How to use Feelings

Feelings gives your child a way to show how they feel, and a few simple ways to feel calmer.

How it works

Your child taps a face: happy, sad, mad, scared, tired or hurt. The tablet says it out loud: "I feel sad."

For a hard feeling, Feelings then shows calm-down choices:

• Take deep breaths: a slow guide grows and shrinks to breathe along with.
• Count to five: a guide that counts slowly, one dot at a time.
• A hug, a quiet place, a squeeze ball or a break: tapping one says it out loud, so your child can ask for it.

Tips

• Practice on good days. Tap through the faces together when everyone is calm. A tool is easiest to use in a hard moment when it's already familiar.
• Name your own feelings. "I feel tired" while you tap the face shows your child how it's done.
• Answer the request. If your child asks for a break or a hug, give it if you can. That's how they learn the button works.
• "Hurt" is worth checking. If your child taps "hurt," take a look for a bump, a scrape or anything that might be bothering them.
• Keep it simple in the moment. During a meltdown, words and choices can be too much. Offer the tool once things are a little calmer.

Sound and movement

The tablet speaks only after a tap. With movement set to None in the parent portal, the breathing and counting guides change in gentle steps instead of moving smoothly.