Understanding emotions is a key part of childhood development, and there’s no better way to teach these concepts than through interactive play and storytelling. The Emotions Coin Drop paired with All The Ways Sterling Communicates offers a dynamic way for parents and educators to guide children through recognizing and expressing emotions. This blog will guide you through a fun and educational activity that combines storytime and emotional learning using these two fantastic resources.
Storytime with Emotions: Bringing All The Ways Sterling Communicates to Life
Activity: Read through the story and discuss the emotions the character might be feeling.
Begin by reading All The Ways Sterling Communicates with your child. This book is a wonderful tool for teaching kids about different ways to express feelings and interact with others. As you go through each page, pause to discuss the emotions Sterling might be experiencing in various situations.
For example, if Sterling feels nervous about meeting a new friend, you can ask, “How do you think Sterling feels here? Have you ever felt that way?” Encourage your child to relate to the character’s experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of their own emotions.
Emotions Coin Drop: Matching Emotions from the Story
Once you’ve identified an emotion in the story, bring out the Emotions Coin Drop set. Ask your child to choose the coin that best represents how Sterling is feeling in that moment. If Sterling is happy, your child can pick the yellow "happy" coin and drop it into the coin slot.
This interactive step helps reinforce the connection between the story and the emotion coins, making it easier for your child to visualize and understand different feelings. It’s also a great way to develop fine motor skills as they carefully drop each coin into the slot.
Pro Tip: After matching the emotion, ask your child to show their own version of that feeling. Can they make a happy face like Sterling? This adds a layer of expressive play to the activity.
Talk About Real-Life Emotions
After you’ve gone through the book and matched emotions with the Emotions Coin Drop, take the time to talk about how your child experiences similar feelings in real life. You can ask questions like, “When was a time you felt excited like Sterling?” or “What do you do when you feel nervous?”
This reflection encourages children to identify and articulate their emotions, helping them develop emotional intelligence and communication skills.
Conclusion: Learning Through Story and Play
The combination of the Emotions Coin Drop and All The Ways Sterling Communicates is a powerful way to teach children about emotions in an interactive and engaging manner. By pairing storytime with hands-on play, kids not only learn about emotions but also how to express and understand them in different contexts.
Try this activity during your next storytime, and watch as your child’s understanding of emotions—and their excitement for learning—grows!
