If your child needs some support with their emotions or feelings you may find the links and resources below helpful.

Help with those 'hot feelings' - some tips and information for parents/guardians about managing anger in children:

Some book recommendations to help children with their feelings: 

"Angry Octopus" 

An anger management story for children written by Lori Lite. Children relate to the angry octopus in this story as the sea child shows him how to take a deep breath, calm down, and manage his anger. Children love to unwind and relax with this fun exercise known as progressive muscular relaxation. This effective stress and anger management technique focuses awareness on various muscle groups and breath to create a complete resting of the mind and body. This is a great little story to help children understand that they are in control of their emotions. It focuses on the ownership of feelings and emotions and taking command of the situation. 

Another good book to read is "Rory Red." 

This book uses CBT at its core to help younger children understand their angry feelings and make the necessary changes to regulate their emotions. The book was written by Luke Baker, a former ELSA! The book is about The Red family and their youngest member Rory. Rory Red is very angry all of the time. He wants to change but is told by both parents that ‘It is just who you are.’ Rory wants to change and one day meets a new friend Yasmine Yellow. Yasmine shows him the way and helps him to understand how he can change.

The book leads the child through the different stages of anger such as triggers: ‘someone being mean to him’, ‘when he can’t go out to play because it is raining’, ‘when he isn’t allowed his dessert’. It takes the child through the physical effects of anger such as breathing heavier, his heart beating harder and faster. It also looks at Rory’s thoughts such as: ‘hit them!’ ‘break something!’ ‘say bad words!’. Yasmine helps him by suggesting different calming techniques to help him cope with his anger.

Delightful, simple illustrations that children will love. The language is simple and easy to understand. This book would be perfect for EYFS and KS1, (possibly even Lower KS2).

'Feelings'

What you feel is who you are... Explore a world of emotions with this stunning peep-through picture book. Richard Jones' enchanting illustrations and the lyrical text make each and every feeling come to life to help children understand the emotions they experience.

"Happy"

We breathe deep and expand like the galaxy, 

We breathe out many thousands of stars, 

And if ever we start to feel panicky, 

This reminds us of just who we are.  

The perfect soothing read for quiet time, Happy gently encourages young readers to explore their emotions and the beautiful world around them. This poetic journey to a place of happiness and calm will inspire and empower your child to enjoy the practice of mindfulness.

"A shelter for sadness"

A small boy creates a shelter for his sadness, a safe space where sadness is welcome, where it can curl up small, or be as big as it can be, where it can be noisy or quiet, or anything in between. The boy can visit the shelter whenever he needs to, every day, sometimes every hour, and the two of them will cry and talk or just sit, saying nothing.

And the boy knows that one day sadness may come out of the shelter, and together they will look out at the world, and see how beautiful it is.

"Sticky Brains"

Did you know that bad thoughts are stickier than good ones? It's true! Our brains see them more and remember them longer. In Sticky Brains, Aria learns that it's not her fault when she gets stuck on the bad stuff; sometimes her brain shows her only part of the whole picture. She also discovers that she has brain-changing powers! Sticky Brains uses kid-friendly language to teach kids (and the adults who love them) about mindfulness and to change their brains to find more peace and happiness in their lives. 

"Fergal is Fuming"

Fergal the dragon does not like being told what to do. It’s not fair! And when things aren’t fair, Fergal loses his temper and snorts angry fire.  He feels sorry afterward, but Fergal just can’t control his outbursts!
After one really fiery day, his family and friends offer him some advice to calm down. Can this dragon learn to cool it before a temper tantrum hits?