Free printable · 7 pages · ages 3–8
The 5-Minute Meltdown Plan
What to do when a big feeling hits and you can't think. Five steps for the fridge, the exact words to say, cards a child can follow, and a calm corner you can set up tonight.
- ✓ The plan poster, the feelings wheel, six “say this instead” swaps
- ✓ Four reset cards to cut out, a calm corner checklist
- ✓ A classroom version for teachers, daycare and Sunday school
- ✓ US Letter PDF. Prints fine in black and white. Free to share.
Same characters as The Calm-Down Kit. We email it to you, so check you type your address right.
What's in the seven pages
Page 2
The plan
Five steps on one page: get low and close, say what you see, give the feeling a job, wait, repair after. For the fridge.
Page 3
The feelings wheel
Eight feelings with faces your child can point to when the words run out.
Page 4
Say this instead
Six swaps for the hardest minute: what to say instead of “calm down”, “you're fine” and “use your words”.
Page 5
Reset cards
Four cut-out cards a child who can't read yet can follow: push the wall, blow out 5 candles, squeeze yourself, find 5 things.
Page 6
A calm corner in 5 minutes
A five-item checklist. You already own everything on it.
Page 7
The classroom version
The same five steps with fewer words, for teachers, daycare and Sunday school.
Pass it on. Forward the email to another parent, a grandparent or your child's teacher; the pack is free for everyone. Want the whole calm-down corner? The Calm-Down Kit adds 24 calm-down cards, four breathing exercises, feeling posters and the words to say in the moment.