Gentle Shutdown Scale
Gentle Shutdown Scale
A Soft Way to Notice Your Energy Levels
This tool offers a calm, visual way for children to explore how their energy changes throughout the day. It supports quiet noticing, emotional safety, and interoceptive awareness — especially when words are hard to find.
Each icon represents a different level of energy or availability, using simple shapes and gentle metaphors instead of faces or emotions.
How is my energy right now?
Click an icon to notice where your body might be on the scale.
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Feeling
Steady
Getting
Tired
Needing
Space
Shutdown Starting
Full
Shutdown
It’s okay to choose just one — or none at all.
Your energy is allowed to be exactly where it is.
🧠Curious about how to understand these levels?
This tool works well alongside...
• Decompress Menu – offers gentle options when energy is low
• Movement Menu – supports children when movement might help shift energy
• Sensory Comfort Menu – helps children find grounding during low‑energy moments
FAQ: Gentle Shutdown Scale
For grown‑ups: How do I support my child as they learn to notice their energy?
This FAQ offers gentle guidance to help you use the scale with your child. It’s designed to support emotional regulation, interoception, and self‑awareness — in a calm, child‑led way.
What is this tool for?
The Gentle Shutdown Scale helps children notice and communicate their internal energy levels.
It’s especially helpful for children who benefit from visual cues, predictable structure, and emotionally safe language.
How do we use it?
Explore the icons together at the child’s pace.
They can tap the one that feels familiar, or simply look and think.
There’s no right or wrong way to use the scale.
Does my child need to choose a level?
No.
Children can choose one, many, or none.
The scale supports autonomy and gentle noticing — not accuracy or performance.
What if my child doesn’t recognise any levels?
That’s completely okay.
This tool is an invitation, not a requirement.
You can revisit it later or use it as a quiet prompt.
Can I change the language?
Yes.
Feel free to rephrase the levels in ways that feel familiar, comforting, or more accessible for your child.
Can this tool help with emotional regulation?
Yes — many children feel more grounded when they can notice and name their energy.
This awareness can support self‑regulation, confidence, and clearer communication.
It’s okay to use the scale in the way that works best for your child.
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Helpful alongside this tool…
Two tools that support quieter, more grounded moments of rest and recovery.
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