Calling all the dino lovers!!!
 
This check in was created with one of my clients in a session. I give all credit to him for finding each dino and choosing the feeling connected to it! When I pulled out my “faces” check ins, he did not connect to faces or colours, but he knows everything there is to know about dinosaurs. When this client talks about his feelings, he says things like “well today I am a brachiosaur because they move slowly.” We needed something he could relate to. And of course it was an instant favourite in the office!
 
When we give a name to a feeling we can learn to control it (ever heard “name it to tame it”?). This can be really tricky for our neurosparklies, fortunately visual tools such as feelings charts can help identify emotions for a deeper understanding and stepping towards coping strategies.
 
Feelings charts are especially useful because they help kids label their emotions, especially when experiencing difficult ones. Kids need to be able to name feelings when they are calm, this helps build their emotional vocabulary so they can identify how they felt when they experienced uncomfortable feelings, and then start identifying the difficult ones as they rise up.
 
When kids learn to accurately identify and name their feelings and emotions it provides several benefits including improved emotional awareness, enhanced communication, better coping skills and increased empathy.
 
Overall, teaching children to identify and label their emotions is a foundational skill that contributes to their overall wellbeing.