Preschool Activities – February

EMOTIONS

In the month of February, we are used to seeing hearts and references of love all around us. Parents and caregivers often feel love, joy, and satisfaction as they watch a child grow and discover the wonders of the world. However, other common emotions that parents and caregivers may feel are anger, frustration, and disappointment as a child act irrationally or hurts themselves or others. Adults and children feel a variety of strong emotions every day: happiness, excitement, surprise pride, shame, jealousy, embarrassment, sadness. Feelings are not good or bad, or right or wrong. It is how one chooses to express a feeling, or react in a situation, that positively or negatively affects the outcome.

Managing emotions is one of the most important skills a parent or caregiver can help a child learn. The best way for a child to learn to regulate their emotions is by observing how parents and caregivers manage their own emotions. Possessing self-control and coping skills help children get along better with their peers and manage more successfully in stressful situations. Being aware of one’s feelings, self-regulating, and being able to implement strategies for coping in emotional situations can benefit a child’s emotional well-being throughout their life!

TIPS TO HELP A CHILD MANAGE EMOTIONS

1. Be aware and manage your own emotions—set the example, try to stay calm! If you need a break to regain your composure (make sure your child is safe) and go to another room, explaining, “I need a few minutes to figure out how I can help you.”
2. Help child become aware of their own emotions and those they see others experiencing by talking about emotions. “The boy is crying because he is sad that his truck broke.”
3. Point out facial expressions, showing how they can indicate what others are feeling. Understanding that others have feelings will help child learn empathy.
4. Teach child the vocabulary needed to name and express emotions, “I am mad because Tim is playing with Hannah and not me!”
5. Talk with child about what may cause a certain emotion. Then talk about behavior that may likely follow a particular emotion.
6. Show understanding and compassion when talking to your child about their emotions. (If child is made to feel guilt or shame they may be less likely to cooperate and less able to calm themselves.)
7. Let child know you have confidence that they can react to a situation in a positive way and that you are there to help them. Offer examples of how you expect the child to behave. “Please apologize to Jane for taking the book, give it back to her, and ask her if you can look at the book when she is done.”
8. Defuse a difficult situation with an unexpected response: give your child a hug, sing a song, or be silly! Acting in a way that surprises your child may reset the situation, and could help child move forward in a more positive manner.

From Feelings to Friendships

Zero to Three – Early Connections Last a Lifetime

https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/30-from-feelings-to-friendships-nurturing-healthy-social-emotional-development-in-the-early-years