Learning About Emotions Through Play: Engaging Activities with Emotion Stones

Understanding emotions is an essential part of a child’s development. Recognising and expressing feelings helps children navigate social interactions, build resilience, and develop empathy. The Emotion Stones, available at ABC School Supplies, provide a tactile and engaging way for children to explore emotions through play. These stones depict a range of emotions, including happy, sad, angry, frightened, worried, surprised, confused, bored, calm, proud, shy, and embarrassed, making them a valuable resource for early learning settings.

Young children learn best through play, and incorporating Emotion Stones into daily activities can support their emotional literacy. These activities offer engaging ways to help children recognise, name, and express their emotions in a safe and supportive environment.

Engaging children in a playful way to help them understand and manage their emotions is essential for their overall wellbeing. By introducing activities to help kids learn about different emotions, such as using faces showing different emotions or storytelling, you can enhance their emotional understanding. Encourage the children to talk about the emotions they might feel, whether they are positive emotions or negative emotions. This open dialogue fosters a safe space for them to share their feelings and practice self-regulation.

As an educator of young children, you can help your children develop emotional skills that are crucial for navigating life's challenges. By guiding them through the process of understanding and managing emotions, you can help children manage their emotions effectively. Engaging in playful activities not only makes learning about emotions fun but also equips them with the tools they need to help kids learn how to cope with different feelings. Such skills will serve them well throughout their lives.

Emotion Stones serve as excellent conversation starters. Educators can introduce a few stones at a time, discussing how each emotion looks and feels. Questions such as “What makes you feel happy?” or “How do you feel when you can’t play with your favourite toy?” encourage children to reflect on their emotions and experiences.

It’s good to talk about emotions as it is essential for emotional development. By encouraging your child to share feelings, you help them recognise and understand their particular emotion and how to manage your emotions. For younger children, simple discussions can lay the groundwork for self-management skills. Engaging in playful games can also teach kids about problem-solving while providing a fun environment to express negative feelings. As older children grow, they will be able to articulate their emotions more effectively, enhancing their ability to understand and manage their feelings in day to day life.

Moreover, taking time to talk with your child about their emotions fosters mindfulness, allowing them to navigate their emotions alongside others. Teaching kids about feelings prepares them to handle challenges and reduces the negative impact of unexpressed emotions. Another great way to help is by showing your child how to approach their feelings openly and constructively, ensuring they feel safe and supported in their emotional journey.

Activity Idea: Hide the Emotion Stones in a Sensory Tray filled with sand or rice. As children uncover a stone, ask them to describe the facial expression and share a time they felt that way. This hands-on approach supports both emotional expression and sensory exploration.

Incorporating Emotion Stones into storytelling and small-world play helps children connect emotions to real-life situations.

Activity Idea: Create a storytelling activity where each stone represents a character’s feelings. The frightened stone might be lost in the woods, or the calm stone could be relaxing at the beach. Using props like wooden blocks or fabric play mats can enhance this imaginative play.

Matching and acting out emotions is a powerful way to help kids understand their feelings. A preschooler can better connect with their emotional state when they can relate it to a time they felt that emotion. For instance, if they felt sad when a friend left, you can help them sculpt this feeling using playdough or clay. This creative process not only allows them to express their feelings but also aids in their ability to effectively manage emotions in stressful situations. By encouraging your child to take deep breaths when they feel overwhelmed, they may work towards a healthier way of coping. Remember, it’s completely normal for children to experience depressive feelings; what’s important is how they learn to navigate these emotions. As a parent, you need to help your child cultivate these skills to prepare them for higher levels of emotional intelligence.

Research shows that when a child is able to manage their emotions, they can handle important tasks more effectively. Engaging in activities that match their feelings, along with others, helps reinforce these skills. For example, you can create a scenario where your child can act out different emotions, allowing them to really look at how they respond. This not only helps them understand their own feelings but also promotes empathy towards others. If a child feels like they can’t control their emotions, a counsellor may work with them to find strategies that fit their needs. Remember, it’s never too late to start this journey. With consistent effort, your child will be able to navigate their emotions in a healthy way, setting the foundation for great work in their emotional development.

Activity Idea: Lay the stones face down and play ‘Show Me, Show Me!’—turn over a stone and encourage children to mimic the expression using their own face. Alternatively, pair the stones with Emotion Cards or images from books to find matching expressions.

Activity Idea: Take turns pulling a stone from a bag and acting out the emotion using facial expressions and body language. Can others guess the feeling? This playful approach builds self-awareness and social skills.

Engaging in creative activities allows children to express emotions in different ways. For instance, when a preschooler plays with playdough or clay, they may be able to sculpt their feelings into tangible forms. This process helps kids understand their mental state and effectively manage it. When a child is able to express how they felt that emotion, they can connect with others and share their experiences. It’s important to help your child navigate these feelings, especially during stressful situations. Research shows that when children engage in creative outlets, they are better equipped to handle depressive thoughts and emotions. The next time you felt the need to call to action, remember that it’s a great opportunity for your child to explore their feelings through creative expression.

Allowing a child the freedom to create can lead to higher levels of emotional intelligence. If a child can’t control their feelings, engaging in art can be a healthy way to channel emotions. For example, when a child sits down to draw or paint, they may work through their feelings without the pressure of verbal communication. It’s never too early to start these important tasks. As a counsellor might suggest, giving a child the tools to express themselves creatively can equip them for life's challenges. Whether they’re using crayons, markers, or clay, these activities can help them effectively manage their emotions. Next time you notice a child struggling, try to engage them in creative play. This week’s focus on creativity can transform their emotional landscape in remarkable ways.

Activity Idea: Encourage children to create their own emotion faces using coloured paper, glue, and googly eyes. Drawing emotions in sand or on whiteboards can also be an interactive way to discuss feelings.

Activity Idea: Use music to explore emotions. Play different styles of music and ask children to choose the stone that best matches the mood. Encourage them to move their bodies to express the feeling—whether it’s stomping for anger or swaying for calmness.

Suggested music:

• Happy: The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba – Handel
• Sad: Adagio in G Minor – Albinoni
• Angry: Auguries of Spring from The Rite of Spring – Stravinsky
• Calm: Clair de Lune – Debussy

Having the Emotion Stones accessible in the classroom or home environment allows children to self-reflect and communicate their feelings.

Activity Idea: Place a basket of Emotion Stones in a quiet corner. If a child feels worried or sad, they can pick a stone that represents their feelings and share it with an educator or peer. This encourages self-awareness and open discussions about emotions.

Pairing Emotion Stones with picture books helps children see emotions in different contexts. Here are some great choices:

• Owl Babies – Martin Waddell
• Conker the Chameleon – Hannah Peckham
• My Big Shouting Day – Rebecca Patterson
• Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too) – Keith Negley
• Ruby’s Worry – Tom Percival

Using Emotion Stones from ABC School Supplies as part of play-based learning helps children develop emotional intelligence in a fun and engaging way. By incorporating storytelling, role-play, art, music, and sensory experiences, educators and caregivers can support children in identifying and expressing their feelings. Start exploring emotions today with these creative and interactive activities!