# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Affiliate and Referral links are used below to promote products I love and recommend. I receive a commission on any purchases made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details.

My daughter turned 3 this year and one thing I was not entirely prepared for the huge swing in her emotions that came along with it. One minute she is happy as can be, the next she is upset about not getting what she wanted or not listening to something I asked her to do.

Teaching kids about their emotions helps them to understand that how they feel in reaction to something is NORMAL. It's what they do with that reaction to those emotions that can be difficult. So today I wanted to share 10 ways that you can teach kids about their emotions.

MY LATEST VIDEOS

10 Ways to Teach Kids About Their Emotions

Do your kids understand what an emotion is? There are so many different ones from happy and sad to disgust or afraid. If your kids have not put words to all the different emotions yet, then this printable emotions sorting game from Mom Endeavors would be the perfect way to start.

Perhaps you heard of the movie Inside Out that talks a lot about different emotions? I have personally not seen the movie so I can't recommend it one way or the other, but Teach Mama has this great I nside Out Mini book and card game talking all about emotions.

Here is a great emergent reader book on emotions from The Measured Mom.

I absolutely LOVE these emotion discovery bottles and lego build emotions station ideas from Lalymom as well. What a great hands-on way to talk about emotions.

Once your child understands what emotions are, the harder part is figuring out how to handle them. Childhood 101 has this great post with 5 steps to managing big emotions, plus it comes with a printable posted to help remind your kids.

You could also do this really fun emotions scavenger hunt from Mosswood Connections.

And another great activity are these paper plate emotion masks from No Time for Flash Cards.

If you have more Lego® fans then they will love this Exploring Emotions with Lego® Faces printable packet from Homeschool Encouragement.

And if you are in need of some ways to help your kids calm down from their emotions, I have a calming, alerting and organizing activities printable that you can go get and print out.

Want more ways to teach your kids about their emotions? Check out my brand new Emotions Postcards for kids! They are for sale over on my shop page.

Follow Heather | Growing Hands-On Kids's board From Growing Hands-On Kids on Pinterest.
You May Also Like:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Ways to Teach Kids About Their Emotions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
My daughter turned 3 this year and one thing I was not entirely prepared for the huge swing in her emotions that came along with it. One minute she is happy as can be, the next she is upset about not getting what she wanted or not listening to something I asked her to do.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Download the Practical Strategies Flyer for Teachers (PDF 320kb)

View full-featured PowerPoint presentations with The PowerPoint™ Viewer (verions 97 and later)

Modules are best viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Scripted Stories for Social Situations
Scripted Stories for Social Situations help children understand social interactions, situations, expectations, social cues, the script of unfamiliar activities, and/or social rules. As the title implies, they are brief descriptive stories that provide information regarding a social situation. When children are given information that helps them understand the expectations of a situation, their problem behavior within that situation is reduced or minimized.

Scripted Stories for Social Situations Tip Sheet
(1 pg) HTML | PDF

I go to Preschool (on the bus)
(14 pg) HTML | PPT

I go to Preschool (in the car)(14 pg) HTML | PPT

What Do We Do In Circle?
(10 pg) HTML | PPT

I Can Be a Super Friend
(18 pg) HTML | PPT

I Can Stay Safe
(15 pg ) HTML | PPT

I Can Use My Words(15 pg) HTML | PPT

Tucker Turtle Takes Time to Tuck and Think (16 pg) PPT
La Tortuga Tucker Toma Su Tiempo Para Pensar y Actuar ( PPT)

Tools for Working on "Building Relationships"

Positive Attention Data Sheet
(1 page) PDF
Hoja de datos sobre atención positiva ( HTML)

Some Starters for Giving Positive Feedback and Encouragement (1 page) PDF
Algunas sugerencias para dar elogios e incentivos ( HTML)

Book List -Using Books to Support Social Emotional Development

Children's Book List
Relevant to Social-Emotional Skills (6 pages) PDF

Book Nook

These easy-to-use guides were created especially for teachers/caregivers and parents to provide hands-on ways to embed social emotional skill building activities into everyday routines. Each book nook is comprised of ideas and activities designed around popular children's books such as Big Al, Hands are Not for Hitting, On Monday When it Rained and My Many Colored Days. Examples of suggested activities include using rhymes to talk about being friends, making emotion masks to help children identify and talk about different feelings, playing games around what to do with hands instead of hitting and fun music and movement activities to express emotions.

Free Spirit Publishing, Inc. 2000 Hands Are Not for Hitting by Martine Agassi

(5 pages) PDF

Mouse was Mad by Linda Urban
Harcourt Children's Books (2 pg) PDF

When I am by Gladys Rosa-Mendoz
(13 pages) PDF

Teaching Social Emotional Skills

"You Got It!"
Teaching Social and Emotional Skills
Lise Fox and Rochelle Harper Lentini

Super Friend Award
(1 page) PDF | PPT
en español: Galardón de Súper Amigo ( HTML)

Emotion Faces
(12 pages) PDF
en español: Caras de sentimientos ( HTML)

Feeling Chart: English
(4 pages) PDF
en español: Feeling Chart: English-Spanish ( PDF)

Feeling Chart: Flowers(1 page) PDF
en español: Paquete de soluciones ( PDF)

Feelings Sign-in Chart: English
(1 page) PPT

Feelings Faces Cube: English
(3 pages) PPT

The Turtle Technique
(1 page) PDF
en español: La técnica de la tortuga ( HTML)

Problem-Solving Steps
Poster: PPT | PDFPre-K: PPT | Toddler: PPT
en español: Pasos para resolver problemas PPT

Solution Kit Cue Cards
(940 KB) PPT
en español: PPT

The following are from Tools for Developing Behavior Support Plans the Module Archive. These are Modules from 2003. The Archive has Spanish and HTML versions available. For the most current modules, see: Training Modules.

Observation Cards
Home Observation Card PDF
Functional Assessment Interview Form -Young Child PDF

en español
Tarjetas de observación PDF Formulario de Entrevista de Evaluación Funcional-Niño pequeño PDF

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
CSEFEL: Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The National Center for Effective Mental Health Consultation (CEMHC) addresses the needs of Early Head Start/Head Start (E/HS) staff and families for practical guidance on effective ways to promote young childrenís social and emotional development and reduce challenging behaviors.

# data[].attributes.headline
Tipsheet on Challenging Behaviors for Teachers

# data[].attributes.subject
Tipsheet on Challenging Behaviors for Teachers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Practical Strategies for Teaching Social Emotional Skills

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Practicing Targeted Social Emotional Skills During Daily Routines

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Thoughts, Feelings and Actions: Self-Regulation in Early Childhood  (Video #185)

# data[].attributes.headline
Helping Children Learn Emotional Vocabulary

# data[].attributes.subject
Helping Children Learn Emotional Vocabulary

# data[].attributes.headline
Helping Children Handle Anger and Disappointment

# data[].attributes.subject
Helping Children Handle Anger and Disappointment

# data[].attributes.headline
Teaching Children about Handling Frustration

# data[].attributes.subject
Teaching Children about Handling Frustration

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Article--Ideas for Teaching Children about Handling Disappointment and Difficult Emotions.docx

# data[].attributes.headline
How to Teach Tucker Turtle and Calm-Down Thermometer

# data[].attributes.subject
How to Teach Tucker Turtle and Calm-Down Thermometer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Implementing Emotional Literacy into Direct Teaching Time

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Hello everybody! Today's post is inspired by a reader who was wondering how she can use social stories with her autistic son to help him understand basic social situations. Here are a few ideas of how you can use social stories with your child as well. These social stories are great for children with and without autism.

Every day there are certain routines that we follow that help us get through the day. For most people, there is a specific order that they get ready in the morning, complete their showering tasks, attack tasks at work, and even enjoy free time. Children with language delays often don't understand these routines and can end up feeling completely confused and out of control. Imagine if everything that happened to you throughout the day seemed to have no order and suddenly you were being asked to do something you really didn't like to do without even knowing why. This is how our kids can feel! By using social stories to help our children understand the routines that they will follow every day, we can bring some order to their lives and make sense of the chaos around them. Think about some routines that your child has a particularly hard time with. Maybe it's getting ready in the morning or getting ready for bed (those are the two I hear the most!). You can create social stories for those routine and share them with your child. Here's what you need to do:

1. Choose one routine to write a social story about. Write a list of all of the steps involved with this routine. If your child is very young, you may want to just focus on the main steps, whereas an older child could handle more steps. For example, if you're doing the morning routine, your list may look like this: get up, change clothes, eat breakfast, brush teeth, get backpack ready.

2. Take pictures of your child doing all of these steps. You may have to stage the picture, such as putting the backpack on your child and then taking a picture really quickly before he takes it off again. That's ok!

3. Create a book on your computer or by hand using those pictures. Put one picture on each page and write a simple "I..." sentence that describes each one. Make sure your sentences state what your child will do instead of what he won't do. For example, your sentences may look like these:
- "When Mom wakes me up in the morning, I get out of bed"
- "Then, I get dressed."
- "Next, I eat breakfast."

4. Once your book is created, read it with your child several times before that routine comes up again. When the routine comes up, before the routine, read the book to your child again one more time, and then walk him through the steps page by page. For example, you will read the first page, and then help your child do that step. Then, you will read the next page. Keep doing this every time the routine comes up until your child can do it on his own.

Another area that is difficult for many children with language delays is navigating social interactions. Our children don't understand why people do and say the things they do and they don't understand what is expected of them. This is especially true of children on the autism spectrum but these children are helped greatly by having the rules laid out for them very explicitly. You can do this through the use of social stories. Here are the steps to follow for this one:

1. Choose a social interaction to target. You can get ideas for this by taking your child to a park or playground and watching him interact with the other children. What types of things does he do or say that don't seem normal for a child his age? Which behaviors cause the other children to become disinterested? You can also watch other children your child's age and see what types of social interactions they commonly engage in. Choose one skill or situation that your child seems to be lacking. Here are some ideas to start with: Introducing oneself, asking to join someone else's play, asking someone else to join his play, staying on one topic of conversation, maintaining an interaction with another child, not getting stuck on one topic of conversation (allowing another child to choose the topic), etc.

2. Determine the rules that typically govern that social interaction. You can do this by watching typical children engaging in that interaction or just think about how children normally engage. Try to list out step-by-step what would be expected of your child during this interaction. This may seem difficult at first but after you've done a few you will start to think this way automatically. Here's an example to get you started:
Asking to Join Play: Go up to a child or group of children, stand a few feet away. Smile and say "hi, I'm ___". Wait for them to respond. Ask the children what they are doing. Wait for them to respond. Ask if you can play, too. If they say "yes", ask them how you can help/join or play along with them the same way they are playing. Don't change the game or add ideas right away.
3. Break the rules out into individual steps and take pictures of your child doing these things. This may be difficult if you don't have other children around to use as stand-ins, but you can always substitute adults or stuffed animals if you need to.

4. Create a book with one picture per page and a simple "I..." statement on each page that describes what your child will do. Here are sentences based on the example from before:
- Page 1: If I want to play with other children, I walk up to them and stand far enough away that a grocery cart would fit between us.
- Page 2: Then, I smile and say "Hi! I'm Johnny." I wait for them to respond.
- Page 3: When they are done speaking, I say "What are you guys doing?".
- Page 4: When they are done telling me what they are doing, I say "Can I play, too?"
- Page 5: If they say "no", I say "Ok" and walk away. I can find someone else to play with.
- Page 6: If they say "yes" that I can play with them, I can say "How can I help?" or "What can I do?" and play with them in the same way they were already playing. I don't try to change the game as soon as I join. I play their way.

5. Read the book with your child several times before the social interaction comes up again. You can also role play the situation with your child's stuffed animals or other familiar people. Have him practice saying his lines. Then, read it again right before you expect that your child will be in that situation.

Leave a comment below telling how you use social stories with a child with a language delay or tell me what social stories your child needs. In future posts, I'll write out scripts for other social stories as well! Thanks for reading!!

This guide, along with 38 others, is included in Ms. Carrie's E-Book: Speech and Language Therapy Guide: Step-By-Step Speech Therapy Activities to Teach Speech and Language Skills At Home or In Therapy. This guide includes detailed information on teaching various speech and language skills, including this one, along with worksheets, handouts, sample IEP goals, data collection, and video demonstrations. For more information click the button below:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Social Stories for Children with Language Delays

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hello everybody! Today's post is inspired by a reader who was wondering how she can use social stories with her autistic son to help him understand basic social situations. Here are a few ideas of how you can use social stories with your child as well.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
You Got It! Teaching Social and Emotional Skills.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Author: Annette Bay Pimentel

Illustrator: Micha Archer

From the Book Jacket: Because Bobbi Gibb is a girl, she's not allowed to run on her school's track team. But after school, no one can stop her - and she runs to her hearts content. She is told she can't run again when she tries to enter the Boston Marathon in 1966, because women are just not considered capable of running such a long distance. So what does Bobbi do? She bravely sets out to prove the naysayers wrong and show the world just what a girl can do.

This fascinating piece of history is brought to vivid life in stunning collages. Bobbi's story will inspire readers, who will cheer her on for her passion, talent, and persistence.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Loved this story so much! Proving people wrong when they tell you NO or that you CAN'T do something is so inspiring. Bobbi's actions changed things for the better. It must have taken a lot of courage. We need more stories shared like this to remind our youth to not give up and follow your dreams - no matter what people may think or say!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Author: Annette Bay Pimentel Illustrator: Micha Archer From the Book Jacket: Because Bobbi Gibb is a girl, she's not allowed to run on her school's track team. But after school, no one can stop her - and she runs to her hearts content.

# data[].attributes.headline
Mr Rogers--What Do You Do with the Mad that You Feel?

# data[].attributes.subject
Mr Rogers--What Do You Do with the Mad that You Feel?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Fred Rogers-- What Do You Do with the Mad--Book List

# data[].attributes.headline
Video: Teaching Children to Talk about Feelings

# data[].attributes.subject
Video: Teaching Children to Talk about Feelings

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Infants   Toddlers and Their Emotions - trimmed

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find new ways to build emotional literacy in your students. This lesson focuses on young Pre K students, but can be used for most young students needing to build upon their emotional literacy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Building on emotional literacy, this lesson helps Pre K students identify feelings in themselves and fictional characters. Great lesson to help young students develop empathy for others.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Role-Playing Emotions in Early Childhood - trimmed

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A must-have for every K-2nd grade classroom. Integrate emotional regulation and literacy, and help children do the following: Recognize others' emotional facial cues, promoting empathy Choose a calming strategy to help regulate their emotions Read the book to their parents and teach family members at home Manipulate th

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Feelings Faces and Feeling Face Activities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Great music lesson children match facial expression cards to music LESSON 10 - trimmed

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Great Lesson Feelings and Emotions in Preschool. LESSON  5

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
CSEFEL: V3b 5 Responding with Scripted Story

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
CSEFEL - Module 3b, Video 5: Responding with Scripted Story

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Guiding Segment 6: Objective 2 - Acknowledging and helping children identify feelings

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Guiding Young Children's Behavior Segment 6: Helping Children Identify and Express Emotions Objective 2: Acknowledging and Helping Children Identify Feelings View a transcript of this video.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Segment 6: Helping Children Identify and Express Emotions
Objective 3: Guiding Children in Expressing Emotions

View a transcript of this video.
For Reflection and Discussion: Helping Children Express Emotions
Think about an individual child in your class who needs help in learning how to express emotions. How could you support that child in learning to express emotions? What could you plan ahead and how could you use spontaneous classroom moments?
Go to Next Objective Back to Segment 6

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Guiding Segment 6: Objective 3 - guiding children in expressing emotions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Segment 6: Helping Children Identify and Express Emotions Objective 3: Guiding Children in Expressing Emotions View a transcript of this video. For Reflection and Discussion: Helping Children Express Emotions Think about an individual child in your class who needs help in learning how to express emotions.

# data[].attributes.headline
Helping Children Understand Other People's Feelings

# data[].attributes.subject
Helping Children Understand Other People's Feelings

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Guiding Segment 6: Objective 4 - Helping children understand others feelings

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Guiding Young Children's Behavior Segment 6: Helping Children Identify and Express Emotions Objective 4: Helping Children Understand Others' Feelings View a transcript of this video.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Segment 6: Helping Children Identify and Express Emotions
Objective 5: Using Group Time and Children's Literature to Help Children Learn About Feelings

Part 1 (0:42)
For Reflection and Discussion: Using Circle Time to Teach About Feelings
What activities do you already do in circle time that teach children about emotions? What are three new activities you could add?

Part 2(3:58)

View a transcript of these videos.
Ideas into Practice

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Guiding Segment 6: Objective 5 - Using group time and childrens literature to help children learn about feelings

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Guiding Young Children's Behavior Segment 6: Helping Children Identify and Express Emotions Objective 5: Using Group Time and Children's Literature to Help Children Learn About Feelings Part 1 (0:42) For Reflection and Discussion: Using Circle Time to Teach About Feelings What activities do you alr...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Discover educational toys, parenting courses and support services for raising resilient, emotionally healthy children.

Jumpstart Your Child's Emotional Education

Create a Calming Corner in your home or classroom with the Time-In ToolKit®

Proven to improve social-emotional skills and lessen behavioral issues, the Time-In ToolKit helps children playfully explore emotions, process big feelings, and practice emotional regulation in their very own Calming Corner.

SnuggleBuddies™ help children communicate their feelings

Each SnuggleBuddies Plush is minky-soft (aka super snuggable) and includes four attached mood emojis to help children recognize and share their emotions in daily, playful ways.

Take your parenting to the next level with expert support

We offer expert-guided online courses, parenting programs, and one-on-one coaching so you can navigate your parenting journey with more joy and less stress.

#RaisingGenM

Join our free community to receive videos, tools, and inspiration for your unique parenting journey.

What if "Stop crying" turned into "I'm listening" for an entire generation?

Generation Mindful is dedicated to helping families raise caring, confident, and resilient children through early-emotional education and positive parenting support. Let's make teaching kids about emotions as mainstream as teaching them their ABC's and 123's!

Teach children emotional regulation at any age

Solutions for Teachers & Schools

Create a Supportive Learning Environment

When children feel safe and connected, they are ready and able to learn! GENM is bridging the home and school social-emotional learning (SEL) gap to transform communities and create a universal language around emotions.

Resources for Our Community

Time-In Toolkit

The Time-In ToolKit® playfully teaches kids 2-9+ how to navigate big emotions through social emotional skill-building games. Developed by child-development experts, your ToolKit includes everything you need to start taking Time-Ins instead of Time-Outs with your little ones.

Put an end to spanking and time-outs around the world.

Generation Mindful has helped millions of parents and educators in 90+ countries worldwide shift from "controlling" to connecting with children.

Together we are raising an emotionally healthy world

Join Our Free Community

Generation Mindful is helping millions of caregivers around the world to tame their own triggers and raise an emotionally healthy world. Sign up today to receive support, inspiration, and resources every week.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Positive parenting for kids of all ages.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover educational toys, parenting courses and support services for raising resilient, emotionally healthy children. Jumpstart Your Child's Emotional Education Proven to improve social-emotional skills and lessen behavioral issues, the Time-In ToolKit helps children playfully explore emotions, process big feelings, and practice emotional regulation in their very own Calming Corner.