Did you know that children as young as three are ready and should start to learn about emotional concepts? The earliest years, specifically ages three to five, are the most critical time for brain development. This is the perfect time to start teaching emotional skills activities for preschoolers.
By engaging in emotions activities for preschoolers that explore feelings, we are not only helping them manage their usual tantrums, but also supporting the development to become emotionally intelligent adults. Teaching them to name, understand, and regulate their feelings lays the foundation for success in school, relationships, and future careers. It’s the ultimate investment in their lifelong well-being.
Leading educational bodies across the region affirm the importance of this early work. In Asia, educational powerhouses like Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) emphasize social and emotional competencies as critical components of their 21st-century competencies framework. The framework confirms that integrating cognitive, emotional, social, and self-regulatory competencies better prepares children for challenging academic content and successful learning experiences throughout their lives. This consensus shows that social-emotional learning activities for preschool are a necessity, not a luxury, for holistic development.
Getting Started: Emotions Activities for Kindergarten and Preschool
The best way to teach emotions and feelings preschool activities is through simple, repetitive, and playful learning. These activities turn abstract ideas into concrete experiences that young children can easily grasp.
1. The Feelings Mirror Game
This activity is perfect for developing self-awareness, the first core component of Social Emotional Learning.
- How it works: Have the child sit in front of a mirror or face you. Call out an emotion, such as happy, sad, angry, or surprised. The child then makes the corresponding facial expression in the mirror or at you.
- Emotional development activities for 3-5-year-olds should focus heavily on naming and recognizing emotions. Ask them: “What does your face look like when you are happy?” or “Can you make a surprised face like you just saw a puppy?”
- Use a colorful poster or an emotion chart to provide visual references.
2. The “How Does the Bear Feel?” Story Time
Use characters to create emotional skills activities for preschoolers that are safe and relatable.
- How it works: Pick up a favorite picture book or use simple puppets (like a bear, a rabbit, or a doll). As you read, pause at key moments. Ask the child, “How do you think the bear feels right now?”
- This builds social awareness by encouraging children to take the perspective of another being. It teaches empathy in a gentle, non-threatening way.
- Ask them why the character feels a certain way (“The bear feels sad because his balloon popped”). This connects feelings to events.
Social Emotional Development Preschool Activities for Movement
Movement is a powerful tool for teaching self-management; the ability to control one’s emotions and one’s body.
3. Freeze Dance Feelings
This fun game is well-suited for emotional activities for kindergarten and helps kids practice impulse control.
- How it works: Play music and let your child dance. When the music stops, call out a feeling (mad!). The child must freeze in a pose that looks like that feeling (e.g., stomping feet, folded arms).
- Activities for preschoolers about feelings, paired with movement, teach them how their bodies respond to emotions. Freezing helps children practice stopping an action and transitioning to another state (impulse control).
- The goal is that the quick shifts between movement and freezing enhance emotional flexibility and attention.
4. The Volcano Breath
This is a great way to teach specific coping skills for strong emotions, such as anger and frustration.
- How it works: When a child is upset, have them imagine that their body is a volcano about to erupt. Then, guide them through the following steps:
- Tense up their hands (the “lava”).
- They should take a deep, slow breath, filling the volcano.
- Exhale slowly with a “shhhhh” sound, letting their hands and body relax (the lava calming down).
- This is a direct social-emotional learning activity for preschool focused on STEM Emotions Management activities It gives them a concrete, physical tool to calm down.
Read more: Edufrienz, Among the Emerging SEL Companies in Asia
Emotions Lessons for Preschoolers in Daily Life
The best learning happens organically and is woven into the fabric of your day.
5. Feeling Box Draw
This activity is one of many effective emotions lessons for preschoolers that help children visualize and talk about their feelings.
- How it works: Create a small, decorated box called the “Feeling Box.” Draw or print simple pictures of different emotions (happy, sleepy, scared, etc.) and put them inside. Have the child draw a picture, then talk about a time they felt that way.
- This type of emotions and feelings preschool activity promotes relationship skills by encouraging verbal communication about inner feelings. It normalizes all emotions.
- Remember: Always validate their feelings. For example, say, “It’s okay to feel sad when your friend leaves.”
6. Role-Playing Conflict
Simple, constructive role-playing is a key social-emotional development preschool activity that lays the foundation for responsible decision-making and problem-solving.
- How it works: Use two toys or puppets. Create a common preschool conflict: “Both dolls want the same red block.” Have the child act out solutions, guiding them to say things like “Can I have it when you’re done?” or “Let’s trade”.
- This teaches responsible decision-making in a safe environment and builds relationship skills through practicing sharing, negotiating, and taking turns.
Read more: How to Improve Decision-Making Skills for Kids
The Edufrienz Advantage: A Holistic Learning Partner
Partner with Edufrienz to make this vision a reality. As a digital SEL provider, we provide a complete digital library for children aged 3 to 12. We empower children by offering a wide range of engaging, research-backed resources, including:
- Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum and interactive games, such as our Emotions Playground Game, and complete SEL Modules
- For hands-on learning, explore our Preschool Workbooks.
- 21st Century Skills resources, focusing on critical thinking and life skills.
- STEM and Academic Support materials for core subjects like Math, Science, and English.
Explore our comprehensive resources and start transforming your classroom and community today at the Edufrienz website https://edufrienz.com/.
