Curious Toddler FEELINGS: The Little Book of Big Emotions
#1 in Curious Toddler Series
on Goodreads (1)
What’s inside...
Welcome to the wonderful world of feelings! This unique, beautiful book will encourage your little one to identify feelings and emotions. The Feelings Book introduces seven essential emotions: happy, sad, angry, excited, scared, silly, and proud. Each page focuses on a particular emotion, using bold, bright colors and large pictures of faces to vividly illustrate the meanings of words, making the book effective for teaching emotions. This book may be used by parents or teachers to enhance social-emotional learning for toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary school children. Remember, you play an important role in your child’s emotional development. Stay present and support your child to recognize and express their emotions. Use a mirror so children can reflect on what they look like showing different emotions with their faces. This approach highlights to children that we show so much emotion with our eyes, eyebrows, and mouth.
Discussion points
How do you feel when you see the different emotions in the book?
Which feeling in the book do you like the most, and why?
Can you remember a time when you felt like one of the characters? What happened?
How do you think the characters could feel better when they are sad or angry?
Why do you think understanding our feelings is important?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use a calm and curious tone when discussing the emotions illustrated in the book to create a safe space for your child to explore their own feelings.
Relate the emotions in the book to real-life situations your child might have experienced to help them connect with the material more deeply.
Encourage your child to draw or act out different emotions they see in the book to reinforce their understanding and expression of feelings.
Praise your child for openly discussing their emotions, reinforcing that all feelings are valid and it’s good to talk about them.
After reading, spend some time doing a calming activity together like coloring or going for a walk, to discuss more about the emotions and reflect on the learning.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding Emotions
Explanation: The book uses vibrant illustrations and simple narratives to help toddlers identify and name different feelings like happiness, sadness, anger, and fear.
Real-World Application: Children can use these lessons to better express their own emotions and understand those of others, leading to improved social interactions and empathy.
Example Lesson: Emotional Regulation
Explanation: Through repetitive and reassuring language, the book teaches children that all feelings are okay and provides strategies to manage overwhelming emotions.
Real-World Application: This can help children develop coping mechanisms for managing their emotions in various situations, such as calming down after a tantrum or expressing needs without frustration.
Example Lesson: Empathy Development
Explanation: By observing characters in various emotional scenarios, children can learn to recognize and react to the feelings of others.
Real-World Application: This understanding can make them more compassionate and responsive in their interactions with friends and family, fostering better relationships.
Example Lesson: Vocabulary Expansion
Explanation: The book introduces a variety of emotion words beyond just 'happy' or 'sad,' expanding a child's way to articulate their feelings.
Real-World Application: With a richer emotional vocabulary, children can more accurately express themselves and understand the descriptions of others' feelings, enhancing communication skills.