Listen, we love our new Kids Wheel. We also know kids can smell a lesson from 10 miles away and will immediately shut down if they think you’re trying to teach them something on purpose.
So let’s skip the lectures. Instead, we’ll weave it into real life in small, everyday ways that feel natural, supportive, and totally not like an after-school special.
1. Carpool Chaos
Traffic is moving at the speed of maple syrup and someone just spilled their juice box. Instead of yelling, toss the wheel in the backseat: “Pick the picture that matches your vibe right now.” Let them point while you keep both hands on the wheel (pun fully intended).
2. Post-Recess Meltdowns
They come back from recess looking like they just went to emotional war. Before launching into “what happened out there,” slide the wheel over and let them land on a feeling first. Translation: they get to name it before you fix it.
3. Sibling Negotiations
Your kids are about to re-enact WrestleMania over a stuffed animal (that they both have). Wheel comes out. Each kid picks their feeling. Bonus: You pick yours too. (Spoiler: yours is probably “done”.)
4. Bedtime Stalling
They’re suddenly parched, starving, and need to tell you about every dream they’ve ever had. Wheel time. It’s a sneaky way to shift focus from delay tactics to actual feelings, which sometimes turns “I need water” into “I’m nervous about tomorrow.”
5. Morning Mood Checks
Before the school scramble starts, make it a “pick your morning vibe” ritual. Coffee in one hand, Kids Wheel in the other. This is also your chance to say, “Looks like we’re both a little grumpy. Let’s talk about it.”
6. Homework Meltdowns (Yours and Theirs)
Math worksheet turns into a full-blown existential crisis? Instead of power-struggling, pause and pull the wheel. You might discover it’s less about fractions and more about “I’m overwhelmed and need a snack.”
7. The “I Don’t Know” Conversations
You ask, “What’s wrong?” and they say, “I don’t know.” Guess what? They probably don’t know. Wheel it out and let them see the words. Sometimes feelings need a menu before they can be ordered.
8. Big Days & Small Victories
Got a spelling bee, soccer game, or first piano recital? Use the wheel before and after to check in. It teaches that feelings can shift and that it’s normal to feel both proud and terrified at the same time.
9. The Grocery Store Gauntlet
Your cart is full, the line is long, and they’re about to lose it over a pack of candy. Instead of “because I said so,” let them point to how they feel. It’s validating and gives you a breather before you accidentally throw a bag of frozen peas in frustration.
10. Just Because Moments
Not every use needs to be a crisis intervention. Leave it on the coffee table and see what happens. Sometimes the most meaningful check-ins come when no one’s trying to make it happen.
Final Thoughts
The Kids Wheel isn’t about making feelings an academic subject. It’s about normalizing them in the messy, weird, funny, chaotic flow of daily life.
The more they see emotions as part of the conversation (like “pass the salt” or “stop licking the dog”), the easier it becomes for them to name, share, and own them later on.
P.S. The Kids Wheel is Here (and in Two Languages!)
If you’re reading this thinking, “Wow, I should probably have one of these in my life,” you’re right. The Kids Wheel is officially available for preorder ****in both English and Spanish.
It’s bright, it’s durable, and it’s built to help kids name, notice, and navigate their feelings without making it weird. Keep one on the fridge, in your classroom, in your therapy office. Wherever little (and not-so-little) humans hang out.
Preorder yours now and be ready to start those real-life, no-pressure conversations about emotions from day one of the new school year.
