Preschool Feelings Masks

In the CD, Songs for the Coolest Kids, Princess Katie sings a song called Tell Them How You Feel, which is a song about verbalizing emotions. Since preschoolers often don’t know the words the need to say to tell you have they feel, Preschool Feelings Masks can give your preschooler both the vocabulary s/he needs and a means for expressing feelings without words. Preschoolers who can express their emotions in words have a better sense that their feelings are being understood and feel less frustrated. Besides being a lesson in self-expression, making and playing with masks is great fun.

Materials You Will Need

Princess Katie and Racer Steve Songs for the Coolest Kids CD
Paper plates

Crayons or Markers
Large craft sticks

Glue
Large mirror with a stand
How are you Feeling Today? poster or similar picture

How to Make It

Step 1:
Using the How are you Feeling Today? poster or a similar picture, discuss with your preschooler how people’s faces show what they are feeling. Talk about different emotions. Help your preschooler identify various emotions s/he might have by asking questions such as “How do you feel when someone takes something away from you?” Help your preschooler identify this emotion as anger. Ask similar questions about other emotions such as happy, sad, etc. For each feeling, find the matching face on the How are you Feeling Today poster so s/he has an idea of what that emotion might look like in a drawing.

Step 2:
When you have discussed the emotions, have your preschooler look in the mirror and express those emotions with his/her own face.

Step 3:

Have your preschool draw what s/he sees on the front of a paper plate with crayons or markers.

Step 4:

Cut out eye holes and mouth holes.

Step 5:

Parent step; since your preschooler may draw an emotion you can’t easily identify, be sure to write the emotion on the edge of the plate below the face; that way if s/he needs to use the masks to express him/herself, you will know what it means.

Step 6:

Glue the craft sticks on the back of the paper plates for handles. Let dry completely.

Step 7:
Review with your preschooler what each mask means to him/her.

Helpful Tips for Parents

Tip 1:
Use the masks to act out to the song Tell Them How You Feel.

Tip 2:

For the first week or so, review daily which emotion each mask represents. It’s okay if your preschooler wants to change it.

Tip 3:
After the first week, review the meaning of the masks from time to time.

Tip 4:
Encourage your preschooler to use the masks to express feelings to you when s/he feels s/he cannot do so in words. When s/he does, use words and facial expressions to identify emotions for him/her. In time s/he will find was to articulate feelings without the masks.

More Princess Katie and Racer Steve Fun

Songs for the Coolest Kids CD Review
Learn more about this fun and character-building CD for children preschool age and up.

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