The Tips to Relax poster is a colourful, printable tool designed to help children learn practical coping strategies to manage strong feelings such as anger, anxiety, sadness, and frustration. Created by WholeHearted School Counseling, this engaging visual resource combines emotional vocabulary with a wide range of calming techniques that promote emotional regulation, resilience, and mental wellbeing.
The poster uses child-friendly language and simple icons to help children name what they are feeling (e.g. worried, shy, confused, angry, excited, proud) and match those feelings with helpful responses. It empowers children to take ownership of their emotions and choose a calming strategy that works for them.
Calming strategies on the poster include:
Taking deep breaths
Using positive self-talk
Creating art or building something
Talking or writing about feelings
Doing yoga or stretching
Taking a break or getting a drink of water
Asking for help
Treating themselves and others with kindness
Brainstorming solutions and trying again
Focusing on the good
Exercising or moving their body
Ideal for use in:
Classrooms and calm-down corners
School counselling and emotional literacy lessons
Nurture groups and behaviour support work
Therapy rooms and social work settings
Home environments to encourage positive emotional habits
This poster is especially useful for children who benefit from visual reminders and structure when learning how to regulate their emotions. It promotes independence, choice, and a strength-based approach to managing emotional challenges.
Print it out and display it in places where children need encouragement to pause, breathe, and choose a helpful way to cope.
