strategies for identifying emotions

The following are strategies that you can help you help your child in identifying and understanding their emotions as they grow and develop:

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1) Label feelings in the moment: When you see you child's body language or facial expression/s, name the emotion. For instance, you can say: 'You are twirling around and smiling. It seems like you are really, really happy!'

2) Use emotion cards and picture books: Show your child cards with facial expressions and talk about what they might mean. Read storybooks and point out the characters' emotions, exploring what their feelings might be through the expressions on their faces and the non-verbal cues and posture of the characters' bodies. 

3) Model your own emotions: Share your feelings with simple terms and corresponding facial expressions. For example, say, 'I am feeling happy today because we are going to go to our Music Makers Just for Minis class today!' and then ask, 'How can you tell I'm feeling happy? What expressions am I using to show you I am happy?'

4) Play games and role-play: Act out different emotions using toys, dolls, puppets or other imaginary methods to represent characters and their emotions in a story or situation. 

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5) Point out emotions in others: Look for ways to discuss how others in books or real-life situations might be feeling, which will help your child understand different emotions in context.