• Learning to recognize and name a child’s own feelings or emotions
• Learning to recognize and name other people’s feelings or emotions
• Learning how to respond to other people’s feelings or emotions

• You can use a mirror to help your child practice showing different feelings.
• Practice this at different times during the day when children might use a mirror: when they get dressed, brush their teeth or comb their hair.
• Show children the Happy, Sad, Angry Faces pictures. Ask what feeling each face shows. Then, ask children to: “Show me a happy face. Show me a sad face. Show me an angry face.”

• Faces: Happy, Sad, Angry.

• A mirror.

Tell the Story:
Pretend you are brushing your teeth in front of a mirror. Who do you see in the mirror? I see you. Do you see me?

Play the Game: Stand in front of a mirror with your child.

1. SAD FEELINGS: Tell your child, “Pretend you lost your puppy. You are sad. What face do you make when you are sad?” (Ask child to make a sad face.) “What do you do if you are sad?”
2. Tell your child, “Pretend your friend lost a puppy.” (Parent makes a sad face.) “What should you do for your friend?” (Give him/her a hug; try to make them feel better.)
3. HAPPY FEELINGS: Tell your child, “Pretend it’s your birthday. You’re happy. Show me a happy face.”
4. Tell your child, “Pretend it’s your friend’s birthday.” (Parent makes a happy face.) “What do you say when someone else is happy?” (“I’m very happy for you.”)
5. ANGRY FEELINGS: Tell your child, “Your friend took your toy and broke it. You’re angry. What do you look like when you are angry?” (Ask your child to make an angry face.) “What do you do when you are angry?” (Talk about how you feel, use your words, don’t hit, ask if you can share.)
6. Tell your child, “Pretend your friend is angry because you broke his toy.” (Parent makes an angry face.) “What do you do when someone else is angry?” (Say you are sorry; try to help with their problem, make them feel better.)
7. Tell your child: “That was fun! Now show me your happy face again!

• Play Guess the Feelings Game: Take turns with children making a face in the mirror, then ask them to guess what feeling the face is showing.
• Masks: Help children draw a happy, sad or angry face on a paper plate. Paste a popsicle stick on the bottom and use it as a mask.
• Now, make up your own Mirror Games!