This activity will help children develop an awareness of feelings and expand their vocabulary with words that refer to feelings.
Learning Area(s): Social and Emotional; Physical Development
MATERIALS
- None
LET'S PLAY
Introduce the activity to your child by saying: “Singing about feelings is fun. Let me teach you this song.”
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap, clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap, clap)
If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it. (show a big smile)
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap, clap)
“Let’s practice some other words and how we can show our feelings.” Examples:
If you’re silly and you know it, shake your head. (shake, shake)
If you’re angry and you know it, stomp your feet. (stomp, stomp)
If you’re sad and you know it, say “boo hoo.” (rub eyes twice and say, “boo hoo”)
If you’re hungry and you know it, pat your tummy. (pat, pat)
If you’re sleepy and you know it, close your eyes. (blink, blink)
If you’re scared and you know it, hide your eyes. (cover eyes twice)
If you’re excited and you know it, shout “hooray!” (raise fist and shout “hooray!”)
TIPS
- To continue the song, ask your child, “Can you think of some other feelings we can sing about? How do you show that feeling? What do you do when you feel ______?”
- You can draw each feeling face to add a visual to the song. Your child can choose a feeling face and identify the feeling (i.e. mad) before you sing the corresponding verse of the song together.
- Be sure your child knows there are many, many kinds of feelings. Here is a list of other feeling words you might include in the song:
- Worried
- Proud
- Relaxed
- Sick
- Frustrated
- Embarrassed
- Shy