EMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR TODDLERS

Toddlers experience a wide range of emotions on a daily basis. While it can be challenging to deal with their ever-changing moods, it’s important to help them learn how to express and handle their big emotions. There are plenty of fun and engaging activities you can do with your toddler to help them develop healthy emotional habits. Here are some ideas for emotional activities for toddlers. Don’t forget to download your FREE How Do You Feel Emotions board at the bottom of the post to help little ones learn how to identify emotions.

WHAT ARE EMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR TODDLERS?

One of the most important things you can do to help your toddler develop healthy emotional habits is to engage them in a variety of different emotional activities. Emotional activities are any type of activity or experience that allow young children to explore and express their own emotions and feelings in a safe, fun, and supportive environment. This can include playing with toys that help them express their emotions. Or singing songs about feelings, and reading books about emotions together. Any activity that increases the child’s emotional awareness is perfect!

WHY ARE EMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR TODDLERS IMPORTANT?

Emotional activities for toddlers are important because they give toddlers a chance to practice identifying and dealing with their feelings in a healthy way. When toddlers are able to identify and express their emotions, they’re less likely to act out. This decreases negative behaviors, such as hitting, biting, or throwing tantrums.

Emotional activities also help toddlers understand that it’s okay to have different feelings and that everyone experiences a wide range of emotions. At this age, they begin to develop the social-emotional skills they will need for the rest of their lives. They will have better social skills and will be able to form lasting friendships with their peers, as well as cope with the many challenges that come their way.

HOW DO I TEACH MY TODDLER EMOTIONS?

There are a variety of different ways you can help your toddler learn about emotions. Start with including emotion words into your daily vocabulary. These are words such as happy, sad, excited, scared, surprised, etc. Label your child’s emotions sot hey learn to identify different feelings. For example, when your little one is crying, you can say “I see you are sad. Would you like a hug or a tissue?”

When you are showing emotion, label it for your child so they understand. For example, after you laugh at a silly story you can say “I feel happy about that story.” You can use the free printable at the bottom of the page to read and reinforce different emotions.

WHAT ACTIVITIES PROMOTE EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TODDLERS?

There are a variety of emotional activities that can help promote healthy emotional regulation and development in toddlers. Some examples include playing with toys and games that encourage them to identify and express their emotions. Provide them with toys that encourage them to express their feelings, such as dolls that cry or laugh, or puppets that show a range of emotions.

You can also sing songs about emotions together, read books about feelings, or act out scenes from stories that involve different emotions. Try using role-playing different scenarios together, or using art or music to explore and express feelings. Emotional activities for toddlers can be done anywhere, anytime – whether you’re at home, out and about, or even in the car!

Ultimately, the key is to create an environment where your toddler feels safe and supported as they explore and express their emotions. With time and patience, your toddler will learn how to effectively manage their feelings and develop healthy emotional habits that will serve them throughout life.

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR TODDLERS AT HOME

One of the best ways to help your toddler develop healthy social and emotional skills is to engage them in activities that promote these skills at home. There are a variety of different activities you can do, but some examples include reading books about emotions together. Or playing games that encourage sharing and turn-taking.

Be sure to promote social and emotional development at home by creating a supportive environment where your toddler feels free to express their emotions and explore different feelings. Being an active listener and calming reacting to your toddler’s emotions, helps them to model appropriate emotional regulation.

You can listen to music together and talk about how it makes you feel. Painting or drawing pictures are great too. Playing with toys that encourage empathy, or even just talking and sharing stories about your own experiences can also help.

OUTDOOR EMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR TODDLERS

There are also a number of different emotional activities that can be done outdoors. This is a great way to help your toddler get some fresh air and exercise while also promoting their social and emotional development.

Some examples of outdoor emotional activities for toddlers include playing games that encourage cooperation and turn-taking. Other options include visiting local parks and playgrounds, going for nature walks, or even just spending time outside in your backyard or on the patio. Talking about how being outside makes us feel, can help toddlers begin to identify emotions.

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAY ACTIVITIES FOR 1-2 YEAR OLDS

Emotional development activities for 1-2 year olds can help lay the foundation for healthy emotional habits and skills that will serve them throughout their lives. One of the best ways to foster this development is by providing your child with a variety of age-appropriate toys and games. These should encourage exploration and expression of emotions, good examples are puppets, dolls, or art supplies.

Some emotional play activities for 1-2 year olds include:

– Using puppets or dolls to identify and mimic different emotions. Clay Faces will work perfectly for the two year olds and up!

– Drawing pictures or finger paint to express feelings. Happy, sad, angry and excited faces are easy ones to draw.

– Playing music together and dancing.

– Building towers or block structures and then knocking them down in a controlled way.

– Go on a Scavenger Hunt – find things that make you feel different emotions. Find something that makes you feel happy, sad, scared, and safe.

The key is to provide your child with opportunities to safely explore and express their emotions in a supportive and playful environment.

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAY ACTIVITIES FOR 2-3 YEAR OLDS

Emotional development activities for 2-3 year olds can help toddlers learn how to effectively manage their emotions and develop healthy emotional habits that will serve them throughout life.

Some ideas specifically for 2-3 year olds include:

• Playing with toys or games that encourage them to identify their emotions, Use dolls that cry or laugh, puppets that show a range of emotions
• Acting out scenarios from books or stories together, using puppets or toys to represent the characters
• Singing songs about emotions together.
• Using music to express emotions.
• Using art projects like Funny Faces to identify emotions.
• Taking turns sharing stories about times when they felt a certain emotion.
• Breathing activities to help calm down.
• Yoga or other movement activities to help release energy.

The key is to provide your child with opportunities to safely explore and express their emotions in a supportive and playful environment.

GAMES TO HELP TODDLERS RECOGNIZE AND EXPRESS EMOTIONS

There are a variety of different games that can help toddlers learn to recognize and express their emotions. These are fun social-emotional activities. Some examples include:

• Emotion memory game: Use the free printable at the bottom of this post or write or draw different emotions on pieces of paper or cards, mix them up. Then have your toddler match the emotions with the correct facial expression.
• Emotion guessing game: Express a range of different emotions yourself and see if your toddler can guess what you’re feeling. You can also do this with Funny Faces, Clay Faces, puppets, or dolls.
• Emotion charades: Act out different emotions without speaking. See if your toddler can guess what emotion you’re portraying.
• Emotion bingo for when they get older : Create a bingo grid with images or words that represent different emotions. Then see if your toddler can fill in the squares as they identify different feelings.

STORIES TO HELP TODDLERS EXPRESS EMOTIONS

There are a variety of different stories that can be used as good social-emotional learning activities. Here are some of our favorites (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.):

The Feelings Book by Todd Parr

The Color Monster by Anna Llenas

When Sophie Gets Angry by Molly Bang

It’s never too early to start nurturing your child’s emotional development. These activities will help get you started. The games, stories, outdoor activities, and at-home exercises are a great way to promote positive emotions in your toddler. Lead your toddlers in these activities regularly, and watch their emotional intelligence grow!