Here are some ideas for sharing Feeleez to foster empathy with children.
THERE ARE NO ‘RIGHT’ ANSWERS
Originally, we didn't label each feeling so that children could name the feelings themselves. We offer you a list of possible feelings to choose from. Be open as you interact with your child, rather than looking for ‘right’ answers. “What’s that person feeling?” Be curious and delight in the discoveries.
IDEAS FOR PLAYING WITH FEELEEZ
- Matching game-turn all Feeleez face-down and take turns flipping two cards over at a time, looking for pairs.
- What about NOW?-ask your child what he/she is feeling in any given moment. Ask them to pick out the card which shows what they are feeling.
- Feelings as body sensations-ask your child to describe what a feeling is like. Where does it live in your body? What colour is it? What texture? How does it move?
- Identifying feelings- Pick up a card and ask your child…What is the feeling on this card? What might have happened to make her feel this way? When have you felt like that? What happened? What was that like for you?
- When two or more children are struggling or in conflict, spread out the cards and ask them to pick out what they are feeling. Then ask them to listen to what the other is feeling, or to pick out another card that they think the other is feeling. Then ask, what do you each need and how can you help each other?
- Sorting-put the Feeleez into groups. Children can decide for themselves which feelings go together and why. They can repeat this game many times as they look for different ways to sort and categorize the feelings.
- Imagine-hold up one card and ask your child to imagine that they are feeling this way. Ask what happened to trigger this emotion.
- Offering empathy-Hold up the card and ask: what could you say to me as I am feeling this way?
- Mirroring-hold up a card and then put your body into that position. What is it like for you? Can you start to ‘feel’ it? How would you move if you were feeling this? What would you say?
- Every feeling is o.k. How can you let someone know that you accept what they are feeling? What could you say to show you understand them? What would that be like for you? What might that be like for them?
- How can you let yourself know that you accept everything you might be feeling?
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"Develop the heart and work for peace within yourself and the world.”
-Dalai Lama
"Not causing harm requires staying awake. Part of being awake is slowing down enough to notice what we say and do."