My Body Sends a Signal: Helping Kids Recognize Emotions and Express Feelings (Resilient Kids)
#1 of 2 in Resilient Kids Series
What’s inside...
This book serves as a helpful guide for adults to teach young children about emotions and feelings. It explains that these emotions are signals from the body and helps expand a child's emotional vocabulary. The book includes a charming story, captivating illustrations, and a variety of hands-on activities such as games, puzzles, and coloring pages. Furthermore, it provides instructions for adults on follow-up activities, emotions cards, feelings cards, and short stories to foster empathy in children.
Discussion points
How did the characters in the book recognize their feelings? Can you think of a time when you felt the same way?
What are some ways the characters showed they were happy, sad, or scared? How do you show those emotions?
Why is it important to tell someone when you're feeling a big emotion?
What can you do if you notice a friend is feeling sad or upset?
How do you think understanding our feelings can help us every day?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use gentle prompts to encourage your child to relate the book’s scenarios to their personal experiences.
Validate your child’s feelings as they discuss them, affirming that it's okay to feel any emotion.
Discuss the importance of emotional expression using examples from the book and real life, emphasizing that everyone experiences a range of feelings.
Encourage your child to think about solutions or positive actions when dealing with different emotions, just as characters in the book do.
Be open about your feelings and experiences with emotions to model healthy emotional awareness and expression.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Emotional Intelligence
Explanation: The book guides children through recognizing different emotions by associating feelings with physical signals—like a racing heart or sweaty palms.
Real-World Application: Children learn to better understand their emotions and effectively communicate how they feel, strengthening their relationships with peers and family.
Example Lesson: Self-regulation
Explanation: Through various scenarios in the story, children are shown techniques to handle overwhelming emotions, such as taking deep breaths or counting to ten.
Real-World Application: These strategies can be utilized by children in stressful situations, such as during exams or in conflicts, helping them regain calm and focus.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: As the characters in the book navigate their feelings, they also observe and respond to the emotions of others, fostering an understanding and caring approach.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to be considerate and responsive to the feelings of their friends and family members, promoting prosocial behavior.
Example Lesson: Vocabulary Development
Explanation: The story introduces a variety of emotional terms, expanding a child's vocabulary to express their feelings more accurately.
Real-World Application: Equipped with an enriched emotional vocabulary, children can better articulate their feelings and understand the descriptions of others' emotions.