As caregivers, one of the most important tasks we face is helping children understand and express their emotions. This can sometimes feel tricky, especially when children have big feelings they don't know how to process. But with the right tools and support, children can learn to navigate their emotions in healthy ways. One of these tools is through the ‘Feelings Cloud’ craft.
To learn more about how this craft can help children, we spoke with Tom Timmerman, LSW, a Parent Navigator at Sanford Children’s CHILD Services. He shared valuable insights about how caregivers can support emotional development, and how activities like the Feelings Cloud can make this process fun and effective.
Helping Children Recognize and Understand Their Emotions
To help children recognize and understand their emotions in everyday situations, Tom advises, “Name your child’s feelings and use evidence for why you think they are feeling that way,” he says. “Talk about their tone of voice, facial expression, and other body language.” By identifying these cues, caregivers can help children connect their emotions to their actions and reactions. “This is important because without any type of awareness about their own behaviors, they cannot start the journey of appropriately managing those feelings,” says Tom. Tom also emphasizes that it's essential to point out not only the challenging emotions but the happy ones too. By recognizing all types of emotions, children learn that every feeling is valid, no matter what it is.
Using the Feelings Cloud Craft to Express and Regulate Emotions
The Feelings Cloud craft is an excellent way for children to visualize and explore their emotions. Tom explains, “Watching clouds shift and change shape and color can remind us there are all kinds of feelings, and they are all okay! The feelings are a part of who we are. The feelings will shift, grow, shrink, 'storm', float away on the wind or maybe just disappear.”
This idea of emotions as shifting clouds helps children understand that feelings are temporary and ever-changing. This can give them the comfort that intense emotions, like anger or sadness, do not last forever, and that is perfectly natural.
“The variety of colors in the rainbow can also remind us of the variety of people who will ALL have different feelings in different situations. There is not just one 'right' way to feel when something happens” This helps children see the world through a more empathetic lens, recognizing that everyone has different emotional responses.
Validating and Supporting Challenging Emotions
Sometimes, emotions can be overwhelming, both for children and caregivers. In those moments, it is crucial for caregivers to validate and support children’s feelings in a way that helps them feel heard and understood. “When feelings are intense, start from a place of accepting and understanding. Believe your child is really feeling what they say they are feeling. Minimizing or dismissing their feelings as fake or exaggerated may escalate the situation,” advises Tom. “Work towards differentiating if your child needs you to do something to try to fix the situation that upset them or if they just need some type of supportive self-regulating suggestions,” he adds.
Sometimes, it’s important for caregivers to take a step back too. “If you have found yourself yelling or at the 'end of your rope', you might need to take a moment for yourself. Express to your child you have difficult feelings. Tell them you want to get calmer so you can talk to your child respectfully,” Tom highlights. This helps children see how adults manage their own emotions, modeling healthy emotional regulation and promotes empathy.
Fostering Open Conversations About Emotions
The Feelings Cloud craft is also a great conversation starter. It can help create a safe space for children to talk openly about their emotions. “Talk about the shapes and sizes of clouds,” suggests Tom. “Clouds are all different and a part of our sky just like our feelings are a part of who we are. And there are a lot of different feelings we all have.” When emotions feel overwhelming, Tom explains, “Even the clouds that seem to cover the whole sky don’t stay forever! We might need extra help when storm clouds come. But the clouds will be light and fluffy and we can enjoy the sunshine together again soon.” By sharing your own emotional experiences with your child, you show them that it's okay to feel upset sometimes, and that there are ways to manage those feelings. “Talk about your own 'storm cloud' feelings and show how you deal with them. Encourage your child that any feelings they have are okay! But let them know you will work with them on the best ways to handle those feelings,” advises Tom.
The Feelings Cloud craft is a simple yet powerful way for children to explore their emotions, express them creatively, and learn how to manage them. By using this craft, caregivers can help children develop emotional intelligence, build empathy, and foster healthy emotional regulation. With tools, like the Feelings Cloud, children can learn to navigate their emotional skies with confidence.
Ready to get crafty? Learn how to make this awesome project here!