Social Emotional Development: Foundational Practices
Teaching emotional literacy
Emotional literacy involves helping children recognize, label and understand emotions such as mad, sad, and happy in themselves and others. Once children have learned these basic emotions, teachers can introduce more complex emotions such as frustrated, worried, proud, and excited. After children learn to recognize these emotions, the next step is helping them learn new ways to think about and respond to these feelings.
- Handout 7.2 Emotional Literacy Skills: Identifying and Understanding Emotions
- Activity 7.7a Teaching emotional literacy skills
Video 7.11: How is Froggy Feeling?
View transcript
Teacher:
No, he’s going for his checkup remember? But wait, wait, what if the doctor wants to give me a…
Children:
Shot.
Teacher:
Oh no. So how does he feel now?
Children:
Sad
Child:
Worried.
Teacher:
He’s sad, he’s a little worried isn’t he? Why is he worried?
Child:
He’s not, his mom will be there.
Teacher:
His mom would be there, right. Why is he worried?
Child:
Because he will get a shot.
Teacher:
Yeah. What about a shot worries him?
Child:
Because it hurts.
Teacher:
It might hurt a little bit doesn’t it? Yeah.
Child:
Guess what? And then I was worried when I went to the doctor and I was worried if I got a shot.
Teacher:
I don’t want to get up, said Froggy. It’s time for your checkup, said his mother. Now!
So now he’s worried and he’s a little bit…
Child:
Scared.
Child:
Mad.
Teacher:
And he’s a little bit grumpy. I don’t want to get up, hrumph. Can I see those grumpy faces?
Children:
[Making grumpy faces]
Teacher:
You don’t think he’s happy?
Child:
He’s sad to wear some diapers.
Teacher:
Do you think he’s a little embarrassed maybe? Do you think he’s a little embarrassed? Can you sit up please, criss cross.
Child:
I think he’s embarrassed to wear those diapers.
Teacher:
You think he is a little bit?
She tapped his knee with a little rubber hammer. Nothing. She tapped it a little harder. Bonk! And up flew his foot right into her chin. Clack. This time Dr. Mugwort did fall on the floor. Oops, cried Froggy, Uh oh, looking more…
Child:
Red than green.
Teacher:
Uh huh. Why does his face look red?
Child:
Because this is red. [Child points to carpet in book]
Teacher:
Look at his red face. Why does his face red?
Child:
Because he fell down.
Teacher:
Well no he didn’t fall down. He kicked the doctor and she fell down. So he’s a little…
Child:
Red.
Teacher:
He’s a little embarrassed again isn’t he?
So he’s been embarrassed twice now.
See Mom, said Froggy, I told you I was fine.
So how do you think he feels since he didn’t have to get a shot?
Child:
Fine.
Teacher:
So how do you think he feels cause he didn’t have to get a shot?
Child:
He was embarrassed.
Teacher:
He was embarrassed when he kicked the poor doctor but he’s happy right? And maybe a little bit relieved like when something you think is going to happen that makes you worried, and it doesn’t happen then you might be like ah, I’m so glad that didn’t happen. And you’re relieved. Do you think he feels relieved? That he didn’t get a shot. Do you think he feels relieved that he didn’t get one? Yeah?