Do You Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve?

I have ben MIA for a while. My book, Just Because, release has confused my routines.

Lessons for your kids....

Do You Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve?

Subject: Emotions and Feelings

Objective: Teach children to identify with their emotions and share their feelings.

Materials: Book: The Way I Feel by Janan Cain

                           Small paper heart

                           Decorations

                           Feeling Faces worksheet (Younger- http://ow.ly/9tkKF) (older- http://ow.ly/9tkUn)

Set or Motivation: 

Play a little game of "How am I feeling?" Cover your face. Reveal it using some expression of being mad, sad or happy. Have the child or children guess your feeling.

Plan:                       

Read Story: The Way I Feel  (http://www.amazon.com/Way-I-Feel-Janan-Cain/dp/1884734715/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1330999175&sr=8-6)

Talk about feelings and how others know how you are feeling. Talk about how important it is to share your feelings and how important it is to notice other peoples feelings using body language and facial cues. If someone looks sad, ask yourself if  you are causing them to be sad or if they need help. If someone is mad, ask yourself if it is something you are doing or is there some way you can help them. How can you make someone happy or make someone smile? Talk about what it means to wear your heart on your sleeve and how that might make others feel or how others will respond to you differently if you do.

                              

Conclusion:    Cut out some paper hearts the size to fit on your sleeve. Decorate them and

 attach them to your sleeve. 

         

My son was more closed off with his feelings. He was actually hurting other people's feelings because they thought he was being mean. He was actually acting a bit shy. When my husband would come home he wouldn't openly give affection (he would turn his back for a hug) though he is a very loving boy. I had a talk with him about wearing his heart on his sleeve and how he could show that he cares about others by his actions. 

Now he smiles more at people, says hi, runs to hug his dad and tells him how much he loves us all the time. He needed permission to share his feelings. We also give our children permission to refuse affection that they are uncomfortable with. We told them they can put their hand out to shake hands instead of a hug or kiss or plainly say no thank you. A good person will understand.