Talking about emotions does not need to be complicated.

Parents can start by:

• noticing emotions when they appear

• naming feelings in everyday moments

• sharing that all emotions are normal

• exploring what helps when feelings feel big

When emotions are talked about openly, children gradually develop the language and understanding they need to manage them.

The Emps gives every emotion, a name, a face and a character allowing you to easily engage your children in a conversation about emotions. You can use The Emps as a tool to explore emotions in a fun and engaging way before they visit. We encourage the use of language such as ‘Flaregrump (anger) is visiting, instead of saying you are angry. This helps to cement the view that emotions do not define us, but come and go during different situations in our day.

Children’s behaviour is often a form of communication. When we focus only on stopping behaviour, we can miss the emotional message underneath it.

Understanding emotions helps parents respond in ways that support children’s emotional development while also guiding behaviour.

Over time, this builds skills children carry into friendships, learning, and everyday life.

Using The Emps gives a simple, but engaging way to explore the emotions behind behaviour with your children.

The Emps gives every emotion, a name, a face and a character allowing you to easily engage your children in a conversation about emotions. You can use The Emps as a tool to explore emotions in a fun and engaging way before they visit. We encourage the use of language such as ‘Flaregrump (anger) is visiting, instead of saying you are angry. This helps to cement the view that emotions do not define us, but come and go during different situations in our day.

We strongly encourage the use of The Emp fact files to explore emotions in ‘calm’ times. You can set aside 10 minutes every evening with your child to look through and talk about one Emp. Make it fun and engaging for your child ‘Who is your favourite Emp?’, ‘When did Flaregrump last visit mummy?’, ‘What does your Fraggle look like?’ – These are all great examples of fun question you can talk through when exploring The Emp fact file.

Emotional regulation is not something children are born knowing how to do, it is a skill that develops through relationships and experience.

Parents can help by:

• Staying calm and present when emotions rise

• Naming feelings (“That looks really frustrating”)

• Offering simple calming strategies such as breathing, movement, or quiet space

• Helping children reflect once the moment has passed

Over time, children learn how to recognise their emotions and respond to them more effectively.

The Emps give you a great way to engage your children in learning about emotions before they show up. They also give you the language to use when emotions do arrive in a big way!

The Emps also have a great tool to support you when emotions visit in a big way. It is called the KNACK method and is a simple; to remember structure that you can work through when emotions visit.

Many children cry over things that seem small to adults — the wrong cup, a broken biscuit, a small mistake.

Often these tears are not about the small event itself. Children spend much of the day holding their emotions together at school, managing expectations, noise, social situations, and learning challenges. By the time they are home in a safe space, their emotional “bucket” may already be full.

The small moment becomes the final drop.

What helps most is connection, acknowledging the emotion and being curious about what is going on for your child before trying to solve the situation.

For more information, The Emp translator cards give you quick, easy to follow, but psychologically informed, guidance and scripts for situations exactly like this.

Once you understand which emotion is visiting, you can then explore that Emp’s fact file with your children to help engage them in a conversation about emotions in the clam times. The Emp fact files also contain great support strategies for when that emotions does visit.

Anger in children is often a secondary emotion rather than the root feeling. Underneath anger there may be frustration, embarrassment, overwhelm, disappointment, or a sense of unfairness.

Children’s brains are still developing the skills needed to pause, reflect, and regulate strong feelings. When emotions rise quickly, behaviour can follow before thinking has had time to catch up.

Helping children name and understand their emotions builds the skills they need to manage these moments over time.

The Emp translator cards give you quick, easy to follow, but psychologically informed, guidance and scripts for situations exactly like this.

Once you understand which emotion is visiting, you can then explore that Emp’s fact file with your children to help engage them in a conversation about emotions in the clam times. The Emp fact files also contain great support strategies for when that emotions does visit.

Meltdowns often happen when a child’s brain becomes overwhelmed by strong emotions.

This can be triggered by:

• tiredness

• sensory overload

• frustration with a task

• feeling misunderstood

• social stress

• transitions or unexpected change

When the brain is overwhelmed, thinking skills temporarily go offline. In these moments, children do not need lectures or consequences, they need help calming their nervous system first.

Once calm returns, the thinking part of the brain can re-engage.

The Emp translator cards give you quick, easy to follow, but psychologically informed, guidance and scripts for situations exactly like this.

Once you understand which emotion is visiting, you can then explore that Emp’s fact file with your children to help engage them in a conversation about emotions in the clam times. The Emp fact files also contain great support strategies for when that emotions does visit.

Item desWhat looks like an overreaction is often a child experiencing an emotion that feels very real and intense to them.

Children’s emotional systems are still developing, and their experiences are often new. Something that feels minor to an adult may feel much bigger to a child because they have less experience putting emotions into perspective.

Helping children recognise and talk about emotions supports their ability to manage them over time.

The Emp translator cards give you quick, easy to follow, but psychologically informed, guidance and scripts for situations exactly like this.

Once you understand which emotion is visiting, you can then explore that Emp’s fact file with your children to help engage them in a conversation about emotions in the clam times. The Emp fact files also contain great support strategies for when that emotions does visit.cription

Item dSome children are naturally more emotionally sensitive than others. They may notice social cues more deeply, react strongly to criticism, or feel upset by situations that others seem to brush off.

Sensitivity is not a weakness. It often comes with strengths such as empathy, creativity, and deep thinking.

The key is helping sensitive children develop skills to understand and manage their emotions, while also valuing the strengths that come with emotional awareness.

The Emp translator cards give you quick, easy to follow, but psychologically informed, guidance and scripts for situations exactly like this.

Once you understand which emotion is visiting, you can then explore that Emp’s fact file with your children to help engage them in a conversation about emotions in the clam times. The Emp fact files also contain great support strategies for when that emotions does visit.escription

Item dChild anxiety is increasingly common. Worries may appear around school, friendships, separation, or uncertainty.

Helpful approaches include:

• listening without immediately dismissing worries

• helping children name what they are feeling

• breaking problems into manageable steps

• modelling calm responses to uncertainty

• reinforcing moments when children face challenges bravely

Supporting children to gradually face worries builds resilience and confidence.

The Emp translator cards give you quick, easy to follow, but psychologically informed, guidance and scripts for situations exactly like this.

Once you understand which emotion is visiting, you can then explore that Emp’s fact file with your children to help engage them in a conversation about emotions in the clam times. The Emp fact files also contain great support strategies for when that emotions does visit.

Anxiety in everyday situations can be common in children, however, If you have serious concerns over long term anxiety that is causing a disruption to your child you should speak to the school, educational or health professional to receive individual advice.escription

Friendships are one of the most emotionally complex parts of childhood. As children grow, they experience changes in belonging, identity, independence, and social dynamics.

Falling out with friends, feeling left out, or navigating new social groups can bring feelings of sadness, rejection, jealousy, or confusion.

Helping children talk about these experiences and make sense of their feelings supports their emotional development and social confidence.

The Emp friendship wheel can really support with exploring the emotions involved with friendship. 

Once you understand which emotion is visiting, you can then explore that Emp’s fact file with your children to help engage them in a conversation about emotions in the clam times. The Emp fact files also contain great support strategies for when that emotions does visit.iption

Some children respond to strong emotions by withdrawing rather than expressing them outwardly.

This “shutdown” response can happen when a child feels overwhelmed, embarrassed, or unsure how to explain what they are feeling.

Gentle curiosity, patience, and creating space for conversation later often helps more than pushing for answers in the moment.

The Emp translator cards give you quick, easy to follow, but psychologically informed, guidance and scripts for situations exactly like this.

Once you understand which emotion is visiting, you can then explore that Emp’s fact file with your children to help engage them in a conversation about emotions in the clam times. The Emp fact files also contain great support strategies for when that emotions does visit.