Learn More - Calm Kid Central

Worried or frustrated by your “big feelings child”?

Calm Kid Central helps children with emotional, social or life challenges to learn the skills they need to feel calm, confident and cooperative.

Why do some children struggle more than others?

10-30% of primary aged children have more intense mental, emotional, social or life challenges compared to the average child.

These children might have a formal diagnosis (Autism, ADHD, anxiety) – or not – and the causes of their challenges might be genetic, environmental, social, temperament – or a combination of factors. But their challenges and big feelings make life tough at times for them and their families.

There are no “magic fixes” for these families, but when children learn skills to cope and respond to their big feelings and life challenges, they then feel and act calmer, more confidently, more co-operatively and cope much better with their day to day experiences.

As a group of child psychologists, we have worked in the clinic with many hundreds of kids with challenges over the last 25 years. We have now created Calm Kid Central as a psycho-educational program to help children learn these skills – here’s how this happens.

Teaching children with big feelings and challenges to feel more confident, calmer and more co-operative.

Over 25 interactive and animated educational lessons for children to learn to: cope with frustration, manage anxiety, improve peer relationships, manage conflict constructively, help themselves get to sleep, use calm words, re-direct their attention onto positive topics, ask for help – and many more.

Lessons to help children feel calm and manage anxiety

Lessons to help children feel co-operative and manage frustration/disappointment
Lessons to help children make friends, cope with conflict and get along well with others
Lessons to help children manage life challenges.
Online games and activities.
Downloadable activities and posters

Teaching parents to support and coach children with big feelings.

Courses and lessons to help parents/caregivers know what to say to children with big feelings and challenges – when they are distressed, what to do to help these children feel calmer, cope with their life challenges and act in more co-operative ways.

Lessons about coaching children to make friends/get along with others
Lessons about supporting children with anxiety disorders, symptoms of stress and low confidence
Lessons about supporting children with frequent frustration/overwhelm and difficulties feeling co-operative
Lessons about helping children manage life challenges.
Audio examples of parents/caregivers talking to children with big feelings
Downloadable tip sheets

Providing access to child psychologists to answer questions.

Child psychologists on standby to answer an unlimited number of your questions about child mental health (through our text based Question Centre) as your child and yourself work through the lessons. All questions answered within 24-48 hours. Please note that Calm Kid Central is an educational program, not a health service – so we answer your questions on the basis of general information about child mental health, and how child psychologists usually work with children with challenges and needs. Parents say this is often what they need to know, in order to know what to do next.

Clinical psychologists on standby to answer questions in 24-48 hours
Ask unlimited questions (de-identified and anonymous – except in the case of risk)
Read our child psychologists’ answers to hundreds of previous questions

Who has used Calm Kid Central - and did it help them?

Over 5000 parents/caregivers, and over 900 professionals have signed up for Calm Kid Central in the last 6 years.

94% of children (based on 120 respondents) experienced a significant reduction in worry and stress symptoms, difficulties managing frustration and co-operation behaviours and attention and concentration problems after 4 months of being part of the program.

97% of parents said they believed Calm Kid Central had been either "quite", "very" or "extremely helpful" for their family.

Of course, Calm Kid Central will not be helpful or appropriate for all children. It's important to know that CKC is not a health service and doesn't provide individualised health or therapy support. We are a psycho-educational program providing skills training, information and learning support. Contact us if you would like more information to know whether this program might be helpful for your family.

Who are we?

Our clinical child psychologists all have Masters degrees in psychology, and have worked with children and families for between 8 and 22 years.  We still work every day with children with diagnoses such as ASD, ADHD, learning disorders, sensory processing disorders and trauma – as well as with children who just need some extra support in managing tough life situations or their strong emotions.  

Is a family ready for Calm Kid Central?

Family life is busy!  But in order to benefit from the program, it is essential that parents/caregivers are able to commit to 15-20 minutes at least once a week to watch the video lessons with their children, help them complete the activities and games and to watch and read the parent/caregiver lessons.

What is the cost?

Calm Kid Central access is $28.50 per month or $177.50 per year (save $164.50).

If you have private health insurance with HCF (funded by HCF), you are eligible for a code for either free or discounted membership. If you are an HCF member click here to get your code. If you have this code already, click join now.

Some comments from parents/caregivers (with their permission) about the educational resources, modules and lessons on Calm Kid Central are below.

"Really helpful! My son had significant anxiety and my daughter experiences lots of big feelings but with the videos and tip sheets I feel so much more confident that I have strategies to help them!"

"... The videos are so incredibly helpful and the worksheets are also a wonderful support… Keep up the superb work!"

"It has completely changed my understanding of my son and has improved his behaviour & my knowledge."

"Very helpful to work through problems with emotions that arise as my 6 year old navigates his first year of school and manages new friendship groups and challenges."

"Very helpful with the videos I’ve been able to show my kids. It can sometimes explain things better than I can. Our son especially liked the ones about understanding anger."

"Very helpful. Great resources and the animated lessons for kids are very clear and my son is happy to watch them when asked and has been able to understand the message it’s sending."

"My older daughter… loves watching the videos… (she found them) comforting and watched them many times over. She also used the worksheets and kept them next to her bed to use when she was feeling sad… I would definitely recommend this resource to other families with children needing some emotional support."

"A very helpful resource, accompanies what is learnt in therapy sessions. Another positive tool to help kids, rather than just parents input; it adds more weight."

"I use the knowledge I have gained from CKC everyday and feel more confident in my parenting. My children have enjoyed and benefited from the videos and sheets."

"I have found the content… and the posters with my children helpful for both me as the parent and the kids... I feel as though by reading the content I am able to understand my children's perspective more and be more empathetic towards them."

"Gives children a social and emotional vocabulary. Explicit examples are provided. Excellent strategies for children to self regulate and manage emotions which will hopefully transfer to improved behaviours and overall happiness."

"It has helped me to clarify and cement my understanding of parenting, giving me more confidence in my decisions and my son has enjoyed the videos and quizzes and talks about them when he’s having trouble with his emotions."

Are you a therapist, teacher, child psychologist, allied health professional or another professional who works with children and families?  The program and pricing listed above is for parents and personal use only.

But don't worry - we have a special program just for you: Calm Kid Pro. 
It's designed to make your life as a professional working with children easier! 

** Important **

Please do not use your full name or email address so you can ensure any questions you ask on the Question Centre are anonymous to other users.

  • Want help for a child who sometimes struggles with worry, "big feelings", frustration or friendships?

    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FORTNIGHTLY EMAIL

    NO VAGUE, CONDESCENDING THEORY.
    JUST PRACTICAL IDEAS YOU CAN USE WITH YOUR CHILD TODAY TO HELP THEM FEEL CALM, CONFIDENT AND COOPERATIVE.

    These emails are gold. Thanks for your wisdom! J. Sampson (Cornerstone College)

x