Modeling Talking about Feelings
Teachers can model how to talk about feelings as a natural part of conversation and to let children know that experiencing a range of feelings is normal. For instance, you might describe how pleased you are that you will be going out to dinner with friends for your birthday, that you are sad at having to say goodbye to your son going off to college, or that you felt frustrated because you were in a hurry but had to wait in a long line at the grocery store.
Finally, you can provide children with alternatives for expressing their feelings with words or actions that are harmless, such as:
- Using expressive materials like easel or fingerpaint, modeling dough, or clay
- Physical activities that release tension, like jumping up and down, throwing a ball at a target, or hammering pegs into a block of clay or a pounding board
- Redirecting to a soothing activity like swinging, rocking, or putting on a set of headphones and listening to music
- Using the “silent scream”mimicking screaming as loud as possible without letting any noise come out!
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