Big Feelings: And what they tell us

It can give adults and children shared language for noticing feelings and discussing what might help. The practical resources may be especially useful when an adult wants a concrete activity rather than an abstract conversation.

The emotional material is broad and may feel like a lot if approached all at once. Sadness, anger, anxiety, worry and disappointment are presented as understandable experiences, with suggested ways to respond.

Which feelings or body signals seem familiar, and which coping suggestions feel comfortable to try? If a strategy does not help, what else might the child want a trusted adult to understand?

Choose one relevant feeling at a time, look at its pages together and pause for the related activity or discussion. Return to other sections when they become meaningful, rather than aiming to finish the whole book.