Managing Emotions

Managing Emotions
Strong emotions can sometimes take over if we don't know the tools that can help us cope. In this social emotional learning activity, your child will learn about mindfulness tools that may support them to manage their emotions. Then they will create their own video to teach others these same mindfulness tools. Designed with fourth and fifth grade learners in mind, this Managing Emotions activity will help children build important emotional regulation and mindfulness skills.

What you need:

"Mindfulness Meditation for Children" video (YouTube) "Emotional Awareness" video (YouTube)

What you do:

1. 
   Ask your child to list as many strong emotions that they can.
   
2. 
   Ask, "What can be helpful if you feel a strong emotion?"
   
3. 
   Explain that talking about how you feel can be helpful.
   
4. 
   Explain that acceptance and noticing how the emotion feels in the body can be useful.
   
5. 
   Explain that deep breathing can be helpful, as well.
   
6. 
   Show the video "Mindfulness Meditation for Children."
   
7. 
   Practice mindfulness of breath together, with the owl.
   
8. 
   Ask, "What did the owl do to manage the emotions she was feeling?"
   
9. 
   Show the video "Emotional Awareness."
   
10. 
    Ask, "What stood out for you in the video?"
    
11. 
    Now, using your favorite movie-making app, work with your child to create a video to share the benefits and tools of deep breathing and mindfulness of emotions with others. Make sure the video includes:
    

Definition of "mindfulness of emotions"
Tools on how to manage emotions (such as deep breathing and acceptance of emotion)
Storyline and a character (with problem and solution) who manages their emotions (this could be from personal experience)

12. 
    Have your child share the video they made with the family!
    

Author: Meena Srinivasan
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