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Little Boosts

Welcome to the Adult Interpretation Guide

A gentle guide for noticing, understanding, and responding with care.

This guide is here to softly support your understanding of the small choices a child might make in the Little Boosts toolkit. Each category reflects different kinds of comfort, movement, calm, or social support — tiny things that can help when feelings feel wobbly. You don’t need to interpret perfectly — just notice, reflect, and respond with warmth.

This guide is here to support you, not to judge or correct.

Choose a category below to explore at your own pace.

Wrap Up In Something Soft

This may reflect a need for tactile comfort, warmth, or sensory regulation.

Supportive response: Offer a soft blanket, hoodie, or scarf. Let the child wrap up and settle without needing to explain.

Snuggle Under A Blanket

This may signal a need for emotional safety, rest, or quiet retreat.

Supportive response: Create a cosy space with a blanket and soft lighting. Let the child snuggle in and take their time.

Put On Cosy Socks

This may express a need for warmth, grounding, or sensory ease.

Supportive response: Offer soft, warm socks. Let the child choose textures that feel good. Small comforts matter.

Cuddle A Toy Or Pillow

This may reflect a need for emotional holding, tactile input, or soothing.

Supportive response: Provide a favourite pillow, plush toy, or soft object. Let the child hold it close — no need to explain why.

Stretch Like A Cat

This may reflect a need for slow, grounding movement and body awareness.

Supportive response: Invite gentle stretches. Let the child move slowly and intuitively, without correction or instruction.

Shake Out Your Hands

This may signal a need to release tension, reset energy, or regulate sensory input.

Supportive response: Encourage playful shaking. Let the child shake hands, arms, or whole body freely. It’s okay to be silly.

Do A Wiggle Dance

This may express a need for joy, expression, or emotional movement.

Supportive response: Put on music or let the child wiggle in silence. Celebrate the movement — no steps, no rules, just fun.

Bounce On Your Toes

This may reflect a need for proprioceptive input, excitement, or emotional release.

Supportive response: Offer space to bounce gently. Let the child jump, tiptoe, or bounce in place. Movement is welcome.

Watch Something Gentle

This may reflect a need for visual calm, emotional distraction, or soft engagement.

Supportive response: Offer a gentle video, animation, or visual story. Choose content that’s slow-paced, kind, and emotionally safe.

Sit In A Quiet Corner

This may signal a need for solitude, sensory regulation, or emotional safety.

Supportive response: Create a soft, quiet space with cushions or blankets. Let the child rest there without interruption or expectation.

Listen To Quiet Music

This may reflect a need for auditory regulation, emotional soothing, or sensory retreat

Supportive response: Offer soft instrumental music or gentle nature sounds. Let the child choose what feels calming without needing to explain.

Breathe with your hands. A person tracing their forefinger slowly along the outline of their other hand — expressing a calm, steady breathing technique that helps the body settle through touch and movement.

Breath With Your Hands

This may express a need for grounding, emotional regulation, or body awareness.

Supportive response: Gently model hand-breathing (e.g. tracing fingers while breathing in and out). Let the child follow at their own pace, or simply watch.

Wave Hello

This may express a need for gentle connection, visibility, or social engagement

Supportive response: Wave back warmly. Acknowledge the child’s gesture with kindness. Let the moment be light and affirming.

Sit Near Someone Kind

This may signal a need for quiet companionship, relational safety, or co-regulation.

Supportive response: Invite a kind adult or peer to sit nearby. Let the child feel supported without needing to talk or explain.

Hold Someone's Hand

This may reflect a need for grounding, reassurance, or emotional closeness.

Supportive response: Offer your hand gently. Let the child hold on as long as they need. Use soft tone and steady presence.

Ask For A Cuddle

This may reflect a need for physical comfort, emotional safety, or closeness.

Supportive response: Offer a cuddle if welcomed. If not, offer a hand to hold or nearby presence. Respect boundaries while staying close.

Little Boosts

Welcome to the Adult Interpretation Guide

“Feeling safe and understood helps every child feel better.” ❤️