Children often know something is wrong before they have words for it. This free card deck, called How I Feel Inside, gives them a gentle way in: sentence starters they can finish out loud, one card at a time, with a parent or trusted adult sitting alongside them.
What the exercise involves
The deck is made up of cards, each carrying the beginning of a sentence about feelings or inner experience. A child draws a card and reads the stem aloud, or has it read to them, then finishes the sentence in their own words. There’s no pressure to get it right; the point is simply to talk.
The tool is designed to be used together, not by a child on their own. A parent or carer takes part too, either by responding to the same card or simply by listening and staying curious. That shared quality, being in it together rather than one person answering questions, is what tends to make the conversation feel safe.
When to use it
This tool works well at a calm moment: after school when the dust has settled, at bedtime, or on a weekend when there’s no particular pressure. It’s a good fit when a child seems unsettled but can’t quite say why, or when you’d like to open up conversation about feelings without it feeling like a big serious talk.
It works equally well as a regular activity, something you come back to now and then, as it does for a one-off moment when a child seems to need a way in. Because the cards are drawn at random, each session feels a little different.
What to expect
Some cards will land and some won’t, and that’s fine. A child might finish a sentence straightforwardly, go quiet, change direction, or surprise you. All of that is useful. The aim isn’t to solve anything in one sitting; it’s to let a child know that their feelings are worth talking about, and that you’re interested in what’s happening for them.
Adults sometimes find the cards useful too. If you’d like to model the exercise, you could have a go yourself first; children often find it easier to open up once they’ve seen a grown-up do the same.
Your privacy
Nothing you or your child types or says is saved. The tool runs entirely in your browser and doesn’t collect any data. It’s free to use and no sign-up is needed.
If you’d like to explore more tools for parents and children, take a look at The Animal Ladder and the Feeling Explorer. All the tools in the suite are listed on the Free Tools page.
If something comes up that you’d like to talk through with a professional, you’re welcome to get in touch or book a free introductory call.