Coping with Feelings
What is the “big idea” for this lesson?
All thoughts and feelings are okay, however some feelings can be difficult or unpleasant.
Coping is how we choose to deal with or use those feelings.
Coping with feelings includes naming and expressing your feelings (art, writing, talking) so you can take care of yourself when you have strong emotions.
Spending time with your feelings like anger can also allow you to get to a calmer place or bring a new feeling.
Reflection questions:
What does my anger or sadness look like?
Knowing all feelings are okay, what can you do to care for yourself when you are angry or sad?
How do others in your home take care of their feelings? How do we help others that we care about take care of their feelings?
Coping with Feelings Activity
Coping is what you do with your feelings or how you take care of yourself when you have a strong feeling or emotion like Anh did.
Brainstorm:
What does your anger or sadness look like? What would anger look like as a line, shape, color, or symbol?
What would sad or confused or happy look like? What lines, shapes, colors, or symbols could you use for these feelings?
What can you do to care for yourself when you are angry? What about when you are sad or confused?
Materials:
Paper
Pencil or pen and your favorite drawing supplies (markers, crayons, pencils, etc.)
Optional: small round object like a cup or bowl to trace
Directions:
Draw 4 small circles on your paper. (You can use a bowl or cup to trace the circles.)
Write the name of these feelings on top of the jars or circles: Sad, Angry, Confused, Happy
Use colors, shapes, lines, or any other things to draw and represent the feeling for that jar. If you want to add any other words inside the jar that fit that feeling, you can do that too.
Write and complete the sentence starter (included below with an example). Write the name of the feelings below each of the sections and one idea or way that you could take care of that feeling.
**Sentence Starter: When I feel _____, one thing that I can do to take care of this feeling is, _____.
Example: When I feel sad, one thing that I can do to take care of this feeling is, to spend some time by myself and write or draw about what happened. This helps me to talk about it with someone I’m close to.
