Sesame Strong, Session 6: Managing My Feelings

Gather & Share

1. Consider beginning your parent mini-session with a mindfulness moment.
2. Check in. How did the Sesame Strong activities go last session? What was your favorite resource? Any challenges? Questions?
3. Introduce this session’s Big Idea (the “why”): Showing children how to manage big feelings helps them deal with challenges and hard emotions.
4. Then, share this session’s Strategy Spotlight (the “how”): Belly Breathing.

Talk with parents about the many ways grown-ups can help kids manage and cope with big feelings. Belly Breathing is one way. It’s a strategy that can be done anytime, anyplace. It’s great for us grown-ups too, and today we’ll practice together.

This week’s caregiver resources support our theme by providing opportunities to explore, read, and play together. The next sections outline how you might review these resources with parents, and ways they can use them at home with their children.

Me Time

Challenging behavior often happens when children can’t figure out how to express their big feelings. Remind parents what an asset they can be to their kids when they help them name and express those feelings in a positive way. Distribute the Recognizing and Expressing Big Feelings article, and ask parents to underline tips or points they’d like to remember.

Then discuss the article, asking parents, What stood out to you? How can you introduce new feelings vocabulary to your child? Can you relate to just wanting your feelings to be acknowledged? Remind parents that sometimes all that’s needed is for kids to know that they’re being heard. This validation is often all it takes for them to move on.

Explore Together

Remind parents: Learning to name emotions can help children cope with them. These two videos show different feelings and how belly breathing can help!

Ask parents to watch at home with their children and take turns choosing an emotion to show on their faces. Parents can show kids how taking a deep breath and practicing self-hugs can help with angry feelings.

Read Together

Breathe, Buddy, Breathe is a digital storybook that shows children how to think through a solution when big feelings happen. Invite parents to cuddle up and read the story together with children. Can they practice some belly breathing together, just like Buddy does? Is there a problem they can think through together?

Read Together

Breathe, Buddy, Breathe!

Build your child’s self control with this interactive activity.

Social and Emotional Skills

Ages 1–6

Play Together

Practicing strategies when children are calm gives them tools to use when they’re not. The Breathe, Think, Do interactive models one calm-down strategy. Families can laugh and learn together as they help a Sesame Street friend calm down and solve everyday challenges.

When we’re worried or upset, moving our bodies can help us feel better. Invite families to play Elmo Says together and stomp, wiggle, and dance their worries away. Then keep the physical activity going with a walk outside or a family dance party!

Play Together

Belly Breathing

Try teaching kids this three-step strategy to teach problem-solving, self-control, planning, and persistence. It works for grown-ups, too!

Handling Tantrums

Ages 3–6

Elmo Says

When we’re worried or upset, moving our bodies can help us feel better. Print and cut out this exercise to inspire movement.

Friendly Reminders & Notes for Next Time

Remind

• Questions are always welcome. Share with parents the best way to contact you with questions.
• Review the date and time for next session’s mini-workshop.
• Thank parents for their partnership and participation.

Reflect

• What went well?
• What could I do differently for the next session?
• Who might I ask for help?