Early childhood is a time for big emotions. Educators can help children identify and appropriately express feelings while recognising and respecting the feelings of others.
Sinead Storch is an Australian professional development facilitator who provides staff training on emotional literacy. She describes this as "the capacity to name, understand and self-regulate emotions of yourself and others."
Early childhood educators can teach emotional literacy across all program areas, through their interactions with the children, facilitating group discussions and problem solving, and planning learning experiences.
EYLF and NQS
The Early Years Learning Framework V2 learning outcomes ask children to become strong in their emotional wellbeing (3.1). Educators can help children feel safe, secure and supported (1.1).
Children can also recognise that other people have emotions too! They can help other people feel good by showing them care, empathy and respect (1.4).
Children's emotions can strongly influence their behaviour. The National Quality Standard asks that children are supported to regulate their own behaviour, respond appropriately to the behaviour of others and communicate effectively to resolve conflicts (5.2.2).
Learning experiences
Identify and label emotions
Storch recommends expanding "children's emotional vocabulary by introducing a diverse range of emotion words for precise expression", using tools like pictures, stories and facial expressions.
Try these commonly used emotion words:
Amused, angry, anxious, ashamed, bored, calm, confident, confused, depressed, disgusted, embarrassed, energetic, envious, excited, frustrated, grieving, happy, heartbroken, in love, jealous, nervous, proud, relaxed, sad, scared, stressed, surprised, tired, upset, and worried.
Tell stories
Storch explains how educators can use storytelling as a didactic tool:
- Stories can "illustrate emotional situations, fostering empathy and understanding through character interactions."
- Educators can "develop stories focusing on emotional situations, guiding children toward appropriate responses and behaviours."
- Educators can "provide outlets for emotional expression through art, music, and creative activities, allowing children to communicate feelings visually."
Brainstorm healthy emotional responses
Brainstorm ideas as a group. What can people do when they are hurt or angry?
- Jump up and down.
- Hit a pillow.
- Tear or crumple paper.
- Giving someone a cuddle.
- Talk to someone.
- Create an angry artwork.
- Stomp their feet.
- Kick a ball or run around.
Relax
Provide children with time and space to relax and or meditate, but remember, all children calm down differently. Storch says, "teach techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, or relaxation exercises to empower children to manage overwhelming emotions."
Be dramatic
- Pretend to be an emotion. What does anger do? What does joy look like?
- Express yourself through drawing. Can you create a picture to express how you're feeling?
- Role play helping a friend who pretends to be sad or scared. What can you say or do to help them feel better?
Use the Zones of Regulation
The Zones is a popular curriculum that can help children with self-regulation and emotional control. Consider how you could incorporate this into your childcare centre.
Play a game
Show children pictures of different scenarios. Ask the children what might be felt in that situation (e.g. the emotion of "happy" is suited to a picture of a child blowing out birthday candles).
Experiment with emotions.
Children can conduct an experiment to see how different activities or situations affect their emotions, such as listening to calming music or taking deep breaths. Record the results of all the children on a chart.
Discussions
Storch recommends that early childhood educators "create safe spaces for group discussions, encouraging children to share feelings and practice empathy with peers."
Try these discussion topics:
- Ask children to tell a real-life or imaginary story about a time when they experienced a certain emotion and how they managed it.
- What has someone done for you today that was kind?
- Tell us about a problem you had recently. How did you resolve it?
- How do you feel? Where do you feel this emotion in your body?
- What does anger look like? What shape do you think it is?
- What can you do to calm down?
Interactions
- Be warm, comforting and responsive to children with big emotions.
- Validate all children's emotions, even the uncomfortable ones. Explain it is okay to have negative feelings, but it is not okay to hurt others. Storch explains how "no emotion is a bad emotion" and educators can "cultivate a nurturing and inclusive environment that encourages open expression of emotions without judgment."
- Name the emotions a child might be feeling. Show them you are listening and understand their emotions.
- Identify your own feelings, the good and the bad. Talk to children about the ways you express and manage your emotions. Early childhood educators can "set an example by handling frustration, sadness, and other emotions in a positive and constructive manner," says Storch.
- When a child displays intense emotions, ensure they have a safe space and time to calm down. Identify a child's underlying needs.
- Provide support for children to resolve conflict in healthy ways. "Teach problem solving and conflict resolution skills, guiding children to address disagreements while considering emotions," says Storch.
Events
- 14th February is Valentine's Day. Ask children what love means to them and use this as your inspiration for a learning experience. Think deeper than traditional heart-themed cards and crafts.
- 20th March is International Day of Happiness
Resources
Picture books
- Various picture books by Trace Moroney.
- Have You Filled A Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud and David Messing
- The Boy with Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee and Jacob Souva
- Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram
- Mr. Huff by Anna Walker
- The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland
- The Bad Seed by Jory John and Pete Oswald
- The Way I Feel by Janan Cain
- The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas
Music
- The Wiggles: If you're happy and you know it
- Sesame Street: If you're happy and you know it