December can be full of wonderful holiday memories, but it can also carry with it a lot of worry and stress even for kids. The anticipation of Christmas, the change in routine, the extreme sensory overload, and the later nights can bring about some big emotions in kids that can be hard for them to pinpoint and even harder for them to express. That’s why this December Feelings Log for kids can be such a useful tool.
When children are able to name and express their emotions, they are better able to manage them. It’s kind of like the first line of defence when it comes to challenging behaviours.
Giving them this tool can give them a leg up in beginning to express their emotions in healthy ways. It invites the child to consider their feelings about winter break (big change in routine) and to keep a record of how they feel each day. There are cute Christmas tree emotion visuals to help them better identify and sort out their own feelings.
Keeping a daily log allows kids to examine their emotions and it gives the opportunity for parents, teachers, or therapists to see if there are any obvious patterns emerging when looking back over the log. It’s a great tool!
December Feelings Log for Kids:
Supplies needed:
- printed Feelings Log (download here)
- scissors
- glue stick
- markers, pencil crayons, or crayons
- pen or pencil
I suggest you use the Feelings Log as a jumping off point. If you find there are several days in a row where your child has placed a more challenging emotion in their daily feelings log, you can use it as a conversation starter. This allows you to delve deeper into WHY they may be feeling the way they are and to come up with coping strategies together.
Perhaps have them draw how they are feeling about other events in December such as Christmas, an upcoming concert or performance, visiting relatives, or grieving the loss of a relative, pet, or friend who will not be celebrating the holidays with them this year. This can be so helpful.
Just enter your email below to download your copy of the December My Feelings Log. You can use it with your child at home or print it off to use with your students in the classroom.
Check out these other resources for helping kids with their emotions:
