Your Child Will Learn
How to communicate their feelings to an adult
Here’s What to Do
- Ask your child to close their eyes and notice how their body and mind are feeling.
- Invite your child to sit down and draw how they’re feeling.
- Repeat when your child is upset. Wait until they are in control of their emotions, then ask them to draw what it felt like when they were upset.
Put PEER Into Action
PAUSE
- “Close your eyes. Try to notice: what does my body feel like right now? What am I feeling in my brain right now?”
ENGAGE
- “What color do you think matches that feeling? What kinds of lines or shapes match that feeling?”
- “You were feeling a very big emotion. What feeling do you think it was? How would you show that feeling on the paper?”
ENCOURAGE
- “Thank you so much for sharing that feeling with me. It’s important to me that I know how you’re feeling inside.”
- “Sometimes it can be hard to put words to your feelings. I wonder if you were maybe feeling sad, mad, frustrated, disappointed, or something else?”
REFLECT
- How easily was your child able to communicate their feelings through words or drawing?
Not Quite Ready
Suggest some potential emotions your child may be feeling if they’re not able to come up with the words on their own.
Ready for More
Choose a song that matches your child’s emotion and encourage them to draw along to the music.
As Your Child Masters This Skill
They will be able to recognize their own feelings and express them to an adult
Time to Complete
10 minutes
Materials Needed
Paper and drawing materials