We’re Helping Kids Process Emotions – Here’s How
The Kids Feelings Expression Group is a new program offered through Leading Families Home’s Steps to Health department. It is taught to children ages 4 to 18, who reside at Beach House Family Shelter and in our housing programs.
Why
The purpose of this group is to teach children about emotions – how to identify emotions, how to differentiate between emotions, linking emotions to experiences, and how to deal with / process emotions.
When
The group meets once a week for an hour at Beach House Family Shelter.
What We Do
Each group is led by a Peer Support Specialist employed by Leading Families Home. The Specialist leads the children through the class by introducing topics for discussion, games, and activities.
Feelings Jenga
One game we play is Feelings Jenga – a twist on classic Jenga. 
Each block is labeled with a feeling – anxiety, love, disgust, etc. The children pile the blocks into a tower, then each takes a turn pulling a block from the tower. The kids then read the emotion written on the block. Each emotion is written in a specific color – orange, pink, or blue. Depending on the color, the child shares something different about emotions.
Pink = share the emotion and make a face that shows that emotion.
Blue = describe how your body feels when you feel this emotion.
Orange = share a time when you felt this emotion.
Feelings Candy Land
Another game we play with some of the younger kids is Feelings Candy Land. Each kid gets to move to a colored square. Depending on the color of the square, an emotion or special day is shared. 
Red = A time when you felt Anger
Orange = … Embarrassed
Yellow = … Happy
Green = … Anxious / Scared
Blue = … Sad
Purple = … Loved
Pink = Share a Special Day
Feelings M&Ms
When we have kids who are older, we play the same type of game, but with M&Ms. Each kid is given a pile of M&Ms. When it’s their turn, they choose one M&M to eat. The color of the M&M they choose determines which emotion they share.
Calming Down
Learning to calm down is important for kids.
One thing we teach the kids is how to breathe deeply – something we call “belly breathing.”
For kids who are a little older, we use play dough like a stress ball – kneading it to calm down and relax. 
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Leading Families Home
2283 Ashland Ave.
Toledo, OH 43604
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Leading Families Home Announces Executive Director, Jennifer Jacobs
