Feelings Beanbags Commentary

Support children’s emotional development through calm, intentional language.

This printable commentary sheet is designed to help adults model high-quality emotional language when using feelings beanbags in provision areas such as a Rainbow Zone, calm corner or wellbeing space.

Rather than relying on questioning, this resource provides ready-to-use commentary prompts that link:

Sensory exploration (smooth, silky, rough, fluffy, weighted textures)
Body awareness (tight shoulders, jumpy tummies, slow breathing)
Emotional understanding (calm, worried, frustrated, safe)
By describing what the beanbags feel like and how the body responds, adults help children build the language needed to recognise, regulate and communicate their emotions safely.

Perfect for:

Early Years settings
Social & emotional oracy development
Children’s Mental Health Week
Calm corners and regulation spaces
Supporting children who are not yet confident speakers

This resource encourages co-regulation, sensory awareness and child-led emotional talk — making it ideal for embedding social and emotional learning naturally within play.