Feelings
Link to a page that matches expressions and emotions.
http://www.kids-pages.com/folders/worksheets/Feelings/page1.htm
Then we talked about what might cause these different feelings.
http://www.kids-pages.com/folders/worksheets/Feelings/page1.htm
Then we talked about what might cause these different feelings.
MANAGING strong FEELINGS
We have been talking about conflict and bullying and other topics that tend to evoke strong emotions. We may see or experience these and feel sad, scared, angry, stressed, overwhelmed, or nervous. Whatever we feel, we need to remember that any feeling is normal and okay. However, despite our feelings, we must be very intentional and thoughtful in how we respond or act. Feeling and doing are very different things. For example, we may feel incredibly mad, but it is never okay to hurt someone. We have to find a better way to manage or handle that emotion. We watched a video Called The Get Along Monsters: 8 Ways to Handle Anger. Some of the strategies were to catch your anger (recognize and label it), count to 10 or say your ABCs, walk away, move your body (get exercise), distract (play a game you like), and talk to a friend or an adult about the feeling. We can try these strategies for any strong emotions we may be experiencing.
identifying strong emotions
The first step to managing emotions appropriately, especially strong negative emotions, is to recognize them when they are occurring. for many kids (and adults as well), their body is the first indication that something is wrong. A lot of times they will feel symptoms in their body before their brain registers what is going on. As an adult, you may experience this as well. Mrs. Wilson told us that she often times feels tightness in her neck and shoulders before she realizes she is feeling stressed. She sometimes notices her teeth are gritting before she figures out that something is making her mad. Once she figures out what she is feeling she can take steps to address it. Today we made the craziest self-portraits ever! We thought about how some feelings change the way our bodies feel inside and marked those changes on a body outline like a map. At first, this might look like a crazy, strange monster picture, but if you look closely you may be able to see your child's reactions and responses within the picture. Some kids have a lot of anger, while some rarely react that way. Some kids react primarily in their head and neck, while others react with large, whole-body movements. Check out your child's self-portrait and ask them about why they drew what they did. What changes do they identify in their body? would you add anything to their picture or is there something you don't typically see in their responses? Talk about it!!! In addition, make your own with the blank outline below!
***Coming soon: Mrs. Wilson's self portrait and a blank portrait for adults to do at home!***
***Coming soon: Mrs. Wilson's self portrait and a blank portrait for adults to do at home!***
calming and controlling strong emotions
We reviewed the brain parts and talked about how the limbic system takes over when we get upset. (*Check out the brain handout below to learn more about the brain!) Once we recognize what we are feeling, it is our job to take steps to regain control. (*Check out the handout below for details on how to regain control). We practiced controlling our breathing, muscles, and words in class during a relaxation activity. Ask your child about this experience. Most students said they loved it and asked if we can do it every lesson!