Who Can I Talk To Turtle? - Help Children Name Their Support Network

A creative, child-friendly resource to help children identify their safe people and remember they are never alone.

When children experience big emotions, whether it’s worry, sadness, or frustration, one of the most important protective factors is knowing they have trusted people they can turn to. The challenge is that in the heat of the moment, children sometimes forget who those trusted people are, or feel too overwhelmed to reach out.

That’s where our Who Can I Talk To Turtle resource comes in. This engaging activity encourages children to write down the names of or draw their trusted adults and safe friends in the turtle’s shell. By colouring in, personalising, and even cutting out their turtle, children create a tangible, visual reminder that they are never alone, and that there is always someone they can turn to during tricky times.

This resource is a powerful tool for building emotional resilience, strengthening communication skills, and promoting mental health awareness.

Features:

• Fun Turtle Design: The outline of a friendly turtle with multiple shell spaces, perfect for writing, drawing, or colouring.

• Personalisation Options: Children can write names, draw faces, or add symbols in each shell segment and truly make it their own.

• Creative & Mindful: Encourages colouring, cutting, and decorating, making it a calming activity suitable for a wide range of ages.

• Printable & Reusable: Print as many copies as needed for home, classroom, or therapy use.

• Conversation Starter: Naturally opens up discussions about safe people, trusted adults, and healthy communication.

• Versatile Use: Perfect for families, schools, counsellors, play therapists, wellbeing workshops, World Mental Health Day and more.

About This Resource

The Who Can I Talk To Turtle was designed with child development, mental health, and social-emotional learning in mind. The turtle metaphor is simple but powerful: just like a turtle carries its shell everywhere it goes, children can carry the reminder of their “safe people” in their minds wherever they are.

This resource is intentionally open-ended. Younger children might simply write “Mum,” “Dad,” or “Grandma” in the shell spaces, while older children might include friends, teachers, mentors, or counsellors. The flexibility means it can grow with the child and be used in different contexts.

By externalising these safe people in a visual form, children strengthen the connection between knowing who supports them and actually reaching out for help. This small but meaningful shift can reduce feelings of isolation, increase resilience, and build trust.

Benefits

• Normalises asking for help — breaks down the stigma and makes talking about feelings a safe, everyday practise.

• Boosts emotional literacy — children learn to identify, label, and seek support for their emotions.

• Encourages self-expression — through writing, drawing, and colouring.

• Promotes positive mental health habits — builds a healthy routine of recognising support networks.

• Creates a concrete reminder — the completed turtle can be pinned on a noticeboard, fridge, or bedroom wall.

• Strengthens relationships — sparks conversations between children and their trusted adults.

How to Use

1. Print the Resource — as many copies as you need.

2. Introduce the Concept — explain that everyone has “safe people” they can talk to about their feelings.

3. Brainstorm Together — encourage the child to think of family members, friends, teachers, or other trusted people.

4. Fill in the Shell — children can write names, draw faces, or add doodles in the shell spaces.

5. Decorate & Colour — encourage creativity and ownership.

6. Cut Out & Display — children can cut out their turtle and keep it somewhere visible as a reminder.

7. Follow-Up Conversations — revisit the turtle regularly to update or add new trusted people.

Suggested Uses

• At Home: Parents can use it as a gentle way to talk about feelings and support systems.

• In Schools: Teachers can use the activity as part of PSHE, SEL, or wellbeing lessons or for World Mental Health Day.

• In Counselling and Professional Settings: Therapists and Social Workers can use the turtle to explore safe people, trust, and communication strategies.

• In Art/Play Therapy: Combines creative expression with emotional reflection.

• In Wellbeing Workshops: A simple, engaging way to get groups thinking about resilience and support.

The Who Can I Talk To Turtle is a powerful mental health and support resource for children. By identifying and celebrating their safe people, children gain a visual reminder that support is always available. This builds trust, resilience, and confidence in seeking help.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, social worker or therapist, this activity is an essential tool for encouraging children to talk about emotions and develop healthy support networks.

Help your children remember they are never alone. Add the Who Can I Talk To Turtle to your toolkit today and give them a fun, creative, and meaningful way to connect with their support network.