Grown-Up's Guide
Pip's Feelings Club · Episode 3: Turtle Time
"I can calm down."The calm thought, said inside
Stop. Tuck in. Three breaths.Hug yourself, head down
"Your shell is always with you."It works anywhere
The steps from the episode
Stop (hands to yourself) → Tuck in (hug yourself, head down) → Three slow breaths → "I can calm down" → Come out and sort out the problem. The shell is for calming, not hiding: coming out and fixing it is the last step. In the episode the rebuilt castle is smaller. Turtle Time calmed Pip; it did not undo the accident.
Doing a sheet
Watch the episode together first: scan the code on Sheet 1, or visit pipsfeelingsclub.com. A calm 10 minutes, never as a consequence. You read the comic, your child does the pens. Practise the tuck when everyone is calm. Finish with a play card.
What to talk about
Sheet
Ask them
Do together
Turtle Time
"What did Pip's wings want to do?"
"What does Tuck do when his storm comes?"
"Can you show me your shell?"
Do Turtle Time together, slowly, a few times this week when nobody is cross.
Out of My Shell
"Which ones hurt? Which ones help?"
"Was the new castle the same as the old one?"
"What could you do after you come out?"
Pick one thing that often starts a storm at home, and plan the turtle for it.
When their hands want to push
1. Get close and low: "Stop. Hands to yourself."
2. "Turtle Time. Tuck in with me." Three breaths.
3. Later: "What happened? How can we fix it?"
When they're stormy
Use fewer words. Stay near and do the tuck yourself.
Leave "sorry" until the storm is smaller.
Still too big? A cuddle or a quiet spot comes first.
Do it out loud yourself
"I'm getting cross. I need Turtle Time."
Tuck in and breathe where they can see.
"That's better. Now, let's sort it out."
Catch them doing it well
"You kept your hands to yourself!"
"I saw you tuck in. That was hard to do."
"You came out and fixed it."
Try to avoid
Sending them to "do turtle" as a punishment.
Expecting it to work the first time.
Talking it through while they're still stormy.
Every day (2 minutes)
Any calm moment: "Show me your turtle!"
Three breaths together, then "I can calm down."
A star each time they tuck in by themselves.