From PBS Parents: Talking with your child about emotions is key to building an emotionally supportive environment at home. By building this space at home, your child can learn to better express herself and handle emotions when she’s out and about. Here is an activity that is big on fun, but more importantly, big on learning emotions.
Materials
- Tray or cutting board
- Play dough. For a winter theme, use white and blue for snowmen and orange for carrot noses.
- Black pipe cleaners or black yarn for the eyebrows and mouths.
- Googly eyes
Directions
- Start by asking your child about different times that she has experienced strong emotions. Ask why she felt that way. How did her body feel when she experienced that emotion? Relaxed? Tense? With young children, we aren’t looking for subtle experiences — use examples that are more extreme and clear.
- Explain to your child that together, you will make snowmen who feel strong emotions too. Help your child form circles with the white or blue play doh (as the snowmen heads). Form noses with the orange play doh and stick them onto the blank faces. Can your child tell which emotions the snowmen are feeling yet?
- Visit PBS Parents for complete directions.