Supporting Reflection After Dysregulation: Visual Communication Boards

This series of visual choice boards is designed to guide children through calm, structured reflection following periods of emotional dysregulation. Each board supports an emotion coaching conversation, helping the child to make sense of their experience and develop self-regulation skills in a supportive, non-judgmental way.

The boards use visual prompts, symbols, and simple language to scaffold understanding and communication, making them accessible for children with a range of ages and communication abilities.

The series aims to:

• Help children identify and name their emotions after moments of upset.

• Encourage reflection on what happened, including their actions, choices, and triggers.

• Support discussion around the impact of behaviour on themselves and others.

• Facilitate collaborative problem-solving to explore how to “fix” the problem, make amends, or choose different strategies next time.

• Reinforce emotional literacy, empathy, and accountability in a safe and supportive way.

Each visual choice board focuses on a different stage of emotional reflection:

‘What were you feeling?’ – identifying the emotion(s) experienced.

‘What caused it?’ - – sequencing the events or triggers.

‘What happened?’ – reflecting on actions or choices.

‘Who has been affected?’ – understanding consequences and impact.

‘What are you feeling now?’ - identifying the current emotion(s).

‘How can we fix it?’ – exploring solutions, repairs, or next steps.

‘Next time I could…’ – choosing new strategies or calming tools for future success.

Intended Use:

These boards are designed for use by teachers, support staff, therapists, or parents as part of a restorative and relationship-based approach to behaviour. They can be used 1:1 after a child has returned to a calm state, promoting connection, reflection, and growth rather than punishment.