Welcome to the Emotional Growth Steps Guide!
Hi there, young friend! Welcome to the Moody Pals Club. This guide will help you understand and manage your feelings with three easy steps. Let’s learn how to grow our emotions together!
Step-by-Step Plans for Growing Emotions
1. STOP – Pause and Breathe
- S: Stop what you are doing.
- T: Take a deep breath.
- O: Observe your feelings.
- P: Proceed with kindness.
What to Do:
- When you feel a strong emotion, stop for a moment.
- Take a slow, deep breath to help you calm down.
- Think about how you are feeling. Are you happy, sad, angry, or scared?
- Be kind to yourself and others as you decide what to do next.
2. ACT – Express and Communicate
- A: Acknowledge your emotion.
- C: Communicate your feeling.
- T: Take action kindly.
What to Do:
- Notice and accept your emotion. It’s okay to feel this way.
- Talk about your feelings with someone you trust. Use “I feel” statements, like “I feel happy because…”
- Decide on a positive action. Maybe you want to draw, play, or take a break.
3. CARE – Calm and Reflect
- C: Calm yourself.
- A: Ask for help if needed.
- R: Reflect on your feelings.
- E: Encourage yourself.
What to Do:
- Use calming techniques like deep breathing or counting to ten.
- If you’re still having trouble, ask an adult for help.
- Think about why you felt that way and what you learned from it.
- Remind yourself that you are doing a great job understanding your emotions.
Example Scenarios Using the Steps:
Scenario 1: Feeling Angry
- STOP: Stop and take a deep breath. Observe that you are feeling angry.
- ACT: Acknowledge your anger. Tell someone, “I feel angry because my toy broke.” Take action by asking for help to fix it.
- CARE: Calm down by taking more deep breaths. Reflect on why you got angry and think of ways to handle it next time. Encourage yourself by saying, “I did a good job talking about my feelings.”
Scenario 2: Feeling Sad
- STOP: Stop and sit quietly. Take a deep breath. Notice that you are feeling sad.
- ACT: Acknowledge your sadness. Tell someone, “I feel sad because my friend is not here.” Take action by drawing a picture or hugging a favorite toy.
- CARE: Calm yourself with a comforting activity. Ask an adult for a hug if you need one. Reflect on your feelings and remind yourself that it’s okay to feel sad sometimes. Encourage yourself by saying, “It’s okay to be sad, and I can feel better soon.”
Scenario 3: Feeling Excited
- STOP: Stop and take a moment to breathe. Observe that you are feeling excited.
- ACT: Acknowledge your excitement. Tell someone, “I feel excited because we are going to the park!” Take action by sharing your excitement with others.
- CARE: Calm yourself if your excitement feels too overwhelming. Reflect on your happy feelings and think about how you can enjoy the park trip. Encourage yourself by saying, “I’m happy and I can have fun at the park!”
Thank you for joining the Moody Pals Club! Remember, every emotion is important and helps you learn more about yourself. Enjoy growing your emotions with the Moody Pals!
