Human Development Center

 

 
High school students conversing.

 

Regulate emotions and return to learning with the Reset Toolkit

 

Every child deserves the tools to regulate their emotions and return to learning. Our team created our new Reset Toolkit filled with calming visuals, sensory supports, and emotional regulation tools — ready to help students pause, process, and reset during coaching sessions. From breathing cards to break choices, these kits are designed to empower students with the tools they need to succeed — one visual at a time. Follow along each week to download a new tool for your kit.

Download Kit Content


 

1. Social Story: Using the Reset Toolkit

Our Reset Toolkit begins with a simple social story that teaches students when and how to use the reset kit. It walks them through emotions, expectations, and choices — in a clear, visual way.

Download Reset Toolkit

Social narrative showing how to use the toolkit.

 


2. Breathing Visuals 

When emotions are high, visuals help ground students in calm. Our Reset Toolkit includes easy-to-follow breathing visuals to teach and guide slow, mindful breaths.

Download the Breathing Visuals

Visual supports depicting the Deep Breath Rainbow and "smell the flower" and "blow the candle"

3. Draw Your Feelings Board

The Draw Your Feelings board lets students express emotions in a creative, non-verbal way. It comes with a dry-erase marker and is easy to wipe clean and reuse.

Download the "Draw Your Feelings" Board

Colowirng sheet with a squiggly doodle line and text that reads "Draw your feelings - keep adding to the doodle"

 


4. Fidget Expectations

Fidgets can support focus, but they need clear expectations. Our visual Fidget Expectations chart shows students exactly how to use fidgets responsibly — without disrupting others.

Download the Fidget Expectations Visual

Graphic with text "Is it a fidget or a toy?" and two boxes explaining fidget and toy: The fidget box has a green checkmark and reads "helps focus, stay calm, and sit still" with an image of a person thinking at a desk. The toy box has a red x and redas "Distracts you/others and preventsyou from working." with an image of a person with their hadns on their heads and a spirally mess of lines above their head to depict confusion.

5. Break Choices

Sometimes students don’t just need a break — they need the right break. That’s why our toolkit includes a Break Choices visual menu.

Download the Break Choices Support

Visual support with title "things that help me feel good" with various options that include images like read a book, draw/write, ask for a walk, deep breaths, count to 5, ask for space, use a fidget, visit break area.

6. First/Then Schedule

Our First/Then visual helps students understand what’s expected — and what’s coming next. It’s a simple but powerful tool to reduce frustration and boost motivation.

Download the First/Then Schedule

Text saying "First I will" with a blank space beneath statement. Next is text saying "then I need to" with an image of person sitting at desk and text that reads "return to work/class"

7. Break Card

The Reset Toolkit includes a Break Card students can hand to a teacher or adult when they need space to cool down. It’s especially helpful for students who struggle to ask for a break with words.

Download the Break Card

"I Need a Break" with illustrations below of a person in various states of frustration.

8. Emotional Debrief Cards

The Emotional Debrief Cards guide students through gentle reflection after a tough moment. With prompts like “How do you feel?” or “What happened?”, they build self-awareness over time.

Download the Emotional Debrief Cards

Series of statements with illustrations: "I'm read y to talk" with an illustraiton of two perople in a coversation. "How are you feeling" with illustraitons of various emotions. "What Happened?" with illustraitons of people thinking.