Learn Together

Helping children to name their feelings is the first step toward developing an emotional vocabulary they can use to identify, share, and understand their feelings and the feelings of others.

Materials

  • Computer, tablet, or phone to watch the video
  • Printed family photos or drawings of family members
  • Cardstock or cardboard
  • Paper (plain paper, construction paper, or colored paper)
  • Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Magazines
  • Hole puncher, yarn, or stapler (optional)

Create Together

Enjoy CMOM’s reading of “Words are Not for Hurting” by Elizabeth Verdick.

You know a lot of words and we use our words in a lot of different ways.

  • We use words to meet new friends.
  • We use words to shout “hurray!”
  • We use words when we sing.
  • We also use words to tell stories.

In this story, we learned that sometimes words can be kind and other times words are unkind. We learned that there are many people around us who listen to our words like our family and friends. Our words can make people happy or hurt their feelings.

  • What words do you think could make people feel happy?
  • Has anyone ever used words that made you feel sad?

After you listen to the story, create a story book together with the help of CMOM at Home.

  • In your book, think of times when someone used words that hurt your feelings.
  • Draw and write how these words made you feel.
  • Think of examples of when someone used words that made you feel good. What did they say to make you feel that way?
  • Think of a time when you had to say, “I’m sorry.”

Once you’ve finished with your story book, talk together about the words that were used and how they made you and others feel.