Big Feelings

From Darby & Jodi, Purple Room Teachers
**Note** This photo was taken pre-COVID.

In these unprecedented times, living with tiny humans can be very unpredictable.  Children can sense the uneasiness we, as adults, are feeling as we navigate living in this “new normal” and their behavior will likely challenge us in a myriad of ways.  There is no greater time to help kids learn about SELF-REGULATION.  

“Self-regulation is being able to manage feelings so they don’t intrude heavily on relationships or day-to-day life. This might involve being able to resist ‘losing it’ in upsetting or frustrating situations, or being able to calm down when big feelings start to take over. 
Self-regulation is NOT about ‘not feeling’. Locking feelings away can cause as much trouble as any outburst. There is nothing wrong with having big feelings. All feelings are valid and it’s okay for kids to feel whatever they feel. What’s important is how those feelings are managed. The key is to nurture children towards being able to acknowledge and express what they’re feeling, without causing breakage to themselves, their friendships or other people.”  
~Karen Young

Here is a list of books that help children openly think about their BIG FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS and how to deal with them.

The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings by Anna Llenas
The Feelings Book by Todd Parr
Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Ed Emberley
Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard
In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek
It’s Hard to Be Five: Learning To Work My Control Panel by Jamie Lee Curtis
One of Those Days by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Sometimes I’m Bombaloo by Rachel Vail, Yumi Heo
There Are No Animals in This Book (Only Feelings) by Chandi Sanchez
When Sophie’s Feelings Are Really, Really Hurt by Molly Bang
When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really, Angry by Molly Bang