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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.
I Need To Move Gently
This may reflect a need for slow, rhythmic movement to regulate the body.
Supportive response: Offer gentle movement options like swaying, stretching, or rocking. Let the child move at their own pace.
I Need Something To Hold
This may signal a need for tactile input, grounding, or emotional comfort.
Supportive response: Provide a soft toy, object, or sensory item to hold. Let the child keep it close without needing to explain.
I Need Soft Things
This may show a need for soothing textures, comfort, or sensory safety.
Supportive response: Offer soft clothing, blankets, or cushions. Avoid scratchy or tight materials — comfort matters.
I Need Quiet
This may express a need for auditory regulation, emotional space, or sensory retreat.
Supportive response: Reduce noise, dim lights, and offer a quiet corner. Honour the need for silence without asking questions.
I Need Less Light
This may reflect a need for visual regulation, sensory retreat, or emotional safety.
Supportive response: Dim lights, close curtains, or offer shaded space. Avoid bright or flickering light — soft environments support calm.
I Need A Sensory Break
This may signal sensory overload, emotional fatigue, or a need to pause from stimulation.
Supportive response: Offer a quiet, low-stimulation space with soft textures or silence. Let the child take time without pressure to return quickly.
I Need To Talk
This may reflect a need for verbal connection, emotional sharing, or reassurance
Supportive response: Offer quiet presence and open listening. Let the child speak freely, without interruption or pressure to explain everything.
I Need To Be Seen
This may signal a need for recognition, emotional validation, or being noticed.
Supportive response: Gently acknowledge the child’s presence, effort, or feelings. Use eye contact, affirming words, or gestures that say “I see you.”
I Need Someone Near
This may express a need for physical proximity, safety, or co-regulation.
Supportive response: Sit nearby, offer closeness without crowding. Let the child know you’re there — even if they don’t want to talk.
I Need Safety
This may express a need for emotional or relational security — to feel protected and held.
Supportive response: Reassure the child that they are safe. Use calm tone, predictable actions, and gentle boundaries. Avoid sudden changes or demands.
I Need Kindness
This may reflect a need for gentle tone, emotional warmth, or compassionate care.
Supportive response: Speak softly, offer kind gestures, and avoid correction or critique. Let kindness lead the moment.
I Need A Hug
This may signal a need for physical comfort, emotional safety, or grounding.
Supportive response: Offer a hug if welcomed. If not, offer a hand to hold, a soft touch, or simply presence. Respect boundaries while staying close.
I Need Warmth
This may reflect a need for physical warmth, emotional safety, or grounding.
Supportive response: Offer a blanket, warm drink, or cosy space. Sit nearby or offer gentle presence. Let warmth be a quiet comfort.
I Need To Feel Held
This may reflect a need for emotional safety, closeness, or deep reassurance.
Supportive response: Offer a hug, wrap, or gentle embrace if welcomed. If touch isn’t preferred, offer warmth, steady presence, and emotional holding.
I Need Soft Voices
This may signal a need for gentle tone, emotional regulation, or sensory ease.
Supportive response: Speak softly and slowly. Avoid loud or sharp tones. Let your voice be a source of calm and connection.
I Need Soft Contact
This may signal a need for gentle touch, sensory regulation, or quiet connection.
Supportive response: Offer soft textures, light touch, or a hand to hold. Let the child guide the level of contact. Respect boundaries while staying gently available.
I Need My Blanket
This may reflect a need for warmth, familiarity, or sensory comfort during moments of overwhelm or change.
Supportive response: Offer the blanket without question. Let the child wrap up, carry it, or hold it close. Familiar comfort anchors.
I Need Cosy Clothes
This may reflect a need for soft textures, sensory safety, or emotional comfort.
Supportive response: Offer soft, loose-fitting clothing. Avoid scratchy fabrics or tight fits. Let the child dress in what feels safe and soothing.
I Need To Swing
This may reflect a need for rhythmic motion, vestibular input, or emotional regulation.
Supportive response: Offer access to a swing, hammock, or gentle swaying. Let the child swing freely and without time limits.
I Need To Rock
This may signal a need for self-soothing, sensory regulation, or emotional comfort.
Supportive response: Provide a rocking chair, soft cushions, or space to rock. Honour the rhythm and let the child choose their pace.
I Need To Stretch
This may express a need for body awareness, grounding, or gentle activation.
Supportive response: Invite slow stretches, yoga poses, or reaching movements. Let the child stretch without correction or performance.
I Need To Run
This may reflect a need for high-energy release, emotional reset, or sensory regulation.
Supportive response: Offer safe space to run freely. Avoid framing it as hyperactivity — movement is a valid need, not a problem.
I Need To Jump
This may signal a need for proprioceptive input, excitement, or emotional release.
Supportive response: Provide access to a trampoline, soft mat, or jumping game. Let the child bounce or jump as long as needed.
I Need To Dance
This may express a need for joy, expression, or emotional movement.
Supportive response: Play music, offer space, and let the child move however they wish. Celebrate the movement — no need to follow steps.
I Need Quiet Space
This may reflect a need for sensory retreat, emotional regulation, or solitude.
Supportive response: Offer a quiet corner, soft lighting, and minimal noise. Let the child rest or reflect without interruption.
I Need To Pause
This may reflect a need for emotional processing, nervous system regulation, or transition support.
Supportive response: Slow down the pace. Remove urgency. Let the child pause without needing to explain or continue right away.
I Need To Be Alone
This may signal a need for emotional privacy, autonomy, or decompression.
Supportive response: Honour the child’s request for solitude. Let them know you’re nearby and available, but respect their boundary.
I Need Time To Think
This may reflect a need for cognitive space, emotional clarity, or quiet reflection.
Supportive response: Reduce distractions. Offer silence or soft prompts. Let the child think without needing to respond right away.
I Need No Talking
This may express a need for silence, auditory relief, or emotional space.
Supportive response: Pause verbal interaction. Use gestures, visuals, or quiet presence. Let the child rest in silence without pressure to respond.
I Need My Own Corner
This may reflect a need for personal space, safety, or sensory retreat.
Supportive response: Offer a designated corner with soft textures and minimal stimulation. Let the child use it freely, without needing permission or explanation.
I Need To Feel Understood
This may reflect a need for connection, clarity, or for others to truly understand what you're feeling or trying to say.
Supportive response: Listen closely, reflect back what you hear, and offer gentle reassurance that their feelings make sense.
I Need To Feel Safe Asking
This may reflect a need for kindness, patience, and reassurance when asking for help or clarity.
Supportive response: Respond gently, welcome questions, and reassure the child that asking is always okay.
I Need Reminders
This may signal a need for prompts, cues, or help remembering what needs to be done.
Supportive response: Offer simple reminders, visual cues, or step-by-step guidance without pressure or frustration.
I Need Someone To Stay
This may express a need for presence, steadiness, and someone staying close for comfort and support.
Supportive response: Stay nearby, offer calm presence, and reassure the child that you’re not going anywhere.
I Need Someone To Listen
This may express a need for attentive listening, understanding, and someone taking in what they’re trying to share.
Supportive response: Listen without interrupting, judging, or rushing. Let the child share at their own pace.
I Need Help
This may express a need for support, guidance, or someone to step in when things feel too big to manage alone.
Supportive response: Offer clear, calm help. Break tasks into small steps and stay close while supporting them.