visuals
body mode pages
emotional regulation prompts
matching activities
discussion prompts
information sheets for adults
printable cut-out cards
Perfect for:
parents
schools
teachers
ALN/SEND support
ELSA interventions
autism support
ADHD support
therapy settings
nurture rooms
emotional wellbeing work
Different bodies give different clues.
This resource helps children begin understanding what their body may be trying to say.