Emotion thermometer: a complete guide for speech therapists
The Emotion Thermometer is an essential visual tool to help children identify, name and regulate their emotions. Particularly useful for children with ASD, ADHD or emotional regulation difficulties, it makes the intensity of feelings visible and helps them learn to calm down.
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Thermometers, emotion maps, relaxation exercises and regulation strategies
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Principle of the emotion thermometer
The emotional thermometer is a graduated visual aid that represents the intensity of emotions on a scale, generally from 1 to 4 or 1 to 5. Just as a medical thermometer measures body temperature, this thermometer "measures" the intensity of an emotional state.
The tool generally uses an intuitive color code:
- Green: calm, all is well
- Yellow: rising tension, vigilance
- Orange: strong emotions, risk of spillover
- Red: crisis, loss of control
Why use the Emotion Thermometer?
| Objective | How the thermometer helps |
|---|---|
| Identifying emotions | Makes abstract feelings visible and concrete |
| Naming intensity | Differentiates between "a little angry" and "very angry |
| Communicate your state | Shows how you feel without having the words |
| Anticipating crises | Spot warning signs to act early |
| Learn to regulate yourself | Combines strategies at each level |
| Develop metacognition | Becomes aware of emotional functioning |
Thermometer levels
🟢 Level 1 - Green zone: QUIET
State: Relaxed, content, serene. Body relaxed, breathing calm.
Behavior: Able to think, listen, learn. Available.
Objective: Maintain this state for as long as possible.
🟡 Level 2 - Yellow zone: ALERT
Condition: Rising tension, slight agitation, difficulty concentrating.
Body signals: Faster breathing, tense body, agitation.
Action: It's time to act! Implement a regulation strategy.
🟠 Level 3 - Orange zone: STRONG VOLTAGE
State: Intense emotion, difficulty controlling self, intrusive thoughts.
Signals: Rapid heartbeat, loud voice, urge to move or flee.
Action: Urgent intervention, strong strategies, need for outside help.
🔴 Level 4 - Red zone: CRISIS
Condition: Loss of control, emotional outbursts, inability to reason.
Possible behavior: Screaming, crying, aggression, running away, blocking.
Action: Secure, wait for the crisis to pass, no speeches (useless at this stage).
How to use the thermometer
1. Insert tool
- Explain the principle with concrete examples from a child's life
- Working together to identify body signals at each level
- Train when the child is calm (not in the middle of a crisis!)
2. Daily use
- Regular check-ins: "Where are you on the thermometer?"
- Child shows level (pointing, clothespin, cursor)
- Validate your feelings without judgment
3. Combining strategies
- Each level is associated with control strategies
- The child chooses from several options
- Strategies are tailored to what works for him
Control strategies by level
🟢 Level 1 strategies (maintaining calm)
- Pleasurable and soothing activities
- Predictable routines
- Praise for maintaining calm
🟡 Level 2 strategies (return to green)
- Breathing: ventral breathing, square breathing
- Movement: active pause, walking, stretching
- Distraction: thinking about something else, changing activity
- Talk: express your feelings
🟠 Level 3 strategies (crisis avoidance)
- Isolate yourself: quiet corner, get out of the situation
- Strong sensory: anti-stress ball, kneading dough, music
- Intense movement: jumping, running, pushing against a wall
- Adult help: asking for help
🔴 During the crisis (level 4)
- Secure: remove dangerous objects, protect
- Calm presence: being there without talking
- No reasoning: the brain is not available
- Wait: the crisis will pass
- Debriefing later: when calm has returned
Populations concerned
- ASD: difficulty identifying and naming emotions (alexithymia)
- ADHD: emotional regulation difficulties, reactivity
- Anxiety disorders: identify the onset of anxiety and take early action
- Behavioral disorders: preventing crises
- All children: developing emotional intelligence
Our emotional tools to download
🌡️ Emotion thermometer
Several thermometer formats to personalize. With movable cursor or coloring zones.
Download😊 Emotional face cards
Photos of real faces expressing different emotions. To recognize expressions.
Download🧘 Relaxation exercises
Child-friendly relaxation techniques. Breathing, muscle relaxation, visualization.
Download🌬️ Breathing cards
Illustrated breathing exercises: ventral breathing, square breathing, guided breathing.
Download💭 Thought bubbles
Support for visualizing characters' thoughts and emotions. Theory of mind.
Download📖 Social scenarios emotions
Illustrated stories about emotional situations and how to deal with them.
DownloadFrequently asked questions
A simplified version (2-3 levels, expressive faces) can be started around age 3-4. The full version with 4-5 levels is suitable for children aged 5-6 and over. The key is to adapt the complexity to the child's level of understanding.
This is common, especially in the early stages. The child may have difficulty perceiving body signals, or may want to give the "right answer". Work on identifying body signals: "Your heart's beating fast, your fists are clenched... are you sure it's green?". Validate that all colors are acceptable.
Yes, absolutely. A thermometer can be displayed in the classroom (collective version) or each student can have his or her own tool (discreet individual version). Regular "check-ins" help identify students who need support. Include a quiet corner.
Some children have very rapid emotional upswings (typical of ADHD in particular). In this case: 1) Work on triggers to anticipate them, 2) Reinforce yellow-level strategies to act earlier, 3) Accept that certain passages through the red are inevitable and focus on calming them down.
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