How It Works
Help Your Child Handle Big Emotions
Designed with love to strengthen emotional intelligence and family connection.
How the Toolkit Works
- Emotion Cards (e.g., Angry, Happy, Sad) Teach your child what each feeling looks like and suggest helpful actions when they feel that way.
- "How Would You Feel If..." Cards Show familiar situations to help children recognize emotions in everyday life.
Steps to Use the Cards
- Lay out the Emotion Cards and introduce each feeling.
- Pick a “How Would You Feel If…” card and read it aloud.
- Ask your child how they would feel in that situation.
- Talk about the emotion: “Have you ever felt this way?”
- Flip the card to explore what helps with that feeling.
- Practice the actions together — move, breathe, or speak.
- Repeat often to build confidence and emotional skills.
Where to Use Them
- At home
- Kindergarten or preschool
- Calm-down corner
- Before bedtime
- After a meltdown or emotional moment
Why Use Tiny Hearts Toolkit
Young children feel big emotions, but they are still developing skills to manage them. This toolkit helps them:
- Recognize and name feelings
- Express emotions in healthy ways
- Learn calming strategies through play
- Feel safe and connected with you
Tips for Supporting Each Emotion
Angry
- Give space if needed or offer comfort if wanted.
- Let your child move: stomp, squeeze a cushion, or bounce.
- Say: “I see you’re really mad.”
- Offer choices: “Do you want to breathe together or punch this pillow?”
- After calming, gently talk about what happened.
Sad
- Offer closeness: a hug, sitting side-by-side, or holding hands.
- Name the feeling: “You seem sad. That felt hard, didn’t it?”
- Suggest something comforting: a favorite toy or reading together.
- Encourage expression through play or art.
Happy
- Celebrate: smile, cheer, or dance together.
- Talk about the joy: “What made you feel happy?”
- Encourage sharing: “Let’s tell someone what made us smile!”
- Highlight kind actions: “Sharing made both of you feel good.”
Excited
- Acknowledge: “You’re full of energy — that’s exciting!”
- Turn energy into play: dance, race, or jump.
- Practice calm: deep breathing or counting slowly.
- Connect feelings: “What made you excited?”
Calm
- Notice and name it: “You look peaceful right now.”
- Encourage calm play: music, drawing, or cuddling.
- Reinforce the feeling: “Do you feel how soft your breathing is?”
- Repeat often so calm becomes a habit.
Frustrated
- Use movement to release tension: hop, shake arms.
- Encourage taking a break.
- Teach phrases: “Can you help me?” or “I’m stuck.”
- Turn waiting into a game: count, sing, or breathe together.
Scared
- Stay close and calm: “I’m right here with you.”
- Offer a comfort item: favorite toy or blanket.
- Name the feeling: “That was loud — it scared you.”
- Explain gently to ease worries.
Lonely
- Invite play or reading together.
- Talk about who they miss.
- Look at photos or read friendship stories.
- Offer a warm cuddle to remind them they’re not alone.
Playful Actions to Try Together
- Jump like a bunny three times 🐰
- Take three slow steps like a robot 🤖
- Pretend to blow up a balloon 🎈
- Shake hands and count to three
- Stretch like a tall tree and let your arms fall 🌳
- Make a silly face
- Hug a teddy
- Walk like a turtle to the wall and back 🐢
Tips for Parents
- Stay calm — your reaction teaches your child.
- Name the feeling — even when they can’t.
- Use moments in daily life to talk about emotions.
- Be playful — movement and fun can shift emotions.
- Repeat regularly — emotional learning takes time.
Thank you for supporting your child’s emotional journey. Let all feelings be welcome in your home. ❤️