Mad Feelings Activities Custom Search
Definition of Mad: Mad can be described as a state of being in which there is a feeling of anger about something, about someone, or about an experience or event. Of all the feelings and emotions that children can and will experience, mad feelings are the most powerful and difficult for young children to control. If children are not taught self-control, mad feelings can become overwhelming and inappropriate if the child acts out in a violent manner when feeling mad. Because young children lack the words to express their feelings, especially when feeling mad, they often show their anger in an aggressive manner such as by hitting, biting, or kicking. Talk to children about their mad feelings and what things make them feel so mad. Let them know that adults get mad too sometimes. This is a normal feeling. Explain to children that there are ways to show our mad feelings that do not hurt ourselves or others. Teach them to use their words and say “I’m really mad because……….” Be sure to praise children when you see them using self-control and refraining from using aggressive behavior to demonstrate their mad feelings. If a child is having trouble calming down, try to channel their mad feelings into a mad feelings activity such as giving them play-doh to pound on, a musical instrument such as drums to bang on, or playing a game that encourages dancing and stomping around or kicking a ball. It is very important that children are able to recognize and identify what makes them mad. Eventually, these children will grow into adults and learning self-control does take time. So, let’s teach them now so that they don’t grow up to be adults that are abusive, angry, mean, and rude. As childcare providers, we will be giving the children in our care a valuable gift that they will carry with them throughout their lives. Color associated with mad feelings: Red is a strong color associated with caution and warning, but it is also associated with violence, anger, blood, and war. Red is a hot color that represents a powerful emotion. Mad Feelings Activities: Art 1. Use the color red to draw or paint a picture of something that makes you feel mad (Can even use ketchup to paint with). 2. Have the children make a mad-ometer. Just like a thermometer rises when we have a fever, the mad-ometer rises when we get really mad. Give the children a pre-made thermometer template. Give them shades of red that ranges from dark red to pink to white. Have them color the bottom of the thermometer white which will represent calm, then the middle can be pink, and the top can be red. Explain that this is a progression from calm to mad as represented by the colors. When you feel mad, you want to work your way back down from red to white by using the self-control techniques. 3. Use play-doh or clay to let children practice getting out their “angries” out in a constructive way. Show them how this activity can help them calm down when they are feeling mad. 4. Mad/Happy- Use an apple, orange, or pear. Have children draw a happy face on one side and a mad face on the other side. Talk about how a mad face can change to a happy face when we express our mad feelings in an appropriate way. Mad Feelings Activities: Songs and Poems Listen to a Song Online about Angry Feelings If You're Angry and You Know It If you're angry & you know it (stamp your feet) Found at: Child Fun When Angry Feelings Start to Mount When angry feelings start to mount, That's when I take some time to count: One....Two.....Three....Four...Five. Counting helps me settle down, Counting helps to fade my frown: Six...Seven...Eight...Nine...Ten. Found at: Child Fun Mad Feelings Activities: Feelings Worksheets
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