How to Teach a Toddler to Distinguish Feelings

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By fenleyfam
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DO I look happy?

Teaching a toddler to recognize his feelings can be done, the key is repetition! By showing him your feelings you can get him to recognize his own.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

The first step in getting your toddler to recognize his feelings is to explain to him how he is feeling at any given time. Here is an example... A toddler is throwing a fit because he can't go outside and is screaming and slamming his fists against the door... In this case a good option might be to get down to his eye level and then bang on the door with him (this will get his attention) once you have his attention begin to very dramatically explain to him how he is feeling I.E. "YOUR'E MAD!! You really want to go outside!!" This shows him that you understand what he is going through... Of course the next step would be to show him the proper way to "request" an outside visit, or simply explaining to him that he can't go outside right now, but, he can do something else... give him fun options.
Step 2

Another way to show your toddler emotions is to be very dramatic with your own emotions when the toddler is watching you. If the toddler, for instance, breaks something of yours SHOW him that it made you sad by cradling the broken item and making sad faces and explaining to the toddler that what he did has made you very sad.
Step 3

Creating a "Face Book" is another good way (and fun way) to get a toddler to recognize his feelings. The best way to do this is to take some pictures of yourself or other family members making faces (ie. MAD FACE, HAPPY FACE, SAD FACE, GOOFY FACE, etc.) Then simply put the photos in a photo album (or you can get creative and make a special book). "Read" the book to your toddler and have him act out the faces with you... "Here is Daddy making a MAD face... lets make a MAD face like Daddy" This method is more so putting a name to the emotion... "Daddy eyebrows are lowered and he is frowning... so he must be mad"

Comments

kuzbro said

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on 7/10/2009 Toddlers are not ready to get in touch with their feelings. This article is pretty stupid. You have to be from California.

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