Starting a Daily Feelings Check In
As a family, it is important to work together, provide emotional support to one another, and acknowledge that everyone’s feelings are important. One way to do this is to start a Daily Feelings Check-in! During the check-in, you can guide your child to understand why it’s helpful to notice how each person is feeling and explore how the feelings of each family member can be similar or different.
Materials
Directions
Look at the “We All Have Feelings” printable together and talk about each face and feeling to make sure everyone knows what they mean. Then share which feelings you have each experienced that day so far.
Are there any feelings missing from the printable that your family would like to add? If so, draw a face and name that feeling in the space on the side of the printable. For example, “bored” or “joyful” might be good faces to add. If your family has a lot of faces to add, you can create a second list of your own on a piece of plain paper.
Talk about what time of day family members will gather to check-in with one another on feelings. If everyone can’t meet everyday, think about what might work for your family such as weekends or certain days of the week.
Search for a place in your home where you can do a feelings check-in using the printable each day. Where will you see it that will help you remember to check in? Maybe on the refrigerator or near the space where you keep your school backpacks. Hang it in your designated spot.
Have each family member write their name on a sticky note. Encourage everyone to place their sticky note on the emotion they are feeling during your check-in. Then talk about how each person is feeling. If necessary, think about how to help anyone who may be feeling sad or frustrated or need additional support. Check in with each other daily or however often works for your family.
Knowing how each family member is feeling on any given day can help us offer care and support. That’s especially important when a family member is having difficult or uncomfortable feelings.
Visit the Many Ways to Show You Care collection for more information and resources on caregiving and ways you can support family members.
Many Ways to Show You Care is a multi-platform content initiative for children ages 2-6, their families, and caregivers. The collection explores the many ways children show they care for members of their families, while offering supportive resources for educators, families and caregivers through storytelling, hands-on activities, and short-form media.
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