Calming Cat Coaches Programme developed by Psychology4Learning Ltd: An evidence-informed approach to help children emotionally regulate.
Meeting the challenge
Children's early Personal Social Emotional Development (PSED) has a huge impact on academic and social progress. Children who have well-developed PSED skills have been found to have healthier life outcomes (Clarke et al., 2015; Gutman & Schoon, 2013).
What is the Calming Cat and coaching cards?
The Calming Cat and coaching cards have been developed by Educational Psychologist (EP), Dr Paula Williams, to help children learn to be more emotionally self-aware and be able to self-regulate. Your pack will include:
- A Calming Cat: The cat is designed with soft, soothing fur and has a weighted body making it calming to hold. There is a tummy pocket that can be used for a personal comforting object or for a child to put a worry or concern. The openings at the side are great for little hands to cuddle the cat. Its multi-sensory materials help keep children stimulated and calm.
- A pack of Calming Cat Coaching Cards: These give insight, advice and activities to develop knowledge, skills and understanding of emotions and the impact they have on our bodies and behaviour. The different coloured coaching cards help address a variety of feelings, as well as giving greater understanding of the physiological causes and effects of emotions.
The Cards: What they teach
Green: Knowledge – They talk about our bodies and how we respond
Yellow: Understanding – Stimulate thoughts and reflection about feelings and behaviours
Blue: Skills – Effective strategies to calm the body and mind, including a coach’s card and one for the child
Pink: The need to have fun – Ensuring children make time for fun on a regular basis
Red: To look out for triggers – Reminding children to recognise when worries start to appear
How is it used?
Young children need nurturing guidance and modelling of effective strategies to help them develop emotionally healthy practices. These resources help practitioners teach simple and quick techniques to help children become more emotionally aware and self-regulate effectively. The Calming Cat resources are currently used in schools and homes. It can be used in one-to-one sessions, small groups and as a whole class resource.
What is the aim?
We all experience a range of emotions and varying states of arousal in their bodies. Young children need to learn how to recognise changing states and deal with them. The Calming Cat resources are designed to help practitioners assist children in their emotional development.
Our programme will help practitioners to:
- Understand children’s feelings, thoughts and behaviours.
- Recognise what Self-awareness and Self-regulation are and how emotions impact on the body and subsequent actions
- Staff will have the knowledge and confidence to be able to demonstrate and verbally encourage children to use evidence-based strategies throughout the day
The resources will help children:
- Learn to read their bodies
- Use the taught strategies to calm their internal states
- Talk to adults about their emotions and demonstrate ways of calming down sooner
What’s involved?
We are looking for 12 early years settings to use The Calming Cat coaches programme for 3–5-year-olds and provide feedback for future development.
The programme is taking place from September to December 2023. You will receive:
- A set of Calming Cats and coaching cards, lesson plans and guidance notes to help you set up and run whole class sessions and small group interventions.
- A full privacy notice and some data protection information for you to review prior to signing a memorandum of understanding.