Supporting Emotional Development at Home: Simple Ways to Help Little Ones Name Big Feelings

 


 1. Use Visuals to Talk About Feelings

Children, especially preschoolers, benefit from seeing what emotions look like. 

Try using simple visuals like our Pinky the Crab Emotion Cards 

(Happy Pinky, Sad Pinky, Mad Pinky, Scared Pinky). Post them

on the fridge, near your child’s bed, or in a calm corner.


Try this at home:
Ask in the morning, “How is your heart feeling today?” and let your child point to a card.


2. Make Emotions Part of Daily Art

Art is a natural way for children to express what they can’t say in words. Use coloring pages like Pinky’s Big Feelings Coloring Page, or let your child draw their own faces showing different emotions.

Prompt ideas:

“Draw a time when you felt brave.”“Color Pinky when she’s feeling happy!”

3. Read Books That Name Feelings

Books are wonderful conversation starters. When reading My Big Suitcase of Emotions, pause and ask:

“What is Pinky feeling here?”

“Have you ever felt like that?”

You’ll be amazed at the little stories your child shares when given the chance.


 4. Model the Words You Want Them to Use

Your child watches everything you do—including how you respond when you’re upset or overwhelmed. When you name your own feelings, you’re teaching emotional vocabulary in real-time.

Model this:

“I feel frustrated because I spilled the milk. I’m going to take a deep breath.”


 5. Make Space for ALL Feelings—Even the Big Ones

Let your child know it’s okay to feel angry, scared, tired, or excited. All feelings are welcome—even when behaviors need guidance. Use calm-down routines like:

Hug a stuffed animal

Count to five with finger breathing

Squeeze a pillow or play dough

Repeat the message:
“It’s okay to feel all the feelings.”













#SELforPreschool #EmotionActivities #PreschoolArt #PinkyTheCrab #StephanieCampbellBooks #FeelingsFlipbook #SocialEmotionalLearning #PreschoolTeachers #MyBigSuitcaseOfEmotions #InclusiveClassroom

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Building Together: A Block Play Social Skills Activity

Image
  Objective: To help children practice teamwork, communication, and kindness through guided block play. 🧰 Materials: A variety of blocks (wooden, foam, or plastic) Play figures, animals, or vehicles (optional) “Let’s Build Together!”  A timer  🌟 Activity Steps: 1. Set the Stage: Invite children to sit in a circle and ask: “Have you ever built something amazing with blocks? What happens when we build together instead of alone?” Talk briefly about: Listening to others’ ideas Taking turns placing blocks Saying kind words like “Can I help?” or “Great idea!” 2. Team Building Challenge: Split children into small groups (2–3 per set of blocks) and give them a simple, fun challenge: Examples: “Let’s build a house for a teddy bear.” “Can your team build the tallest tower?” “Make a zoo with spaces for all the animals.” Give them 5–10 minutes to build, encouraging positive social behavior as they work. 3. Prompt Positive Play: A...
Read more

Storybooks That Support Inclusion: Helping Preschoolers Understand Neurodiversity

Image
  Storybooks That Support Inclusion: Helping Preschoolers Understand Neurodiversity By Stephanie Campbell, M.S.Ed., Early Childhood and Special Education In today's diverse preschool classrooms, inclusion isn't just a goal it's a necessity. As an early childhood educator, author, and workshop presenter, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful storybooks can be in building empathy, understanding, and connection among young learners. When children hear stories that reflect different abilities, cultures, and ways of communicating, they learn to appreciate differences rather than fear them. They begin to see that every child belongs  whether they speak with words, gestures, or a warm smile. Why Storybooks Matter in Inclusive Classrooms Storytime is one of the most powerful tools in the early childhood classroom. It helps children: Develop empathy and emotional awareness Understand perspectives different from their own Explore new vocabulary and communication styles Ask q...
Read more

Learning to Name Our Feelings: A Child’s Guide to Big Emotions

Image
  Children experience a whirlwind of emotions every day from joy to frustration, from wonder to worry. But how often do we pause to help them understand   what   they’re feeling and   why ? Understanding emotions is one of the first steps toward building strong social skills, healthy self-regulation, and empathy for others. And guess what? It can start with something as simple as a picture.  Meet Our Emotion Explorer! This beautiful illustration shows a little girl expressing six different emotions. Her face tells a story without using a single word. Can you guess what she’s feeling in each one? Let’s take a closer look: 😊   Happy Her bright eyes and wide smile say it all. She might have just gotten a hug or heard her favorite song. Talk about it:   “What makes you feel happy inside your heart?” 😢   Sad Her eyes look down, and her mouth forms a small frown. Something might have disappointed her. Talk about it:   “It’s okay to feel sad. Want...
Read more