When a child is overwhelmed, the last thing they can do is find the words to explain how they feel.
These BOUNCE Strips, Fans, and Flash Cards give them something better — a visual language they can use in the moment, without needing to speak at all.
Based on Polyvagal Theory and the BOUNCE Approach®, this printable resource pack helps children map their own nervous system states, communicate where they are emotionally, and begin to find their way back to calm. For the adults around them, it creates a consistent, shared language that works in the classroom, the therapy room, and at home — without requiring any specialist training to use.
The BOUNCE Scale — five states children will recognise
- Calm — settled, focused, ready to learn and connect
- Fizzy — energised or excited, starting to lose focus
- Wobbly — anxious, unsettled, or overwhelmed
- Angry — activated, defensive, or explosive
- Sad — withdrawn, shut down, or disconnected
Children who struggle to verbalise their feelings — particularly neurodivergent children, those with demand avoidance profiles, and children who have experienced trauma — often find visual tools like these far more accessible than words alone. The more regularly these tools are used, the more children develop the self-awareness to recognise their own states and begin to regulate themselves.
What’s included in this pack
- Visual regulation strips — for display in classrooms, therapy spaces, or at home
- Fan-format cards — portable and child-held, ideal for individual use during check-ins and transitions
- Flash cards — for quick emotional identification, group work, and daily regulation routines
- Guidance notes for adults on how to introduce and embed the tools
Bonus: free Introduction to BOUNCE webinar included
Every purchase includes access to our Introduction to BOUNCE webinar — giving you the context, theory, and practical confidence to use these tools effectively from day one. You will understand not just what the scale is, but why it works, and how to use it with children who find emotional regulation most challenging.
“Very interesting — I can see how this will help the children I work with immediately.”
★★★★★ Gemma
“Another excellent resource from Child Therapy Service. Clear, practical, and beautifully designed.”
★★★★★ Karen