Helping Autistic Kids Tune Into Their Bodies and Feelings: Free Feelings Check-In Guide
For many autistic kids, understanding and expressing how they feel both emotionally and physically, can be incredibly challenging. That’s because interoception (the sense of what’s happening inside our bodies) is difficult.
But helping kids recognize their internal sensations and connect them with words or images isn’t just about language; it’s about self-advocacy, regulation, and emotional well-being.
That’s exactly why I created my Feelings Check-In Guide, and I’m excited to share it with you as a free resource!
If a child can’t recognize that their tummy hurts, they’re hungry, or they’re overwhelmed, it’s much harder for them to communicate their need or to get the support they deserve.
When we teach kids to regularly check in with their bodies and feelings, we’re helping them:
Build self-awareness so they can recognize what’s happening inside.
Develop communication skills to express their needs.
Strengthen self-advocacy so they can ask for support before becoming overwhelmed.
Lay the foundation for lifelong emotional well-being.
What’s Inside the Feelings Check-In Guide?
This simple, visual support helps kids:
Recognize when something feels “off” in their body.
Identify physical sensations like hunger, thirst, or tiredness.
Connect emotions like frustration or fear with what’s happening inside.
Use clear, child-friendly visuals to communicate their feelings or needs.
Whether you’re a parent, therapist, or educator, this guide can be used at home, in therapy sessions, or in the classroom to help kids build these essential self-awareness and communication skills.
Tips for Using the Feelings Check-In
The goal isn’t to drill feelings words or force kids to name their emotions out of context.
Instead, the guide is designed to be:
Responsive, not directive: Use it in real-time moments when your child is showing signs of discomfort or confusion.
Model-based: Show kids how to use the visuals by modeling your own feelings (“I’m feeling tired right now!”) or gently narrating what you notice about them (“It looks like you’re covering your ears…maybe it’s too loud.”)
Connected to the child’s lived experience: Pair the visuals with the situations they encounter every day, from snack time to transitions to moments of frustration.
This approach helps kids make personal connections between the words, visuals, and their own body signals, making it far more meaningful than memorizing a feelings chart.
Ready to Download Your Free Copy?
If you want to empower your child or students to understand their bodies, express their needs, and build self-advocacy skills, my Feelings Check-In Guide is ready for you!
