FROM GIGGLES TO GRRR: LEARNING EMOTIONS THROUGH GAMES | Toddlers have a lot of BIG feelings, and they don’t always know what to do with them. One minute, my three-year-old, Titus, is belly-laughing & being silly, and the next, he’s on the floor, frustrated because his sock “feels weird.”
Instead of just bracing myself for the emotional rollercoaster every day, I want to actually help him understand and express his feelings in a healthy way. So, we started playing a little game called Match the Emotions.
We start by putting different emotional expressions on paper and then Titus will pick the card that best matches the emotion. Once he matches an emotion, we talk about the feeling of the emotion and discuss how he feels when that emotion comes up.
First, I lay out different emotional expressions—happy, sad, angry, excited, tired, etc. Then, Titus chooses the card that matches the expression he sees. Once he matches a card, we talk about it and act out the expression. We talk about what that feeling is called, what makes him feel that way, and what he can do when that emotion pops up.
- It helps him recognize emotions. Instead of melting down immediately, he’s starting to name what he’s feeling.
- It teaches healthy expression. Now, when he’s frustrated, he’s more likely to tell me instead of just crumbling into toddler despair.
- It builds confidence. The more he talks about his feelings, the more he realizes he can handle them!
Since playing this game, I’ve seen growth in Titus. He’s getting better at saying things like, “I feel sad” or “I’m mad because I can’t do it.” Hearing him express his emotions instead of having a tantrum is a win for both of us, helping us Maximize Love, Manage Stress.
By Candace Martin
