Use indoor feet and indoor voices.

When I say “Use indoor feet and indoor voices,” I’m not just reminding you about safety or manners — I’m giving you a tiny, useful tool to help manage big feelings and hard moments. Kids, ages 7 to 14, you hear that phrase and it can remind you to slow down, check in with your body, and choose how loud your heart and hands are being; parents, we can use it as a gentle anchor when emotions are running high. The words are short and concrete, which is exactly what works when the storm is inside: “indoor feet” means keep your body steady and safe, “indoor voices” means lower the sound so you can listen and think. Pair those lines with other simple, powerful phrases you can say in the moment — “I see you,” “Take one slow breath,” “Tell me what you need,” “It’s okay to feel that,” “Let’s name the feeling,” “Hands to ourselves,” “We’ll figure this out together,” “You are safe here,” and “Ready when you are.” Practice them like game rules: try a “quiet feet, quiet voice” challenge during a calm afternoon so the words stop being a command and start being a habit. Model the behavior you want — speak quietly to each other, move gently when someone is upset, and show how taking a breath or stepping away for two minutes helps. Make a small “calm corner” or a visual cue that reminds everyone of indoor feet and voices so the phrase becomes a cue for self-regulation, not punishment. When you need to correct, layer empathy over limits: “I know you’re mad that the game ended, but we use indoor feet so nobody gets hurt — let’s stomp it out on the rug for ten seconds, then come back.” Celebrate the practice: say “thank you for using your indoor voice” as often as you praise achievements so kids learn that emotional control is a skill, not a chore. Teach alternatives to running or yelling: stomping safely, squeezing a stress ball, drawing the feeling, counting backward from five, or whispering a secret to a stuffed animal. Remember to keep expectations age-appropriate — older kids may prefer a nod or a private word, younger ones need clearer, shorter reminders. Above all, keep your tone calm and connected; the magic of small phrases is that they cue connection before correction. Over time, “indoor feet and indoor voices” becomes shorthand for pausing, checking in with the body, and choosing a response — a small phrase that builds safety, self-awareness, and the emotional muscles kids need to get through hard moments.