It was 7:47 AM on a Tuesday, and I was already running late for James’s preschool drop-off. My 5-year-old spotted the blue cup I’d filled with his morning milk, and the wails started immediately—ear-piercing, dramatic sobs that could wake the whole neighborhood.
“I wanted the RED cup, Mommy! The RED one!” Meanwhile, 20-month-old Jax decided this was the perfect moment to dump his cereal all over the kitchen floor.
I could feel that familiar heat rising in my chest as I stood there, one hand gripping the counter, the other holding back my own scream. In that moment, staring at my tiny dictator losing it over a cup color, I felt like I’d failed at the one job that matters most.
The guilt hit hard as I heard myself yell—again—wondering why I always seem to lose it when my kids need me to stay calm. I’d tried deep breathing, counting to ten, even hiding in the pantry for thirty seconds, but nothing seemed to work when chaos struck our morning routine.
The Big Feelings Deck became our lifeline during those overwhelming moments, giving me a simple 3-minute calm plan that actually worked—no prep, no fuss. Customer reviews on Trustpilot show I’m not the only one—parents and even mental health therapists use these cards to navigate emotional meltdowns.
After months of testing it in our real-world Houston chaos, I’m here to share how this deck helped turn our “wrong color cup” mornings into actual moments of connection instead of just more conflict.
That “Wrong Color Cup” Kind Of Morning
You know those mornings when everything goes sideways before you’ve even had your coffee? Last week, I was getting our Winnebago Micro Minnie ready for a weekend trip to the lake.
James was excited about sleeping in the queen bed with me. Little Jax seemed happy enough playing with his toys on the dinette.
Then I made the fatal mistake. I handed Jax his milk in the blue cup instead of the red one.
The meltdown was epic. This tiny dictator went from zero to nuclear in seconds, screaming, throwing himself on the floor of our trailer, the whole production.
I felt like I’d failed at the one job that matters most—keeping my kids happy and regulated. Here I was, trying to create these perfect camping memories, and I couldn’t even get the cup color right.
That’s when I remembered the Big Feelings Deck tucked in my bag. Each card is like a complete, calm plan that works in under 3 minutes with no prep.
I pulled out a card for overwhelm and followed the simple steps. Within minutes, Jax was calm, and we were connecting instead of battling.
Whether we’re in our Forest River at the campground or dealing with toddler meltdowns over wrong colored cups at home, this deck has become my go-to.
The 54 emotion-specific prompts cover everything from anger to happiness. It’s designed by child psychologists who actually understand how little minds work.
What Is The Big Feelings Deck?
Let me tell you about the tool that became my absolute lifeline during those daily battles with my 5-year-old James. Those moments when your sweet child turns into a tiny dictator, and you’re standing there feeling like you’ve failed at the one job that matters most? Been there.
The Big Feelings Deck is literally a deck of cards that gives both kids and parents a complete calm plan. No prep needed. Each card works in under 3 minutes, which is perfect for my chaotic days with James and 20-month-old Jax.
Here’s what makes it so simple yet powerful:
What’s Inside:
- 54 prompts designed just for kids
- 54 tools specifically for parents
- 6 different emotion categories
The Six Emotions It Covers:
- Anger (my biggest struggle with James)
- Sadness
- Worry
- Frustration
- Overwhelm
- Happiness
The science-backed tool was created with input from child psychologists and emotional regulation experts. But honestly, I didn’t care about the credentials when James was melting down at Target.
What I loved most was how it helped me stay present with my boys instead of just trying to control their behavior. The cards work anywhere—at home, school, or even in the grocery store checkout line when Jax decides he’s done with shopping.
Each card is one action for your child. One side shows what to do, making it foolproof for those moments when my brain feels completely fried.
What You Get: 54 Cards For Every Emotion
When I first opened the Big Feelings Deck, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. James had just thrown himself on the kitchen floor because I gave him the wrong colored cup, and I felt like I was dealing with a tiny dictator.
The deck comes with 54 kids’ prompts and 54 parent prompts. That’s 108 cards total, which felt overwhelming at first. But then I realized each card was like having a complete, calm plan in my back pocket.
Here’s what makes these cards different:
- 6 emotion categories covering anger, sadness, worry, frustration, overwhelm, and happiness
- Kid-friendly activities that take under 3 minutes
- Parent prompts that help me stay calm too
- No prep needed—just grab a card and go
I keep a set in my purse, one in the car, and another by our kitchen table. When 20-month-old Jax starts melting down at Target or James gets frustrated with homework, I don’t have to think. I just pull out a card.
The parent side has been my lifeline. It gives me actual words to say instead of just feeling like I’ve failed at the one job that matters most.
Each card focuses on one specific emotion. So when James is angry, I grab an anger card. When he’s worried about school, there’s a worry card for that too.
How A Single Card Works In Under 3 Minutes
When James turned into a tiny dictator over his cereal bowl last Tuesday morning, I felt that familiar panic rising. My hands were shaking as I grabbed one of the Big Feelings Deck cards from my kitchen counter.
The card had two sides that saved my sanity:
| For James | For Me |
| One simple action (like stomping his feet three times) | One calm script to guide him through it |
| Movement-based emotion release | Clear steps so I didn’t freeze up |
I read the parent prompt first. It told me exactly what to say in that moment when my brain usually goes blank.
Then I showed James his side. “Let’s be angry elephants and stomp it out!”
The whole thing took maybe two minutes. No prep time. No complicated instructions.
The magic wasn’t that James stopped being upset. The magic was that I stayed present instead of yelling. I became his calm instead of adding to the chaos.
Each card is like having a complete, calm plan in my back pocket. When little Jax has his own meltdowns at 20 months, I can grab a different card designed for his age.
The 3-minute activities work because they’re not trying to fix everything. They’re just giving both of us a way to reset in the moment.
Our Experience: From “Tiny Dictator” To Calm Connection
Those moments when James would melt down felt like negotiating with a tiny dictator who’d seized control of our entire household. The Big Feelings Deck changed things for us. Now, meltdowns turn into quick chances for connection instead of chaos.
The First Time We Used A Card During A Tantrum
I’ll never forget the first time I pulled out the Big Feelings Deck during one of James’s epic meltdowns. He was sprawled on our kitchen floor, screaming because I’d given him the wrong cup for his juice.
My hands were literally shaking as I grabbed the anger card. Part of me felt ridiculous—like I was failing at the one job that matters most.
The card had this simple breathing exercise called “Dragon Breath.” Instead of my usual frantic “Please stop crying,” I sat down next to James and said, “Let’s breathe fire like dragons.”
Something magical happened. Within two minutes, his sobs turned into giggles. We were both pretending to be dragons, and suddenly we were connected instead of battling each other.
I didn’t have to think or remember some complex strategy. The card told me exactly what to do, step by step.
That day, I realized I’d been trying to control his behavior instead of helping him process his feelings. The deck gave me a completely different approach.
How It Became Our Family’s “Reset Button”
Now the Big Feelings Deck sits on our coffee table like a trusted friend. Both James and little Jax (who’s 20 months) know exactly what it means when I reach for those cards.
It’s become our family’s reset button. When emotions run high, we grab a card instead of escalating the situation.
Last week, James was overwhelmed about his first sleepover. Instead of giving him a pep talk that would’ve probably made him more anxious, I pulled the worry card.
We did this simple exercise where he drew his worry as a monster, then we “shrunk” it down to a tiny dot. He went from tears to excitement in about three minutes.
The beauty is that it works for both kids. Even Jax responds to the simple breathing exercises and movement activities.
My Favorite Part: The Simple, No-Guesswork Script For Me
The thing that sold me on this deck wasn’t just how it helped my kids—it was how it helped me stay calm and present.
Each card gives me exactly what to say and do. No guessing, no frantically googling “how to handle toddler tantrums” while James is losing it in Target.
The parent prompts are honestly game-changing. They remind me to check my own emotions before jumping into helper mode. Sometimes I need to take three deep breaths before I can help anyone else.
My favorite card addresses frustration, because that’s where I struggle most. It has this gentle reminder that frustration is information—it’s telling me something needs to change.
Instead of feeling like I’m winging it through parenthood, I have a clear plan. The cards work whether we’re at home, in the grocery store, or visiting my mom in Houston.
The whole system takes less than three minutes. No prep time, no special materials—just grab a card and go.
The Verdict: Is The Big Feelings Deck Worth It For Overwhelmed Moms?
Let me be real with you—honestly, I was drowning. James, my 5-year-old, turned into a tiny dictator every afternoon.
Jax, at 20 months, was following his lead. Those moments when your kid is screaming and you’re screaming back?
I felt like I’d failed at the one job that matters most. The mom guilt was crushing me.
Then I found the Big Feelings Deck, and honestly, it became my lifeline.
Here’s what makes it different from all the other parenting advice I’d tried:
What You Actually Get:
- 54 cards for kids + 54 for parents
- 6 emotion categories (anger, sadness, worry, frustration, overwhelm, happiness)
- Science-backed activities designed by experts
Why It Works:
- No prep needed—just grab a card and go
- Under 3 minutes per activity
- Complete a calm plan on each card
The magic isn’t really in controlling James’s behavior. It’s in staying present with him during the storm.
When he melts down about his Legos, I don’t panic anymore. I grab a card.
We do the activity together. He feels heard, and honestly, I feel a little more confident.
The Real Test: Customer reviews show other parents love it too.
One mom said her family is “blowing imaginary bubbles and breathing like dragons now.” For this exhausted Houston mom juggling two little ones, it’s been worth every penny.
