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Free printable · ages 4–8

Free calm-down cards for kids

12 illustrated cards with 11 gentle ways to calm a big feeling, from “flower and candle” breathing to pushing the wall. Print them, cut them out and let your child pick their favourites.

Page 1 of the free calm-down cards: the title card, flower and candle, detective eyes and push the wall

How to use them

  1. Print on A4, landscape. Any home printer works. Thin card makes the cards last longer. Cut along the edge of each card.
  2. Try them when everyone is calm. Calming down is a skill. It’s much easier to learn on a good day than in the middle of a meltdown.
  3. Let your child choose three favourites. Children use the ideas they picked themselves.
  4. Keep them somewhere easy to reach, such as the fridge or a calm corner.
  5. When a feeling starts to grow, offer one card: “Do you want to try the turtle or push the wall?” Keep your words few and your voice low.

A calming card is a start. A story helps children understand the feeling.

Choose a story to read together, then use a calming card to practise what your child might try next.

Books are not included with any worksheet.

What is your child finding difficult today?

Pick one to see a card to try, a story and a short activity. We never ask for anything about your child.

Getting angry

  1. Try a card: Push the wall. Push your hands hard against a wall for 10 seconds, then let go and shake them out.
  2. Read together: When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry… (Molly Bang, ages 3–7)
  3. A 5-minute activity: Make a list of things that help your child calm down, like Sophie running to her tree.
  4. To keep practising: See the Big Feelings worksheets (15 books) — £4.99

Feeling worried

  1. Try a card: Flower and candle. Smell a flower for 3 counts, then blow out a candle for 4. Do it three times.
  2. Read together: The Huge Bag of Worries (Virginia Ironside, ages 5–8)
  3. A 5-minute activity: Draw a worry bag together and choose one small worry to talk about, then set the bag aside.
  4. To keep practising: See the Worries worksheets (15 books) — £4.99

Feeling sad or overwhelmed

  1. Try a card: Quiet corner. Go to your calm spot with a book or a soft toy until your body feels slower.
  2. Read together: The Rabbit Listened (Cori Doerrfeld, ages 4–8)
  3. A 5-minute activity: Next time something upsets your child, try sitting together quietly for a minute before offering any fixes.
  4. To keep practising: Buy the The Rabbit Listened worksheet for 50p

Struggling to explain feelings

  1. Try a card: Ask for a hug. Say: “I’m having a big feeling. Can I have a hug?”
  2. Read together: The Colour Monster (Anna Llenas, ages 3–6)
  3. A 5-minute activity: Put out a few colours and ask your child to point to the one that matches their day.
  4. To keep practising: See the Big Feelings Toolkit — £5.99

Free cards or the full toolkit?

The free cards are a complete, useful resource on their own. The toolkit adds the pieces for naming feelings and planning ahead.

Free

Free calm-down cards

  • 12 illustrated cards: 11 calming ideas and a title card
  • A way to try different calming strategies and keep the ones that work
  • Free PDF, 3 A4 landscape pages

Download the free cards

Big Feelings Toolkit — £5.99

  • A grown-up guide: what to do before, during and after
  • 16 feelings cards to cut out
  • Where do I feel it? body map
  • My feelings thermometer
  • 11 illustrated calm-down choice cards
  • My calm plan
  • 12 what-would-you-feel scenario cards
  • A week of feelings check-ins
  • What to say in big moments
A page of the toolkit's feelings cardsThe toolkit's page of what to say in big moments

See the complete Big Feelings Toolkit — £5.99

Growing Wise is an educational resource for parents and children. It is not medical, psychological or therapeutic advice.