Understanding Feelings & Communication
Start with the Free Safe Circle Pack
The free Safe Circle Pack gives you a storybook on boundaries for your child, plus five toolkit guides for carers, to help you start these conversations.
Helping children understand and express their feelings is one of the most important things a parent can do. Because every child processes emotions differently, these guides help you start those important conversations calmly and confidently before problems happen.
These guides are written in a clear, supportive style to help adults build emotional literacy knowledge early, so children feel more heard, more confident, and more able to speak up to a Safe Adult
Who this section is for
This section is for:
- Parents and carers
- Foster carers and grandparents
- Any caring adult in a child’s life
What this section covers
The guides in this section help adults support children with:
- recognising and naming feelings
- understanding strong emotions
- speaking up when something feels wrong
- respectful behaviour
- fairness and inclusion
- friendship problems
- empathy and kindness
- social behaviour and emotional confidence
These topics matter because children often need help putting feelings into words, understanding other people, and learning how to respond safely and respectfully in everyday situations.
Articles in this section
Naming Big Feelings
- How to Help a Child Who Worries About EverythingA calm, practical guide for UK parents of a child who worries too much — what helps, what to avoid, and when to seek extra support.
- What to Do When a Child Does Not Want to Go to School (Ages 5–10)Learn what to do when a child does not want to go to school, with calm support, clear routines, and age-appropriate guidance for ages 5–10.
- Teaching Children Respect Between Boys and Girls from an Early Age (Ages 5–10)Teach respect between boys and girls from an early age using kind language, clear boundaries, empathy, and age-appropriate guidance for ages 5–10.
- What Aggression in Young Children Can Really Be Telling You (Ages 5–10)Learn what aggression in young children can really be telling you, and how calm support, early understanding, and clear boundaries can help ages 5–10.
- What to Do When a Child Says Something Feels Wrong (Ages 5–10)Learn how parents and teachers should respond when a child says something feels wrong and how to support children ages 5–10 to speak up and stay safe.
- Helping Children Manage Big Feelings in a Digital World (Ages 5–10)Learn how parents and teachers can help children ages 5–10 manage emotions, build resilience, and stay balanced in today’s digital world.
- How to Help a Child Speak Up About Their Feelings (Ages 5–10)Help your child express themselves with confidence. This guide for ages 5-10 explains how to help kids speak up about their feelings.
Friendships & Respect
- Why Side-by-Side Activities Help Children Open UpDiscover why side-by-side activities for ages 5-10 help children open up and share their feelings. A simple tool for parents and carers!
- How Your Tone of Voice Helps a Child Open UpHow a calm tone and body language help children aged 5 to 10 feel safe to talk. Practical guidance for UK parents and teachers.
- How to Talk to Children About Respectful Behaviour When They Copy Rude or Harmful Language (Ages 5–10)A practical guide for parents and schools on helping children ages 5–10 understand respectful behaviour, kind language, and what to do when they copy rude or harmful words.
- How to Help a Child Handle Friendship Fallouts and Being Left Out (Ages 5–10)A calm, practical guide for parents and schools on helping children ages 5–10 handle friendship fallouts, exclusion, and being left out with confidence and support.
- How to Talk to Children About Difference, Race and Kindness (Ages 5–10)Talk to children about difference, race and kindness using calm conversations, empathy, fairness, and age-appropriate guidance for ages 5–10.
- How to Help Children Play Fair, Take Turns and Include Others (Ages 5–10)How to help children aged 5 to 10 play fair, take turns, and include others. Practical, research-backed guidance for UK parents and carers.
Solving School & Behavior Problems
- What to Do If Your Child Sees Something Upsetting OnlineWhat to do if your child sees upsetting content online: calm first steps, what to say by age, how to report it and when to ask for more help.
- Child Feels Different? A Calm Parent Guide for Ages 5-10Support a child who feels different without labels. This 2026 guide for ages 5-10 offers expert tips for emotional safety at home and school.
- How to Talk to Kids About Gender Stereotypes: A Parent GuideHelp your child navigate gender stereotypes in 2026. This guide for ages 5-10 offers expert tips for home, school, and social media.
- How to Help a Child With School Anxiety Before It Turns Into School Refusal (Ages 5–10)A practical guide to helping parents and schools support child school anxiety early, before worries grow into distress, avoidance, or school refusal.
Get the Free Safe Circle Pack
A storybook on boundaries for children, plus five toolkit guides for carers. The first 500 are free.