How to Use Little Peanut

Adult-first calm meets child-led connection

Before a child uses the kit, we help the grown-up get calm using our ATLAS Framework. Then we co-use the feltboard to notice feelings, explore them safely, and try a Calm Plan together.
The app (coming soon) will make it easy to log patterns and share insights across home, school, and therapy.

🌟Step 1: Use the ATLAS Framework

Before a child uses the kit, we help the grown-up get calm first.
ATLAS is our six-step, adult-first method for calm and connection β€” it makes co-regulation simple, shame-free, and easy to remember.

πŸͺΆ Download the ATLAS Pocket Card here:

Use ATLAS before every interaction to build safety and predictability.

🌟 Step 2: Spot + Name the Feeling (Mood Match)

The child picks a Mood Match feeling card that shows how they feel.

Adults can help by pointing, saying the feeling, or copying the face.

This helps kids start to name feelings.

🌱 Builds:

  • Emotion recognition

  • Non-verbal communication

  • Visual matching

🌱 Reveals:

  • How the child processes emotion visually

  • Preferred ways to express feelings

  • Comfort with identifying emotions

  • Regulation state (engaged, distracted, hesitant)

🌟 Step 3: Explore Safely (Play With Support)

The child puts the feeling face on Little Peanut.

Adults can talk about times the child felt this way.

This helps kids understand feelings better.

🌱 Builds:

  • Sensory regulation

  • Emotional confidence

  • Coping strategies

🌱 Reveals:

  • What calming methods feel safe or effective

  • Sensory or movement preferences

  • Capacity for follow-through or co-regulation

  • Signs of emotional flexibility and self-awareness

🌟 Step 5: Build Your Calm Menu

Once you’ve found a few Calm Plans that work, use our Calm Menu.

Build your own collection of go-to strategies β€” visual, sensory, and movement-based.

This helps children (and adults) recognise patterns, build confidence, and create consistency between home, school, and therapy.

πŸͺž Download the Calm Menu to see examples you can adapt for your own space.

Record what worked (app coming soon)

🌟 Step 4: Try a Calm Plan (Together)

The child picks a Calm Plan card to use with Little Peanut.

Adults help the child try the calming idea together.

This helps kids learn ways to calm down.

🌱 Builds:

  • Emotional safety

  • Self-expression

  • Co-regulation

🌱 Reveals:

  • Emotional vocabulary and language style

  • Internal stories or patterns the child uses

  • Need for support or space

  • Adult-child dynamics (connection, resistance, trust)

Grows With the Child

As children grow, so does Little Peanut.
The kit supports early imitation, symbolic play, and eventually: reflection, problem-solving, and peer-based emotional scenarios.
It’s designed to grow with your child β€” from early intervention to early primary β€” and meet them exactly where they are.

πŸ’‘ Some professionals use Little Peanut as part of emotional check-ins and early co-regulation screening.

If you’d like to explore how Little Peanut might support your work, we’d love to hear from you. Email Loren at hello@littlepeanutproject.com