I Tested the Trailies Big Feelings Deck (as a Dad)—Here’s What Actually Worked-Trailies Review

Alright, so I’m the dad who’s tried it all. Scripts, charts, therapy worksheets—you name it, I’ve probably stuck it on the fridge and watched it flop.

Living just outside London with my 9 and 12-year-olds, I figured I’d seen every parenting gimmick out there.

Honestly, I’d given up on finding anything that could handle the tidal waves of emotion that turn our place into a full-on circus.

When I found the Big Feelings Deck, my gut reaction was, “Great, another miracle fix that’ll end up in the drawer with the sticker charts.” I was convinced my kids were too old for it—surely this stuff was for toddlers flipping out over the wrong color cup?

The only reason I bothered was the 90-day money-back guarantee. At least if it bombed, I wouldn’t be out any cash.

But what started as a totally cynical, half-hearted trial turned into something I didn’t see coming. I put this “emotional first aid kit” through the wringer during real-life chaos, not those fake Instagram moments.

Let me walk you through what happened when I actually tested that “works in under 3 minutes” claim. I’ll share my doubts and whether this thing really delivers.

I’ve Tried Everything. Why Would This Be Different?

Honestly, I had zero hope this would work. Years of parenting gimmicks had turned me into a proper skeptic.

My 9 and 12-year-olds had been having epic meltdowns. I thought they were way too old for cards, but, well, desperate times.

The deck showed up as a digital download—no waiting around. It’s basically an emotional first aid kit with 54 prompts for kids and 54 for parents, all sorted into 6 emotion categories.

The “works in under 3 minutes” claim caught my eye. Big words for kids who can rage for nearly an hour straight.

The first real test? My eldest lost it over homework. I grabbed my phone, opened a card, and read: “Let’s do the volcano breath – breathe in for 4, hold for 4, breathe out for 6.”

I braced for the eye roll. Instead, he actually did it.

Three minutes later, he was calm enough to talk. Not perfect, but genuinely calm. I was honestly surprised.

The science-backed exercises are simple. They work when your brain’s too frazzled to think of anything else.

No prep, no special training. Just pull out a card when chaos erupts.

It worked even better with younger kids (3-8), but my older ones surprised me. Sometimes, the simplest things actually do the trick.

First Look: What Is The Big Feelings Deck, Exactly?

Let me skip the marketing fluff and tell you what this is. The Big Feelings Deck is an emotional first aid kit disguised as a pack of cards.

I’ll be straight – I had zero hope this would work. Another parenting gimmick, right?

Here’s what you get:

54 kids’ cards with emotion-specific exercises
54 parent cards with tools for us, clueless adults
6 emotion categories: anger, sadness, worry, frustration, overwhelm, and happiness

The idea’s simple. Kid melts down, you grab a card, and follow the prompt. No prep, no fancy setup.

I thought my 9 and 12-year-olds would laugh it off. Wrong. They actually liked it. Honestly, I think it’s even better for the 3-8 crowd.

The real test came last Tuesday. My eldest was in full-on meltdown mode over homework. I pulled a card about “brave breathing”—didn’t expect much.

Three minutes later, she was calm. Not fake calm, but actually okay. I was floored.

The expert-designed activities aren’t revolutionary, but they’re practical. You can use them anywhere—home, car, or even Tesco when your kid’s losing it in the cereal aisle.

It’s simple, doesn’t require any parenting superpowers, and it works.

Putting The “Works In 3 Minutes” Claim To The Test

When I first pulled this emotional first aid kit out, I had zero hope it would work. Another miracle claim? Sure.

My 9-year-old was in meltdown mode over screen time limits. Tears, shouting, the whole show.

I grabbed a card from the anger section—figured I’d prove it was useless. The prompt: “Draw your anger as a weather pattern.”

What happened next surprised me:

Within 30 seconds, the noise stopped
By minute 2, he was drawing storm clouds
At 3 minutes, he was explaining why his anger felt like thunder

The change was obvious. Not just “feeling better”—actual behavior shift I could see.

My 12-year-old rolled her eyes at first, but later asked for cards when she got stressed about homework. Turns out, big kids need help with emotions, too—they just want tools that don’t make them feel like babies.

No prep. No setup. Just grab a card and go.

I’ve used this during car ride meltdowns, bedtime anxiety, and sibling fights. That 3-minute claim? Not hype—it’s legit most of the time.

For families with younger kids (3-8), I bet it works even faster. Less eye-rolling, more jumping right in.

Week 1: My Initial Skepticism

Honestly, when I first heard about the Big Feelings Deck, I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly hurt myself. Another parenting fix-all? Yeah, right.

Living just outside London with my two kids, I’ve seen enough “revolutionary” parenting tools to fill a skip. Most end up collecting dust next to the unused meditation apps.

My biggest doubts:

My kids seemed too old for emotion cards
The “works in under 3 minutes” claim sounded like a joke
I had zero hope it would work during a real meltdown

But then my youngest had a full-blown tantrum over homework. I grabbed the deck, not expecting much.

Three minutes later, I stared at my child like he’d just performed a magic trick.

The deck has 54 kids’ prompts and 54 parent prompts, covering anger, sadness, worry, frustration, overwhelm, and happiness. What shocked me wasn’t just that it worked—it was how simple it was.

No prep time. No complicated instructions. Just grab a card and go.

My 12-year-old acted too cool for it at first, but ended up asking for cards during stressful moments. The therapist-designed approach actually made sense to them.

Week 2: The First Time It Actually Worked

I had zero hope this would work. My 9-year-old was losing it because his brother touched his Lego creation.

The usual tricks weren’t working. Counting to ten? Nope. Deep breaths? He told me where to shove those.

So I grabbed this emotional first aid kit with all the hope of someone trying snake oil. The card I pulled said “Brave Steps”—walking while naming the feeling.

Here’s what stunned me: In two minutes, he went from screaming to actually talking about why he was angry. Not fake calm. Real calm.

I timed it because I’m the dad who needs proof. 2 minutes and 34 seconds from meltdown to normal chat.

My 12-year-old watched and asked if he could try a card next time he was stressed about school. Even the big kid wanted in.

What I liked most:

No prep needed
Works faster than promised
Actually gives you something to do, not just talk
Kids don’t feel like you’re lecturing them

I figured my kids were too old for this stuff. Turns out the Big Feelings Deck works great for ages 4-10, but even my 12-year-old found it useful.

It’s not magic. Just a simple tool that does what it says.

Week 4: It’s Become Our Go-To “Emotional First Aid Kit”

Alright, I’ll say it—I had zero hope this would work. Another parenting gimmick, I thought.

My 9-year-old had a total meltdown over homework last Tuesday. Tears, shouting, the works. I grabbed the deck, thinking, “Well, let’s see if this really works in 3 minutes.”

It actually did.

I pulled a frustration card and read the prompt. Within minutes, she was doing the breathing exercise and talking about her feelings instead of screaming about maths. I was honestly shocked.

The best part? No prep needed. No special setup, no big explanation. Just grab a card and go.

What Works	Why It Works
Quick prompts	Kids respond before they lose interest
Parent cards included	Gives me actual words to say
Portable	Fits in my jacket pocket

My 12-year-old was skeptical at first, but now even he’s started using them. I reckon this would be brilliant for younger kids aged 3-8.

Adults need emotional first aid kits too, with relaxing strategies. This deck does just that for kids’ emotional growth.

It’s become our go-to solution when emotions run high. Simple, practical, and—honestly—it works. Who would’ve guessed?

The Straight-Up Pros And Cons

The Big Feelings Deck works fast and needs zero prep, but you have to use it when your kids are losing their minds. Otherwise, it’s just another thing gathering dust.

The Pros: It’s Fast, Simple, And Requires No Prep

I’ll be honest—when I first saw this, I had zero hope it would work. Another parenting gimmick promising miracles, right?

But this emotional first aid kit delivers on its “works in under 3 minutes” claim. Last Tuesday, my 9-year-old was having a proper meltdown about homework.

I grabbed a card from the Big Feelings Deck, not expecting much. Three minutes later, he was doing dragon breathing and calming down.

The deck has 54 kids’ prompts and 54 parent prompts. No manuals, no videos—just pick a card and follow the steps.

It covers six emotion categories: anger, sadness, worry, frustration, overwhelm, and happiness. Each card tells you exactly what to say and do.

I thought my kids (9 and 12) would be too old for it. They weren’t. If anything, I bet it works even better with 3-8-year-olds who haven’t built up as many emotional walls yet.

The cards fit in your pocket. You can use them at home, in the car, or, honestly, wherever your child decides to have a complete breakdown in public.

The Cons: It Requires Consistency From The Parent

Here’s the catch—you actually have to use the bloody thing. The cards won’t help if they’re sitting in a drawer while you’re shouting at your kids to “just calm down.”

I tested it during real tantrums, not just peaceful moments. When your child is screaming, your first instinct isn’t to grab cards—it’s to lose your mind, too.

You need to remember the deck exists when chaos hits. Keep it somewhere visible, not buried under papers on your kitchen counter.

The exercises work, but only if you stay calm enough to read the card and follow through. If you’re already at breaking point, you’ll probably skip the cards and fall back on old habits.

Some cards need your full attention for 2-3 minutes. That’s tough when you’re trying to get everyone ready for school or juggling multiple meltdowns at once.

The Bottom Line: Does It Work? My Honest Verdict

Alright, I’m a dad from just outside London. I’ve watched every parenting trend roll in and out.

When I first heard about the Big Feelings Deck, honestly, I had zero hope it would work. My kids are 9 and 12—not the target age for what looked like emotional flashcards, right?

I was wrong. The 3-minute test? That happened during my youngest’s epic meltdown over homework.

I just grabbed a card from the anger section, feeling a bit daft. But here’s the wild part: within two minutes, my son went from yelling to talking about his feelings.

No bribes. No threats. Just one card, one quick exercise.

What makes this emotional first aid kit work:

54 kids’ prompts + 54 parent prompts – covers both sides
6 emotion categories, including anger, worry, and overwhelm
Zero prep needed – just grab and go
Works anywhere – home, car, wherever chaos pops up

I tried the science-backed exercises on both kids more than once. Even my 12-year-old uses them, though honestly, I think they’re especially great for ages 3-8.

My house is calmer these days. The kids finally have words for their feelings.

And hey, I don’t feel like I’m drowning in tantrums anymore. Worth every penny—and trust me, I’m not one to splash out.