Remember how Inside Out took us on a journey through the mind of a child, teaching us all about the power of emotions? Well, Inside Out 2 is back, and this time, it’s going even deeper—showing us what happens when emotions grow more complex.
We all learned something from the original movie—whether it was realizing that all emotions have their place or seeing firsthand how important it is to express how we feel. But what happens when kids grow up and their emotions start to get more complicated? When the simple joy or sadness they once felt turns into something more layered, like nervous excitement or anxious anticipation?
As School Counselors and educators, you’re often the first line of support when kids face these new emotional challenges. You know better than anyone how vital it is to help children understand and manage these feelings in healthy ways. That’s where these tools inspired by Inside Out 2 come in, offering resources that not only make emotional regulation easier but also bring the movie’s concepts to life in a way that resonates deeply with children.
Here are emotional regulation tools to really help drive home the concepts Inside Out 2 introduced us to:
The Inside Out 2 Coping Skill Flashcards The Inside Out 2 Emotional Regulation Worksheet Bundle The Inside Out 2 Emotional Regulation Workbook The Inside Out 2 Bulletin Board Kits The Inside Out 2 Self-Awareness Posters
The Inside Out 2 Coping Skill Flashcards
Just like how Joy found new ways to guide Riley, this first tool helps kids navigate those tricky moments when emotions get tangled.
The Inside Out 2 Coping Skill Flashcards are designed to empower children’s emotional growth by transforming feelings into words. These beautifully crafted cards are more than just visuals—they become a child’s guide to understanding and managing complex emotions. From teaching valuable coping skills to enhancing emotional regulation and self-awareness, these flashcards provide the support kids need to express how they’re really feeling.
Imagine a child overwhelmed by anger—frustration building up with no way to let it out. The flashcards provide them with practical tools, like deep breathing exercises, counting to ten, or even talking to someone about why they’re upset. For a child who’s feeling anxious, these cards remind them to take a step back, focus on their breath, and know that it’s okay to feel worried—it’s just one part of their emotional journey.
What’s truly special about these flashcards is how they turn complex emotions into something children can understand. With each card, kids learn new words to describe their feelings, building an emotional vocabulary that helps them communicate better and understand themselves more deeply. And as they grow, they’ll carry those lessons with them, equipped with tools that will serve them long after the flashcards are put away.
The Inside Out 2 Emotional Regulation Worksheet Bundle
When emotions get a bit more layered, it’s not always easy for kids to recognize what they’re feeling or how to express it. Just like in Inside Out 2, where Riley’s emotions become more complex as she grows, this next tool helps children identify and manage those tricky feelings as they evolve.
The Inside Out 2 Emotional Regulation Worksheet Bundle is perfect for School Counselors who want to guide kids through their feelings with structure and clarity. These worksheets are designed to mirror the emotional journey that the characters experience in the movie—turning what might feel like a chaotic mix of emotions into something kids can understand and work through.
For example, one of the worksheets focuses on core memories, similar to how Riley’s key memories are handled in the movie. Kids are encouraged to reflect on their own significant moments and the emotions tied to them, helping them see how their feelings shape who they are.
Another activity involves exploring Personality Islands, similar to how Riley's personality was depicted in the movie. This worksheet encourages kids to think about the different "islands" that make up who they are—like Family Island, Friendship Island, and more. It’s a powerful way for children to map out the core aspects of their identity, helping them understand how their emotions influence these key areas of their lives.
Additionally, the Parts of My Sense of Self activity guides children in reflecting on the various elements that make them unique. By drawing or writing about different parts of their identity—like their values, emotions, and relationships—kids gain a deeper understanding of themselves. This exercise mirrors the journey Riley goes through in Inside Out 2, where she learns that her identity is shaped by a blend of emotions and experiences.
Whether it’s identifying triggers for anxiety or learning how to cope with sadness, these worksheets offer structured yet creative ways for kids to explore their emotional world. Just like the characters in Inside Out 2, children can better understand that emotions aren’t just random—they’re signals that help guide them through life’s challenges.
For School Counselors, these worksheets provide a consistent way to support emotional regulation, blending educational content with the relatable themes from Inside Out 2. By tying in these elements, children can connect more deeply with the material, making the lessons even more impactful.
The Inside Out 2 Emotional Regulation Workbook
When it comes to diving deeper into emotions, having a comprehensive resource can make all the difference. That’s where this next tool comes in, offering kids a structured yet engaging way to explore their feelings in more detail.
The Inside Out 2 Emotional Regulation Workbook is designed to empower young minds by providing interactive worksheets that cover a range of emotions—like anxiety, sadness, anger, and joy. Just like how Riley and her emotions in Inside Out 2 learn to navigate a more complex and sometimes overwhelming world, this workbook gives kids the tools they need to understand and express what’s going on inside them.
One of the most impactful features of this workbook is its approach to helping children break down their emotions in relatable ways. For example, there’s a section dedicated to exploring what triggers specific emotions, allowing kids to map out their feelings with prompts like “What makes you feel angry?” and “What do you do when you’re sad?” There’s even an activity where children reflect on their “core memories,” just like Riley does in the movie, helping them connect their experiences to their emotions.
Another standout feature is how the workbook guides children through understanding emotions that aren’t always straightforward—like envy or embarrassment—similar to how Inside Out 2 shows that emotions are often layered and can be tricky to untangle. By engaging with these exercises, kids not only gain insights into their own feelings but also learn practical strategies for managing them.
Whether it’s guiding a child through how to manage their anxiety or encouraging them to celebrate moments of joy, this workbook is an invaluable resource for School Counselors and therapists. It’s ideal for social-emotional learning (SEL) sessions, offering a mix of educational content and creative exercises that keep kids engaged while they learn more about themselves.
By the time children complete these activities, they’ll not only have a stronger understanding of their emotions but also feel more confident expressing them in healthy ways—much like Riley learned to do as she grew in Inside Out 2.
The Inside Out 2 Bulletin Board Kits
Transforming a classroom into a space that fosters emotional growth can have a lasting impact. With this next tool, you can create an environment where emotions are not just understood but embraced.
The Inside Out 2 Bulletin Board Kits are designed to promote social-emotional learning while adding a vibrant touch to any space. Perfect for School Counselors and therapists, this decor set helps bring key emotional concepts to life. Each bulletin board offers visually engaging materials that align with the lessons from Inside Out 2, making emotional regulation a central part of the classroom or counseling environment.
Imagine walking into a classroom and seeing the emotions from Inside Out brought to life in a way that kids can relate to every day. One board focuses on the message that “All Feelings Are Valid,” a critical concept for kids learning that it’s okay to feel a wide range of emotions, from joy and excitement to sadness and anger. Another board invites students to create their own "Core Memories"—a concept central to the movie—helping them reflect on the experiences that shape who they are.
With these boards, you’re not just decorating a room; you’re creating a space where children can feel seen, understood, and supported as they explore their emotional worlds. Whether it’s using affirmations like “I accept all my feelings” or reinforcing positive coping skills, these bulletin boards offer a powerful tool for engaging students in meaningful social-emotional learning.
From promoting coping strategies to helping kids recognize that every emotion has value, this decor set turns any space into a supportive, emotionally nurturing environment that encourages self-awareness and growth.
The Inside Out 2 Self-Awareness Posters
When it comes to promoting self-awareness and a growth mindset, sometimes all it takes is a visual reminder in a space where kids can see it every day. That’s where these next tools come in—simple yet impactful posters that encourage children to embrace their emotions in a positive and constructive way.
The Inside Out 2 Self-Awareness Posters are perfect for therapy offices and classrooms, offering vibrant and visually engaging decor that reinforces important emotional concepts. With messages like “Don’t bottle up your emotions,” these posters gently remind children that expressing their feelings is key to understanding and managing them.
Just as Inside Out 2 illustrated how we can feel out of control when we bottle up some emotions and allow others to take the lead, these posters remind kids of the importance of letting all their emotions have a voice. It’s essential to express every feeling freely, whether it’s joy, sadness, anger, fear, disgust, anxiety, envy, embarrassment or ennui (boredom). These visuals create a supportive environment where kids are encouraged to recognize and work through all their emotions, not just the ones that feel easy to share.
Whether they’re used as part of a broader program or simply to add a touch of inspiration to a room, these posters are a great tool for helping children internalize positive affirmations. The eye-catching designs make it easy for kids to engage with the content, while the relatable messages help them connect their feelings to actionable steps.
These posters don’t just decorate a space—they enhance it, turning therapy sessions, classrooms, or counseling offices into places where children are motivated to explore their emotions and adopt a growth mindset. By integrating these reminders into daily routines, you’re helping children build the resilience and self-awareness they need to navigate their emotional world.
Empowering Kids to Understand and Manage Complex Emotions
From exploring the more nuanced emotions in Inside Out 2 to guiding children in developing key emotional regulation skills, these tools work together to create a comprehensive approach that resonates with both kids and professionals. Whether it’s through engaging worksheets, interactive workbooks, or vibrant decor, each resource is designed to make emotional learning fun, meaningful, and accessible.
Just like the movie shows us that emotions are not simple—neither are the tools we use to help kids navigate them. Each product stands alone as a valuable resource, but together, they reinforce the broader lessons of Inside Out 2, making the concepts of self-awareness, emotional vocabulary, and coping strategies truly stick.
When all these resources are used in unison, children aren’t just learning how to manage their emotions—they’re building a solid foundation for emotional health that will benefit them for years to come. By providing practical tools that integrate storytelling, relatable examples, and visual elements, you’re creating an environment where kids can fully embrace their emotional journey.
Gentle Observation: One of my favorite scenes from Inside Out 2 is when Anxiety realizes she’s unintentionally harming Riley’s sense of self, which spirals into a panic attack. Anxiety, overwhelmed and horrified by what’s happening, struggles to regain control but finds herself lost. Joy enters the scene, initially trying to command Anxiety to stop. But when she sees Anxiety’s tearful distress, Joy’s approach shifts. She recognizes that Anxiety isn’t acting out of malice but is deeply suffering.
Joy’s expression softens as she calls Anxiety’s name, not as a command, but with genuine concern, asking, “Are you there?” In that moment, Joy realizes that Anxiety, too, needs compassion and understanding. She reaches out to help Anxiety let go, and together, they manage to ground Riley. This scene is powerful because it shows that healing Riley’s sense of self required not just controlling the panic but also acknowledging Anxiety’s pain. By offering compassion and understanding, Joy helps Anxiety and the other emotions come together, stabilizing Riley. It’s a reminder that even Anxiety needs to be seen, understood, and embraced with kindness for true healing to occur.
So, whether you’re using these tools in your counseling sessions or in a classroom, remember that just like Riley, every child’s emotional journey is unique. By guiding them with empathy and understanding, you’re giving them the gift of emotional resilience that will serve them for years to come.
Jemma (Gentle Observations Team)
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