Storytime: Feelings
Blog
For a child, feelings can feel all mixed up and jumbled until he recognizes what those feelings are and why he feels a certain way. Helping your child to name their feelings can be the first step in regulating their emotions. Talking about big feelings before they occur can also help. You can find some practical strategies provided by the American Psychological Association here in addition to the activities and books provided below.
Join us Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. or Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room.
Ages 2-5
Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play
Tip
Being able to express yourself verbally is an important skill. Anger, frustration, and sadness can cause children to act out if they don't know how to express those difficult and big emotions in words. By portraying different emotions and talking about them, adults can help children learn to express themselves. ~ Reading Picture Books With Children by Lambert
Activity
Read "The Way I Feel" by Janan Cain or another book about feelings. Then ask your child what makes him sad, happy, or angry and how he acts when he feels that way.
Books Presented

the Way I Feel by Janan Cain
Illustrations and rhyming text portray children experiencing a range of emotions, including frustration, shyness, jealousy, and pride.

Double Dip Feelings: Stories to Help Children Understand Emotions by Barbara S. Cain

How to Apologize by David LaRochelle
Wouldn't the world be a better place if everyone knew how to apologize? Luckily, this humorous guidebook is full of practical tips about when, why, and how to say you're sorry. From a porcupine who accidentally popped his friend's balloon to a snail who was running so fast he stepped on a sloth's toes, hilarious examples and sweet illustrations abound. For both listeners who are just learning and older readers who need a refresher, this book will come as a welcome reminder that even though apologizing can be hard, it doesn't have to be complicated.

If You're Happy and You Know It! by Jane Cabrera
Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays
Old MacDonald Felt So Glad
(to tune of “Old MacDonald had a farm”)
Old MacDonald felt so glad (Happy)
HA-HA-HA-HA-HA
And when he’s glad we sign it like this:
Happy Happy Happy
With a Happy Happy here and a Happy Happy there
Here a Happy, there a Happy everywhere a Happy Happy
Old MacDonald felt so glad.
HA-HA-HA-HA-HA
Repeat this, substituting the following emotions and signs:
Grumpy = Grr
Sad = Wah Wah
Silly = Hee Hee
Source: Jen in the Library
Feelings
Sometimes on my face you’ll see (point to face)
How I feel inside of me. (Point to chest)
A smile means happy, a frown means sad, (Smile, then frown)
And when I grit my teeth, I’m mad. (Grit teeth and frown)
When I’m proud I beam and glow (Smile)
But when I’m shy, my head hangs low. (Bow head)
Source: North Olympic Library System
Feelings
Sung to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
I have feelings, so do you.
Let’s all sing about a few.
We get happy, we get sad.
We get scared, we get mad.
I am proud of being me
That’s a feeling, too, you see.
I have feelings, so do you.
We just sang about a few.
Source: North Olympic Library System
Shake My Sillies Out
I've gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out
And wiggle my waggles away
I've gotta clap, clap, clap my crazies out…
I've gotta jump, jump, jump my jiggles out…
I've gotta yawn, yawn, yawn my sleepies out…
I've gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out.
Crafts and Activities

Ice Cream Emotions Coloring Page

Calm Heart Craft
Additional Books

Dragons on the Inside (And Other Big Feelings) by Valerie Coulman
This book uses vivid picture scenes to describe a child's inner feelings during stressful (although not always bad) situations. Dragons roar, storms crash, and bats stare as different situations are resolved (or diminished) through small acts of connection by someone "on the outside."

The Boy With Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee
Meet a boy with a heart so big, his feelings glow from his cheeks, spill out of his eyes, and jump up and down on his chest. What good is this giant heart?

Foodie Faces by Bill Wurtzel










































