How Social Stories, Breathing Charts, and Coloring Activities Help Children Manage Big Feelings
Helping young children manage big feelings is an important part of every day in my home daycare. Children experience many emotions as they learn, play, and interact with others. They may feel excited, frustrated, disappointed, worried, or overwhelmed, sometimes all within the same day.
Over the years, I have found that children learn emotional regulation best when they are given simple visual supports and opportunities to practice coping skills in a positive way. Three tools that have become a regular part of our routine are social stories, breathing charts, and coloring activities.
These tools work together to help children understand emotions, build self-regulation skills, and learn positive ways to respond to challenges.
Understanding Big Feelings in Early Childhood
Young children are still learning how to identify emotions and communicate their needs. When they experience frustration, anger, sadness, or anxiety, they often need guidance and support.
Rather than expecting children to know how to calm themselves immediately, we can teach them strategies and give them opportunities to practice those skills throughout the day.
Visual supports are especially helpful because they provide children with clear and consistent reminders of what they can do when emotions become overwhelming.
How Social Stories Help
Social stories are one of my favorite tools because they explain situations in a simple and predictable way. Children often learn best when they can see examples and hear clear explanations.
One social story I use regularly focuses on Safe Hands. The story teaches children what safe hands look like and why they are important. We talk about keeping hands to ourselves, using gentle touches, asking for help, and making safe choices during play.
What I like most about social stories is that they allow children to learn during calm moments rather than only discussing behavior after a problem has happened.
Children often remember the pictures, characters, and simple language used in the story. Later, when a similar situation occurs, they are more likely to recall what they learned.
Safe Hands Social Story
When we read our Safe Hands story, we talk about keeping hands to ourselves, using gentle touches, asking for help, and making safe choices with friends. The simple visuals and clear language help children understand what safe hands look like in everyday situations.
I have found that discussing these ideas during calm moments helps children remember them more easily during playtime and group activities.
Why Breathing Charts Are So Helpful
Another tool I use regularly is a breathing chart.
When children are upset, it can be difficult for them to remember what to do. Telling a frustrated child to "calm down" is often not enough. They need a clear strategy that they can see and practice.
Breathing charts provide a visual reminder of what calming down can look like.
In my daycare, we practice breathing exercises during calm moments as well as during challenging moments. Children learn that deep breathing is not a punishment. It is simply a tool that helps our bodies feel calmer.
Over time, I have noticed that some children begin using breathing strategies independently. They may point to the chart, take a deep breath, or ask for a break when they need one. These small moments show that children are learning important self-regulation skills.
Free Breathing Charts
One of the resources I use includes visual breathing exercises such as square breathing, five-finger breathing, and star breathing. These simple activities help children slow down, focus, and practice calming their bodies.
The Benefits of Coloring Activities
Coloring activities may seem simple, but they can be surprisingly powerful.
Coloring encourages children to slow down and focus on one task at a time. It provides a calm activity that many children enjoy, and it creates natural opportunities for conversation.
I often use coloring pages that connect to social-emotional learning topics such as:
Safe Hands
Taking Turns
Deep Breaths
Calm Body
Feelings and Emotions
- Making Good Choices
Some children who are quiet during group discussions become much more talkative during coloring activities. The relaxed environment often encourages meaningful conversations about emotions and behavior.
Calm Down Coloring Workbook
The Calm Down Coloring Workbook includes pages focused on emotions, coping skills, safe hands, calm bodies, breathing exercises, sensory supports, and positive choices.
Calm Down Activities We Use Every Day
Emotional regulation skills develop through daily practice. Children benefit most when calming strategies become part of their routine rather than something they only use when upset.
Deep Breathing Practice
We often practice breathing exercises during circle time, transitions, or whenever children need a quiet moment.
The more children practice when they are calm, the easier it becomes for them to use the skill when they are frustrated or overwhelmed.
Quiet Corner Time
Our quiet space is not used as a punishment. Instead, it is a comfortable area where children can take a break, look at books, cuddle a comfort item, or simply have a few moments to themselves.
Many children naturally choose the quiet corner when they need a break from busy activities.
Coloring and Creative Activities
Coloring is often one of the most calming parts of our day. Children can focus on a task, express creativity, and enjoy a quiet activity without pressure.
Reading Social Stories
Social stories help children understand situations they may encounter throughout the day. We read stories about safe hands, taking turns, waiting patiently, asking for help, and managing big feelings.
Using Visual Supports
Visual supports are an important part of our daily routine.
Examples include:
Breathing charts
Calm down choice boards
Routine visuals
Behavior reminders
Emotion charts
These tools provide children with clear and predictable guidance throughout the day.
Why Combining These Tools Works
Every child learns differently.
Some children enjoy listening to stories. Others respond better to visual supports. Some learn best through hands-on activities.
By combining social stories, breathing charts, and coloring activities, children have multiple opportunities to learn the same concepts in different ways.
For example, we might:
Read a Safe Hands social story
Practice deep breathing using a breathing chart
Complete a Safe Hands coloring page
This repetition helps reinforce the message while keeping learning engaging and age appropriate.
Calm Down Corners Provide Extra Support
Another helpful tool we use is a calm down corner. A calm down corner gives children a safe and comfortable space where they can practice coping skills, take a break, and regulate their emotions.
Our calm down area may include visual supports, breathing tools, comfort items, emotion visuals, and simple calming activities.
I created a Calm Down Corner Kit that includes visual supports designed to help children recognize feelings, practice coping strategies, and build self-regulation skills.
Free Calm Down Starter Kit
If you are looking for a simple place to start, I also offer a free Calm Down Starter Kit. The kit includes visual supports, a mini social story, calm down tools, and printable activities that can help children practice coping skills and emotional regulation.
The activities can be used at home, in daycare settings, classrooms, or calm down corners.
Tips for Parents and Educators
If you would like to support emotional regulation at home or in the classroom, start with one or two simple tools rather than introducing everything at once.
Consistency is often more important than complexity.
Some easy ways to begin include:
Creating a calm corner
Using a breathing chart
Reading social stories regularly
Talking about feelings during everyday activities
Offering coloring activities related to emotions
Children learn through repetition and practice. Small daily opportunities can have a lasting impact on their ability to understand emotions and use healthy coping skills.
Final Thoughts
Helping children manage big feelings is an important part of early childhood education. While every child learns at their own pace, providing visual and hands-on supports can make learning these skills easier and more enjoyable.
In my home daycare, social stories, breathing charts, coloring activities, and calm down tools have become valuable resources for supporting emotional growth. They encourage meaningful conversations, teach coping skills, and help children practice positive behaviors in everyday situations.
Most importantly, they remind children that all feelings are okay, and that there are safe and healthy ways to handle them.
Looking for More Calm Down Tools?
If you're looking for additional visual supports, social stories, breathing activities, and emotional regulation printables, feel free to explore my Etsy shop for more toddler-friendly resources.
You'll find:
• Calm Down Kits
• Social Stories
• Visual Schedules
• Emotion Activities
• Behavior Support Printables
• Autism-Friendly Visual Supports
🛒 Visit My Etsy Shop: https://kidroutineprintables.etsy.com
Thank you for reading!
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