Supporting your child's emotional well-being is the most influential factor in how they'll thrive out in the world and with themselves and others.
The Who
From the creative studio of Chirp and Moo, we proudly introduce The Sentimentals! These seven characters are based on seven basic emotions: Joy, Worry, Safety, Sadness, Fear, Surprise, and Anger. Meet Arco, Bolt, Fondey, Gota, Que, Star and Scribble. These characters are here for you!
The What
We started with The Journal! Intended for grades K-5 (but also great for adults) and allows a fun, personal space for kids to:
> Write & Draw: about their highs and lows of a particular day.
> Understand: how to identify the emotion that they are feeling.
> Learn: how to discover the skills to process their feelings.
We started with The Journal! Intended for grades K-5 (but also great for adults) and allows a fun, personal space for kids to:
> Write & Draw: about their highs and lows of a particular day.
> Understand: how to identify the emotion that they are feeling.
> Learn: how to discover the skills to process their feelings.
The Why
Feelings are the most basic building blocks of social skills. Without the ability to recognize feelings in themselves and others, children are not able to master social interactions.***
Emotions are our body's way of getting us to take action. On a very primal level, our bodies are trying to keep us safe at all times. Reacting to an emotion and processing it can still ultimately protect us from dangers, both physical and mental.*
Emotions are our body's way of getting us to take action. On a very primal level, our bodies are trying to keep us safe at all times. Reacting to an emotion and processing it can still ultimately protect us from dangers, both physical and mental.*
The Issue
A growing body of scientific evidence tells us that emotional development begins early in life, that it is a critical aspect of the development of the overall brain architecture, and that it has enormous consequences over the course of a lifetime. These findings have far-reaching implications for policymakers and parents, and therefore, demand our attention.**
Children adept at identifying and expressing their feelings are likely to display increased empathy which is crucial for social competence, social relatedness, and pro-social behavior.***
The Reasons (a few more...)
1. Putting bad feelings into words can help wash worries away.
2. Children not only learn to read more quickly when they first learn to write by hand, but they also remain better able to generate ideas and retain information.
3. Studies show that drawing can minimize anxiety and combat negative mood. It can also be an exercise in mindfulness.
4. Expressive work like writing, dancing, drawing, and singing may help lower our cortisol levels.
5. When we push away, suppress, or criticize ourselves for having emotions, it comes at a very high cost: our health.
6. Learning how to feel and identify your emotions can help you calm and focus yourself.
1. Putting bad feelings into words can help wash worries away.
2. Children not only learn to read more quickly when they first learn to write by hand, but they also remain better able to generate ideas and retain information.
3. Studies show that drawing can minimize anxiety and combat negative mood. It can also be an exercise in mindfulness.
4. Expressive work like writing, dancing, drawing, and singing may help lower our cortisol levels.
5. When we push away, suppress, or criticize ourselves for having emotions, it comes at a very high cost: our health.
6. Learning how to feel and identify your emotions can help you calm and focus yourself.
Sources:
*Emily Roberts, Why You Need to Release Your Emotions-- For The Sake of Your Health, MBG Health
**National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, Children’s Emotional Development is Built into the Architecture of Their Brains, Working paper 2, Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University
*** Identifying and Expressing Feelings, Gary Yorke
1. UCLA Psychologist Matthew Lieberman, PhD. (Lea Winerman, “Talking the Pain Away” American Psychological Association
2. Maria Konnikova, “What’s Lost as Handwriting Fades” The New York Times
3. Elizabeth Scott, “Art Activities for Stress Relief” verywell mind
4. Caroline Muggia “Anger May Lead to Inflammation & Sickness Later on in Life” MindBodyGreen
5.Emily Roberts “Why you Need to Release your Emotions, For the Sake of your Health” MindBodyGreen
6. Karla McLaren “Is it a feeling or is it an emotion?” KarlaMcLaren.com
*Emily Roberts, Why You Need to Release Your Emotions-- For The Sake of Your Health, MBG Health
**National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, Children’s Emotional Development is Built into the Architecture of Their Brains, Working paper 2, Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University
*** Identifying and Expressing Feelings, Gary Yorke
1. UCLA Psychologist Matthew Lieberman, PhD. (Lea Winerman, “Talking the Pain Away” American Psychological Association
2. Maria Konnikova, “What’s Lost as Handwriting Fades” The New York Times
3. Elizabeth Scott, “Art Activities for Stress Relief” verywell mind
4. Caroline Muggia “Anger May Lead to Inflammation & Sickness Later on in Life” MindBodyGreen
5.Emily Roberts “Why you Need to Release your Emotions, For the Sake of your Health” MindBodyGreen
6. Karla McLaren “Is it a feeling or is it an emotion?” KarlaMcLaren.com
