Who it's for
Feelings Friend helps children say how they feel when the words are hard to find. They give a soft, stitched friend a face, and the friend names the feeling.
In short
- Rated 4+. Best for children around 4 to 12, using it with a grown-up nearby.
- Older children and teenagers with SEND use it too, especially when talking about feelings is hard.
- Little reading needed: children build faces and pick pictures. A grown-up can read the words aloud.
- No ads, no purchases, no accounts and no chat. The grown-ups area sits behind a grown-up check.
Younger children
Children choose eyes, brows and a mouth, and the friend shows the feeling and names it: "Pip feels worried. Do you feel worried too?" There is no wrong answer, and a child can tap the word to choose a different one. Dressing the friend up is just for fun, and helps the friend feel like theirs.
Older children and teenagers
Older children often like the detail: tapping where they feel it in their body, saying what their senses need, and choosing what helps. Nineteen feelings go beyond happy and sad, to words like overwhelmed, embarrassed and lonely.
Children with SEND, of any age
Feelings Friend was designed with SEND families in mind, including children who are autistic, have ADHD or anxiety, or a PDA profile. "Not sure?" starts from body clues, such as a funny tummy or a fast heart, then what is happening, and suggests a feeling to try.
Low-demand mode takes away the questions and prompts, so it is just play. Sounds are gentle and can be switched off, there is a light or dark look, and dress-up includes ear defenders, glasses, a hearing aid, a sunflower lanyard and a chew necklace.
For grown-ups and schools
Each saved feeling goes in a private diary on the device, with where the child was and what was happening. Grown-ups can spot patterns over time and make a PDF report for SENCO meetings, annual reviews and EHCP needs assessments, including an "All about me" page in the child's own words. "What helps me" is a one-page profile to share with new teachers, clubs and respite carers.
Feelings Friend is not a clinical tool. Use it alongside what you, and the people who know your child, see.
The grown-ups area
Tap the people button at the top. You'll be asked to tap a number written in words, so only a grown-up can get in. Inside are each child's friend and diary, low-demand mode, sounds and look, backups and links to free SEND advice. The same check is asked before reports, backups and deleting diary entries.
Help and questions
Where is the diary kept?
Only on the device. There is no account, and nothing is sent anywhere unless you choose to share a report or a backup (see the privacy policy).
How do I keep the diary safe?
In the grown-ups area, tap Back up diary now and then, and keep the file somewhere safe, such as Files or iCloud Drive. Restore backup brings everything back on a new device. Deleting the app deletes its diary.
Can more than one child use it?
Yes. In the grown-ups area, tap Add another child. Each child has their own friend, diary and reports.
Something isn't right, or I have an idea
Email hello@littleeasier.co.uk and a real person will reply.