Free calm-down cards
Free
Nine calming moves on picture cards, plus a “What can I do?” poster.
See the free packCoping skills cards
Coping skills cards: one calming move on every card
A coping skills card shows one thing to try when a moment gets hard. Each Calmlings card is one calming move, drawn as a creature with a one-line instruction. There are 53 Calmlings in the deck, from a big slow breath to a wall push. A card gives a child one thing to try.
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Every Calmling in the deck
53 Calmlings, sorted into six kinds of move. Each card has the move, a one-line instruction and a creature to remember it by. Cards marked Free are in the free calm down cards. Cards marked Starter Set come in the US$5 Starter Set. Every card is in the Complete Collection.
Breathing 6 cards
BreathoBig slow breathSmell the flower, blow out the candle.Free
BubbloBubble breathsBlow slow bubbles, big and round.Free
CalmlingsPrismpuffRainbow breathBreathe in each colour of the rainbow.Unlock every card
CalmlingsTracetailFinger breathingTrace your fingers, breathe in and out.Unlock every card
CalmlingsStarfishyStar breathingTrace a star as you breathe slowly.Unlock every card
CalmlingsWhirlywindPinwheel breathBlow a pinwheel round and round.Unlock every card
Moving 10 cards
StompoStomp it outStomp, jump or push the wall to reset.Free
CalmlingsWigglewagShake it outShake your arms and legs, then freeze!Starter SetUnlock every card
StretchyStretch tallReach up to the sky, then touch your toes.Free
CalmlingsRockabyeGentle rockRock or sway slowly, like a gentle boat.Starter SetUnlock every card
SlowmoSlow motionMove super slowly, like a sleepy sloth.Free
CalmlingsPushpawWall pushPush the wall hard, then let go slowly.Unlock every card
CalmlingsSwingalingGentle swingSwing slowly back and forth.Unlock every card
CalmlingsBouncebunBounce it outBounce on a big ball ten times.Unlock every card
CalmlingsStrollowCalm walkTake a slow walk with a grown-up.Unlock every card
CalmlingsHeftyhogHeavy helperCarry something heavy for a grown-up.Unlock every card
Squeeze, hold and touch 10 cards
SqueezleSqueeze and let goSqueeze, count to 3, then let it all go.Free
CalmlingsSnugglebugCosy hugHug your soft toy, nice and snug.Starter SetUnlock every card
FlutterhugButterfly hugCross your arms and tap, tap, tap slowly.Free
CalmlingsBlanketbearCosy blanketRest under a soft, cosy blanket.Starter SetFree in the Halloween pack
CalmlingsFidgetfoxBusy handsKeep your hands busy with a fidget toy.Starter SetUnlock every card
CalmlingsWarmpawsWarm handsRub your hands fast, then hold them still.Starter SetUnlock every card
CalmlingsPettlepupSoft strokeStroke a pet or a soft toy gently.Unlock every card
CalmlingsDoughbySquish doughSquish and roll some play dough.Unlock every card
CalmlingsTapirtapTap tapTap your knees, left then right.Unlock every card
CalmlingsRubbadubFinger squeezeSqueeze each finger, one at a time.Unlock every card
Listen, look, smell and taste 11 cards
CalmlingsHushpupQuiet earsHeadphones on when sounds get too big.Starter SetUnlock every card
CalmlingsHummingbeeHum a tuneHum a favourite song nice and low.Starter SetUnlock every card
CalmlingsSippySlow sipsTake three slow sips of cool water.Starter SetUnlock every card
CalmlingsMunchkinCrunch and chewCrunch a snack or chew something safe.Starter SetUnlock every card
CalmlingsDimmySoft lightsTurn lights down low for a soft, calm glow.Starter SetFree in the Halloween pack
CalmlingsCrunchcrabCrunchy snackCrunch an apple or a crispy snack.Unlock every card
CalmlingsMelodeeFavourite songSing or play your favourite song.Unlock every card
CalmlingsSplishfinWater playPour and splash some warm water.Unlock every card
CalmlingsGlimmerjarGlitter jarShake the jar, watch the glitter settle.Unlock every card
CalmlingsChompyChew timeChew a chewy toy or a chewy snack.Unlock every card
CalmlingsScentleCalm smellSmell something nice, like a flower.Unlock every card
Words 5 cards
CalmlingsBreakbeakBreak pleaseUse your words to ask for a little pause.Starter SetUnlock every card
FeelioName the feelingSay it out loud: "I feel worried."Free
CalmlingsBravelyBrave wordsSay it strong: "I can do hard things."Starter SetUnlock every card
CalmlingsTalebirdStory timeListen to a calm story or audiobook.Unlock every card
CalmlingsChatterbirdTell someoneTell a grown-up how you feel.Unlock every card
Thinking and planning 11 cards
CalmlingsCountalotCount it downCount slowly to 10, then back down to 1.Starter SetUnlock every card
SpottoSpot five thingsName 5 things you see and 4 you can hear.Free
CalmlingsNestleCosy cornerGo to your calm spot until you feel ready.Starter SetFree in the Halloween pack
CalmlingsTickatockCheck the timerThe timer shows how long until it's done.Starter SetUnlock every card
CalmlingsPlandaFirst, thenSee what comes first and what comes next.Starter SetUnlock every card
CalmlingsDoodlephantDraw it outDraw how you feel, then colour it calm.Starter SetUnlock every card
DreamdriftHappy placeClose your eyes and imagine a calm place.Starter Set
CalmlingsSkygazerCloud watchLook up and find shapes in the clouds.Unlock every card
CalmlingsGladsyThree good thingsName three good things about today.Unlock every card
CalmlingsPickapipPick oneChoose between two easy options.Unlock every card
CalmlingsSortsySort and stackSort blocks by colour or size.Unlock every card
How to use a coping skills deck
- Try one card on a calm day. Read it together, do the move and talk about how it felt. A move is easier to reach for once it’s familiar.
- Keep a “my three” set. Let your child pick their three favourite cards. Keep them on a ring, in a pocket or on the fridge.
- Match a card to the moment ahead. Before the dentist, a haircut or a busy shop, choose two cards to take along.
- Offer two, not twenty. In a hard moment, hold up two cards and let your child point.
- Count every try. After a try, stamp it Tamed! or colour in a star. In the Calmlings game, every try counts, even a wobbly one.
Want the ideas explained one by one? Read our 30 simple coping ideas, grouped the same way.
Coping cards for the tricky moments
A coping card is easier to use when you know when you’ll need it. That’s what the Wobble cards are for. Each Wobble is a tricky moment, like the dentist, plans changing or school drop-off, and names two Calmlings to try. The Starter Set has 17 Wobbles. The Complete Collection has all 49.
DrillbugThe dentistTame with Breatho and Dreamdrift
WobblesSwitcherooPlans changeTame with Planda and TickatockUnlock every card
WobblesGatejitterSchool drop-offTame with Flutterhug and PettlepupUnlock every card
For classrooms
- Every download has A4 and US Letter PDFs, with the card backs lined up for double-sided printing.
- Print as many copies as your class needs, year after year.
- Using the cards with several clients? See bulk pricing on our NDIS page.
- One idea and one clear picture per card, designed with autistic and ADHD children in mind.
- In Australia, families may be able to claim our resources through NDIS Capacity Building budgets. NDIS information.
See Calmlings for classrooms and our printables for autistic and ADHD kids.
Start free, then the full deck
Both card sets open in the Calmlings app on your phone and iPad, and come with the Printable Pack of A4 and US Letter PDFs to print at home. The free pack is printable only. The free pack has nine Calmlings. The Starter Set has 28, and the Complete Collection has all 53.
Starter set
US$5
61 cards to begin with: Calmlings, Wobbles and Feelings Friends, plus the Tamed! seals.
Get the starter setSecure checkout by Polar, our payment partner. Checkout shows your price in your currency (US$, A$, £, €, C$ or NZ$); tax is included or added as your country requires.
Complete collection
US$29.99
All 1000 cards. New Calmlings, Wobbles and Feelings Friends cards are added to the Complete Collection as we make them.
Buy every card for US$29.99Secure checkout by Polar, our payment partner. Checkout shows your price in your currency (US$, A$, £, €, C$ or NZ$); tax is included or added as your country requires.
Prefer pages to cards?
The Calm Down Corner Workbook has a poster of 8 calming strategies, breathing pages and sensory check-in worksheets, in one printable PDF of 44 pages, US$14.
Questions about coping skills cards
Are coping skills cards the same as calm down cards?
Yes. They are two names for the same idea: a picture card that shows one thing to try when a moment gets hard. Our free calm down cards are nine of the moves on this page.
How many calming moves are there?
53 Calmlings in the Complete Collection, plus 15 night-time moves in the Moonlight Set. The Starter Set has 28 Calmlings, and the free calm down cards have nine.
Can I print them for a whole class?
Yes. Print as many copies as your class needs, year after year. Every download has A4 and US Letter PDFs, with the card backs lined up for double-sided printing.
Are these therapy cards?
No. Calmlings cards are educational tools, not therapy or medical advice. Every child is different, so use the cards in whatever way works, alongside the doctors, therapists and teachers who know them.
Calmlings cards are educational tools, not therapy or medical advice. Every child is different, so use the cards in whatever way works, alongside the doctors, therapists and teachers who know them.
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Guides and free printables
Printable ideas for big feelings at home and in class. The free packs download as soon as you enter your email.
Emotion cards
All 26 Feelings Friends: name a feeling and show how big it is.
Take a look →A calm down kit
What to put in a box or bag for big feelings, and what to print for it.
Take a look →A calm down corner
Where to put it, what goes in it and how to start, at home or in class.
Take a look →Free calm down cards
Nine calming moves on picture cards, plus a “What can I do?” poster.
Take a look →Free feelings chart
Thirteen feelings faces with a 1 to 5 scale, plus six feelings cards and three Calmlings.
Take a look →