Young children often feel something big long before they have the words for it. A feelings thermometer gives them a simple way to point, colour and show you how big the feeling is.
This free feelings thermometer printable has two pages: a poster with one calm tip for each colour, and a colour-in page where your child shows how they feel today. It suits home, a classroom or a calm down corner.
The colours are the same on both pages: green at the bottom for calm, then yellow, orange and red at the top. That makes it easy to build a shared language.
What’s inside this free printable
- Page 1: How Big Is My Feeling? poster with a thermometer and 4 colour levels, each with its own calm tip and icon
- Page 2: My Feeling Is This Big colour-in thermometer with space to draw a face and write or draw what could help
- A line to fill in your child’s own calm place
How to use it
- Print both pages and put the poster somewhere your child can see it, such as your calm corner or by the door.
- Read the four colours together when everyone is calm. Ask your child which colour feels like a good day.
- Let your child choose a crayon or pencil and fill the thermometer up to the level that matches their feeling.
- Ask them to draw their face, then draw or say one thing that could help.
- Try the calm tip for that colour together, such as slow breaths or a break in the calm place.
- Come back to the page later and notice whether the feeling has changed.
Tips for little ones
- Practise when things are calm, so the thermometer feels familiar before a big moment.
- Use the colours yourself: ‘I’m in the yellow zone, so I’m going to take a deep breath.’
- There are no wrong answers. Every feeling is allowed, and the colours simply help us choose what to do next.
- Let young children draw instead of write. A quick scribble or a face is all you need.
- Print several copies of page 2 and use one each day to see how feelings change.
Questions parents ask
What age is this feelings thermometer for?
It is designed for children of about 3 to 8. Younger children can point and colour, while older children can write words and draw in the extra spaces.
Can I use it in a classroom?
Yes. Display the poster in a calm down corner and give each child a copy of the colour-in page. Children can check in quietly using the colours, without having to say how they feel out loud.
Why does the thermometer use four colours?
Four levels are easy for little ones to remember: green is calm, yellow is wiggly, orange is getting big and red is overwhelmed. Each one has a simple action to try.
Get your free printable
Download the PDF (A4 and US Letter) from our free printables page. It only takes your email.
Want the full set?
Want more ways to explore emotions? Our Feelings Activity Pages bundle has 6 printable emotions worksheets with a feelings thermometer and chart: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4606426081/feelings-activity-pages-for-kids-6
