Families who loved What to Do When It's Time to Calm Down by Cara Goodwin often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
When your toddler experiences a meltdown because of a transition, a lost toy, or sheer overstimulation, reach for this book. It is designed for those moments when 'big feelings' take over a small body and logic no longer works. This board book helps children identify the physical sensations of being overwhelmed while providing concrete, age-appropriate strategies to find their way back to a baseline of calm. Written with the expertise of a child psychologist, the book uses positive language to normalize intense emotions like anger and excitement. It introduces tangible tools such as belly breathing and muscle relaxation that parents can practice alongside their child. By focusing on 'making too-big feelings a little bit smaller,' it empowers toddlers to understand their own emotional regulation, making it an essential resource for navigating the early years of emotional development.
