Expressive Activity Ideas
Feelings and emotions are expressed by children and adults alike, but those reactions rarely look the same from person to person. Children look to trusted adults to help them understand and express the feelings they may be experiencing. Here are some activities designed to help your child express their feelings in a fun, safe, and healthy way.
How I Feel Today Poster
Supplies Needed:
- Construction paper
- Markers/crayons/colored pencils
- Scissors
- 1 magnet for each member of your family
- Tape
Have your child draw 12 circles or boxes on one piece of paper. Come up with 12 separate feelings and write these feelings below each circle. Next, draw faces in the circle that identify each feeling. Hang the feelings poster on the refrigerator or in a visible spot. Have each family member chose their magnet to place on the face they are feeling that day.
This activity is to help your family know that each day can bring different feelings and that each person could be feeling something different. Everyone’s feelings are okay.
Bubble Wrap Stomp
Supplies Needed:
- Paper (large or small)
- Bubble Wrap
- Markers or crayons
Using markers or crayons, have your child write down or draw on the paper things that are making them angry, worried, or upset. Place bubble wrap over the paper and encourage your child to stomp or jump on the bubble wrap to “get their anger out.” This physical release of emotion can be very beneficial.
Worry or Question Jar
Supplies Needed:
- Cup or Jar
- Ribbons or other decorative items
- Small pieces of paper
Have your child decorate the jar or cup to their liking.
Using the small pieces of paper, encourage them to write down any worries or questions they have about what is going on. Tell them you will read them and write a response or talk about it with them, if they’d like. They can add worries or questions to the jar at any time.
Suggested books to use with activities
- Mouse Was Mad by Linda Urban
- My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
- The Way I Feel by Janan Cain
- In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek