Social-Emotional Wellness Activities for Families

Activity/Craft

Craft - Make Your Own Worry Box

This craft is brought to you by Clara Muriel from Very "Special" Tales website.

Click HERE to link to the craft

Craft - A Calm Down Kit

This very special box is created by you and your child. If your child needs help calming down from stressful feelings, pull out this box and let them explore the activities inside. This craft is brought to you by Adriane from Raising Kids With Purpose.

Click HERE to link to the craft directions

Activity - Mirror Emotions

The goal of this activity is to help your child learn that facial expressions have meanings. Have your child look into a mirror, hand mirrors work great but any will do.

Name an emotion, demonstrate that emotion on your face, and ask your child to show that emotion in the mirror. Happy, sad, silly, grumpy, worried, and scared. Make a game out of it and see if you can guess your child's expression, have them guess yours.

VIDEO

BOOK LIST

• The Color Monster, A Story About Emotions by Anna Llenas
• The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkare, Illustrated by Alea Marley
• Lama Lama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney
• Bravo Anjali! By Sheetal Sheth, Illustrated by Lucia Soto
• Breathing Makes It Better by Christopher Willard and Wendy O’Leary
• A Boy Like You by Frank Murphy, Illustrated by Kayla Harren
• Big Feelings by Alexandra Penfold, Illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman
• The Boy with Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee, Illustrated by Jacob Souva
• Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival
• Pepper Zhang, Artist Extraordinaire! By Jerry Zhang, Illustrated by Trisha Hautea
• I Am Human by Susan Verde, Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

MINDFULNESS ACTIVITIES

Practice mindfulness activities daily to help children regulate their breathing and calm their minds. This is a great one when kids are wound up and need to let out a little noise before calming down.

Bear Meditation

• Stand facing your child, arms to the side,
• Inhale deeply while raising your arms up and shaping them into claws.
• Let out the largest, loudest roar you can as you exhale, pushing your claws out in front of you.
• Repeat three times.

RAWR!

MOVEMENT ACTIVITY

ADDITIONAL PARENT RESOURCES

• PBS.org Article on Emotions for 8-year-olds

• PBS.org Toddlers Recognizing and Understanding Emotions

• Tucker the Turtle PDF