BOUNCE Approach®Play-BasedResource PackND-Affirming
The Magic LEGO® Tree — Emotional Check-In
A visual, figure-based emotional check-in tool that removes the pressure of “how are you feeling?” — letting children point to where they are, and starting the conversation from there.
Asking a child how they feel can be one of the hardest questions to answer — especially when they are overwhelmed, shut down, neurodivergent, or simply don’t have the language yet. The Magic LEGO® Tree takes the pressure away entirely. Instead of naming feelings, children choose a figure. Each of the 20 figures on the tree represents a different emotional or nervous system state — from confident and playful to frozen, hurt, detached, or exhausted. There are no wrong answers. Every position is valid.
Once a figure is chosen, the pack guides you through six gentle BOUNCE prompts — exploring body signals, readiness for connection, sensory experience, emotional expression, relationships, and self-worth — in a sequence that follows the child’s pace rather than the adult’s agenda. A Magic Fruit extension activity is built into every session, inviting children to explore what they need most right now and what might help them reach it.
Suitable for 1:1 sessions, therapeutic check-ins, and emotional wellbeing work across school and home settings. Designed for ELSAs, school counsellors, pastoral leads, teaching assistants, therapists, and family support workers — and any adult who wants a low-demand, high-trust way into a child’s inner world.
Three bonus resources to deepen your practice.
A structured snapshot to identify where a child may be struggling on the inside while appearing fine on the outside — so you can see beneath the surface and respond to what is actually there.
Track entry to exit progress and evidence what has changed across the review period — giving you a clear picture of impact over time.
Understand the nervous system foundations behind regulation, emotional expression, and connection — so you can apply them with confidence in your sessions.