Parents
Helping children understand big feelings
The Kingdom of Colourful Feelings gives families a simple, story-led way to talk about emotions and explore what might help.
Through the Four Lands and their friendly creatures, children begin to recognise different feelings, build emotional vocabulary and discover simple helping ideas they can try with the support of a trusted adult.
The aim is not to stop children from feeling angry, worried, sad or overwhelmed.
It is to help them understand that every feeling has a place and that support is available when feelings become big.
A shared language for everyday moments
Big feelings often appear during ordinary family life.
A game does not go as expected.
It is time to leave somewhere enjoyable.
A sibling takes a toy.
A child feels tired, worried or overwhelmed but cannot explain why.
The Kingdom gives children and adults a shared language they can return to in those moments.
You might say:
“I wonder which land you are visiting.”
“This feels really hard.”
“I am here.”
“Shall we find a helping idea together?”
Children do not need to name a feeling perfectly. The language simply opens the door to curiosity, connection and understanding.
The Four Lands
Children learn that everyone can visit different lands throughout the day and that feelings can change.
❤️ Red Land
Big, fiery feelings such as anger, frustration, fear and feeling out of control.
💙 Blue Land
Slow, heavy feelings such as sadness, tiredness, feeling unwell and loneliness.
💛 Yellow Land
Wiggly, energetic feelings such as excitement, silliness, worry and overwhelm.
💚 Green Land
Calm and focused feelings such as happiness, pride and feeling settled.
Children are never labelled as a colour or a creature. They are simply visiting a feeling, and they can move between lands throughout the day.
How families can use the Kingdom
1. Begin with the story
For many families, reading the picture book together is enough.
The story introduces the Four Lands, the creatures and the idea that every feeling has a place. Children can return to it whenever they want to talk about feelings or need reassurance after a difficult moment.
2. Bring the language into everyday life
Families can begin using simple phrases from the Kingdom during ordinary moments.
You might wonder which land a child is visiting, talk about what their body might be telling them or explore what could help.
The aim is not to find the perfect word. It is to create a calm, shared language for talking about emotions together.
3. Practise helping ideas
Each creature introduces simple helping ideas that children can explore with an adult.
These might include:
Dragon Breath
Wall Push
Palm Press
Wiggle Wiggle Stop
Shake and Freeze
Blanket Shell
Sit Close
Noticing what they can see, hear or feel
Practising during calm moments can make the ideas more familiar and easier to return to when feelings become big.
Different helping ideas work for different children and in different moments. The goal is not to choose the perfect strategy. It is to help children feel safe, supported and gradually more able to understand what they need.
4. Explore beyond the first book
The supporting books, posters and resources extend the Kingdom beyond the original story.
They can help children:
explore a wider range of feelings
build emotional vocabulary
notice body clues
discover more helping ideas
communicate what they may need
return to the same language through play and everyday routines
Families can choose only the resources that feel useful to them.
5. Use the wider Kingdom Approach
Some families may want to use the Kingdom more consistently as a shared approach to emotional regulation.
The Kingdom Approach offers a simple rhythm:
Notice → Wonder → Helping Idea → Reconnect
It encourages adults to respond with curiosity and connection before moving on to reflection, boundaries or problem solving.
This is an additional layer, not something families must follow in order to enjoy the books or use the resources.
Connection comes first
Children are not born knowing how to regulate their emotions.
They learn through repeated experiences of being supported by calm, trusted adults.
Sometimes the most helpful response is not a strategy at all. It may be staying close, listening, reducing language, offering comfort or giving space while remaining available.
Once a child feels supported, they are more able to reconnect, return to what they were doing and reflect on what happened.
Bringing the Kingdom into family life
Families can use the Kingdom through:
Shared story times
Everyday conversations
Feelings check ins
Visual communication boards
Helping idea cards
A cosy corner or quiet space
Drawing, role play and imaginative play
The Kingdom does not need to become another task to complete. Small, repeated moments are often the most meaningful.
Start with the story
The picture book is the first step into the Kingdom.
For some families, the story alone will be enough. Others may choose to explore the wider books, resources or Kingdom Approach over time.
Every feeling has a place. Every child deserves to feel understood.