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Little Children, Big Feelings
Use these strategies to help a child open up about their feelings.
Children’s feelings come in all shapes and sizes. Look for signs that children are struggling with big feelings like stress, fear, shame, anger, sadness, and frustration:
- Sudden yelling or crying
- Difficulty sleeping
- Unusual clinging
- Hitting
- Eating more or eating less than usual
- Smiling or laughing less often
- Having new fears
- Bed wetting
Help children to open up about their feelings by:
- Reminding them that all feelings are okay
- Sharing some of your own feelings with them
- Naming the emotions (“It looks like you might be feeling sad/scared/lonely…”)
It can be difficult for children to talk about feelings in the middle of a challenging moment. Try these strategies:
- Ask kids to stop what they are doing, put their hands on their tummies, and slowly take three deep breaths.
- Pause to blow up a “calm-down balloon.” Hand them a pretend balloon and ask them to “fill” it with big breaths. Then they can pretend to “release” it into the air.
- Ask them to take a break to smell a pretend a birthday cake and blow out the candles. This will help them with calming breaths in through the nose, out through the mouth. Try it together!
![Two adults and children are engaging in nature and outdoor activities.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/USSI-PSEG-Article-Community-667x500.jpg)
Engaging Kids with Nature and Community: Outdoor Activities and Adventures
Learning to care for the environment starts with loving the natural world around you.
![A child and caregiver are folding clothes.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/USSI-PSEG-Article-SmallActions-667x500.jpg)
Empowering Kids to Make a Big Impact in Their Communities
Learning about what makes a community is the first step in learning how to take care of our communities!
![Elmo and Abby's family is helping the community.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PSEG-Video-GardenofSupport-667x500.jpg)
A Garden of Support
Communities can tackle big problems by working together!
![Julia and Julia's family helping the community.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PSEG-Video-HelpingHomeNeighbohood-667x500.jpg)
Helping at Home, Helping the Neighborhood
Little acts can make a big difference.
![Little Neighbors Can Do Big Things.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PSEG-Video-LittleNeighborsBigThings-667x500.jpg)
Little Neighbors Can Do Big Things
A new friend joins the Little Neighbors Club!
![Abby and Maggie Cadabby helping the community.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PSEG-Video-LittleHelpersBigHelping-667x500.jpg)
Little Helpers, Big Helping
Kids are never too little to make a big difference!
![A Grown-up and child helping out in a community garden.](https://sesameworkshop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Webinar_LittleNeighbors-667x500.jpg)
Little Neighbors: Fostering Community Connection, Engagement, and Exploration