There are so many ways to use a set of emotions cards with children, at home and school. These activities are particularly valuable as children are learning to recognise and regulate their own feelings and emotions, as well as learning to recognise and empathise with the emotions of others. Today I am sharing a free […]
Teaching Feelings & Emotions: 30+ Emotional Literacy Activities & Resources
Inside: A huge library of resources for teaching feelings & emotions to kids, with over 30 emotional literacy activities, games and resources for social emotional learning. Managing our emotions is hard, whether you are four or six or forty six! Teaching our children to effectively manage their feelings and emotions is such an important, ongoing […]
5 Adult Issues Kids Worry About (and How to Address Their Fear or Anxiety)
As much as we try to protect them, our kids worry. Here are some tips on helping kids cope with the life’s big issues. “We should let kids be kids. They will have plenty of time to worry about stuff when they’re adults.” I have a child who worries. She worries plenty about what, to […]
Mindfulness for Kids: 9 Apps To Help Them Be Calm, Focused and Relaxed
Awesome mindfulness apps for kids that help them to calm down, relax or focus. Our ten year old has always been a good sleeper, ever since she was around 7 weeks old when she started sleeping through the night – while we were travelling on an interstate trip, no less! However every now and then, […]
21 Awesome Kids Books Exploring Feelings and Emotions
I am a huge fan of using books as a resource to open discussion with kids about all manner of situations and problems. This collection of books about feelings and emotions was sparked by the popularity of our Managing Big Emotions emotional awareness series, with the picture books featured here handpicked for their capacity to […]
Calm Big Emotions With a Scented Rainstick Sensory Bottle
Every now and then I get a crazy idea that I just can’t get out of my head. After the huge interest in our Slow Motion Calm Down Bottle and the Rainstick Sensory Bottle, I got to thinking about which of the five senses are missing out when it comes to these great calm down […]
Slow Motion Calm Down Sensory Bottle
We are long time lovers of sensory bottles but this one wins the prize for all-time, most mesmerizing! It is a fabulous tool to use with children experiencing big emotions. They can breathe as they watch the Lego bricks fall and focus, slow down or calm down, depending upon the moment. My girls haven’t stopped […]
What To Do When Books For Kids: Understanding the Way I Feel
A little while ago I was collecting together a list of books for kids who worry and I came across What To Do When I Worry Too Much. I found it a fabulous resource for working through with my (then) eight year old who was showing signs of anxiety in the face of some personal […]
Which Emotion Am I? Exploring Emotions Guessing Game
My girls had so much fun playing Hedbanz on a play date with friends recently that it got me thinking about how easily the game could be adapted to become a fun way to further the conversation with your children about big emotions. Having regular conversations about their (and our) emotions helps kids to become […]
9 Calm Down Ideas Poster Update
The original 9 Calm Down Ideas poster for managing big emotions has been in circulation for some time now and I have received feedback from a small number of readers to say that they are uncomfortable with one of the original poster suggestions – punch a pillow. I completely understand. Directing a child to what […]
