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Nurturing Feelings in Infants and Toddlers
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I usually have a picture wall of different emotions and we try to mimic the expressions so they can learn them and when they are upset or sad i ask them which emotion they are feeling to help them understand their feelings
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I work with infants so I greet each child with a big warm smile every morning with lots of love and ask how they are currently feeling, if they slept okay, and the last time they ate. If they are feeling sad or are crying when parents drop off I help talk to them about it, label the emotion and then help them resolve it fairly quickly before mom or dad have left the room. before we know it they have a big smile on their face and are telling mom and dad goodbye
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We often talk about feelings at circle time, we also have a poster with pictures of children acting out feelings, if they cannot identify the way their emotions, they can show us the related picture. We then talk about it and I always make sure to tell them that teachers and grown-us also experience these kinds of feelings, that it is up to us to hold on to them or let them go.
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in my toddler classroom we have a book about feelings and they have their own color and every child says their own observation about the feeling, another thing we do is circle time in the morning when everyone gets here and we lay out cards with feelings and they choose one that identifies what they are feeling in that moment.
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During morning circle time we read a book called “Emotions”. For small groups projects we use emojis and popsicle sticks to make different emotions the children use to let us know how they are feeling.
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I work with preschool-aged children, so they are at an age of discovering their feelings as well as the impact of experiencing interactions with their peers expressing their wide range of emotions. I love using teachable moments to help children learn how they are feeling, how their friend (if there is a negative interaction that needs support) is feeling, and how we can find a way to resolve our dispute of help regulate their own feelings. I am a calm person, so I am typically ready to handle the challenge…but if and when I do feel some emotions that are not calm, I use this as a teachable moment as well. I let them know that we all have feelings and emotions, and sometimes adults/teachers even feel frustrated (or any other example) as well. I use our circle time to address our big feelings, and sharing books and having open discussions (The Color Monster is great) is always helpful. We even take pictures of each student expressing a feeling to put up around our room to use as reminders/examples/talking points when we are in need.
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I work with a wide age group, but primarily spend my time with 2.5-4 year olds. With this age group, I focus heavily on helping them put words to the emotions that they feel and connect those emotions with the way their body is responding. For instance, I will say, “I notice that you are breathing quickly, that your eyebrows are pushed down, and that you are frowning with your mouth. Are you feeling frustrated?” or “I notice that your friend took your toy and now you are crying, did it make you feel sad when they took your toy?” I then like to explore the feeling with them, wondering out loud how we might help them feel better. I do this with positive emotions too! Naming when someone feels silly because they are bouncing around and laughing, naming that someone feels happy to see their friend when they jump up and down upon seeing them for the first time. A lot of my work with this age group is about giving them the right words to identify their emotions, and matching up the behaviors of their bodies with the feelings they represent.
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For our young students we read a lot of books about feelings. Teachers talk/sing about feelings, roll play how to calm down, (yoga, breathing, asking for help) and how to recognize the feelings of their peers.
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Great strategies, Jennifer! Incorporating books, songs, and role play not only makes learning about emotions engaging but also fosters empathy and emotional regulation among the little ones. Keep up the fantastic work!
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Some ways I like to talk about feelings with my Preschoolers is by using hand puppets, reading books about feelings, or using imaginative play and acting out different feelings.
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When working with pre-verbal infants, I like to describe the emotions I think I am observing. For example, if a baby is smiling and clapping their hands, I might say “Wow, you have such a big smile! It looks like you feel happy!” or if a baby is upset because they want to play with something they can’t I might say “I can see you’re frustrated about not being able to play with the toy your friend has.” With older kids, I may ask them “Are you feeling happy right now?” or something else of the sort, since they can respond and identify their own feelings. Sometimes I ask the babies these types of questions too, even though they may not respond.
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Quinn, your approach to narrating emotions for pre-verbal infants is fantastic! It helps them connect feelings with expressions. Encouraging older kids to identify their emotions fosters self-awareness and communication. Great ideas!
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I work with 2-4 year olds. We try to insert talking about and expressing feelings into our activities and interactions through out the day such as when reading books, interacting with friends, playing outside, etc. Includes our facial expressions, tones of voice, what the characters in a story are feeling. Also naming and validating emotions is important too.
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Lisa, your approach to integrating feelings into daily activities is wonderful! Using books and interactions to highlight emotions fosters a deeper understanding for the children. Keep up the great work!
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We do a feelings check-in at morning carpet time and read SEL books throughout the week as well. I have A Little Spot of Feelings book with pluch characters that they love to share with eachother.
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Great job, Ashley! Incorporating feelings check-ins and SEL books like “A Little Spot of Feelings” is a wonderful way to foster emotional awareness in young children. Keep up the creative work!
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Talking about feelings with infants and toddlers involves using simple words, calm tones, and consistent support.For infants, caregivers label emotions (happy, sad, upset) and use facial expressions, routines, and soothing comfort to help them feel secure.For toddlers, emotions are taught through everyday situations, books, mirrors, puppets, and pretend play to help them recognize and express feelings.Overall, the goal is to create a calm, supportive environment where children feels safe, understood, and able to begin managing their emotions.
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Teiara, your insights on using simple language and engaging methods like books and pretend play are fantastic! Creating a safe environment is essential for emotional development. Great job!
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We talk about feelings throughout the day by naming emotions as they happen and helping children put words to what they’re experiencing. We also use books, songs, emotion cards and pretend play to explore feelings. Most importantly, we model kindness, empathy and calm problem-solving so children learn those skills from us.
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Chloe, your approach to discussing emotions is fantastic! Naming feelings in real-time and incorporating books and play enhances emotional literacy. Modeling kindness and empathy truly creates a nurturing environment for the children. Great job!
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