5 Toys to Help Children Manage Their Emotions
Helping children manage their emotions can be supported through play. These five toys are ideal for parents who want to encourage emotional regulation in young children while they play and learn.
1. Sensory Bottles
Age Group: 3-6 years
Benefits: Sensory bottles help calm children when they feel overwhelmed. The visual stimulation of watching glitter or beads settle helps reduce anxiety and improve focus.
How to Play: Children shake the bottle and watch the items inside slowly settle, using this time to calm down and focus on their emotions.
Time: 5-10 minutes, especially during stressful moments.
Materials Needed: A clear bottle filled with water, glitter, and small beads.
Guided Relaxation: Parents can use 3Miles kids Walkie Talkies to talk children through breathing exercises while using sensory bottles to calm down.
2. Emotion Dolls
Age Group: 4-6 years
Benefits: Emotion dolls help children identify and label their feelings by acting out scenarios and expressing their emotions through the dolls.
How to Play: Children use the dolls to act out different emotions, such as happiness, anger, or sadness. Parents can guide children by asking questions about the dolls’ feelings.
Time: 10-15 minutes of play, perfect for learning emotional expression.
Materials Needed: Soft dolls with different facial expressions or emotion cards.
Communication Tools: Parents can use 3Miles kids Walkie Talkies to engage children in conversations about their dolls' emotions, encouraging deeper emotional discussions.
3. Calming Weighted Blankets
Age Group: 3-6 years
Benefits: Weighted blankets provide comfort and security, helping children manage anxiety and stress by giving them a sense of calm.
How to Use: Children can wrap themselves in the blanket when feeling anxious or overwhelmed, using the weight to self-soothe.
Time: 15-20 minutes during moments of emotional distress.
Materials Needed: A soft, child-sized weighted blanket.
Guided Comfort: Parents can use 3Miles kids Walkie Talkies to talk children through relaxing moments while using the weighted blanket.
4. Emotion Books
Age Group: 4-7 years
Benefits: Emotion books help children identify and understand their feelings by connecting stories with real-life emotions.
How to Play: Parents can read books with their children and discuss the emotions of the characters, asking how their child would feel in the same situation.
Time: 15-20 minutes of reading and discussion.
Materials Needed: Books that focus on emotions and feelings.
Parent Interaction: Parents can use 3Miles kids Walkie Talkies to ask children questions about the emotions in the story, encouraging deeper reflection.
5. Playdough Emotion Faces
Age Group: 3-6 years
Benefits: Playdough helps children express their emotions creatively. They can mold different facial expressions to represent their feelings, allowing them to release stress and frustration.
How to Play: Children use playdough to create faces showing different emotions, such as happy, sad, or angry, helping them recognize and express their feelings.
Time: 15-20 minutes of creative expression.
Materials Needed: Non-toxic playdough in various colors.
Parent Support: Parents can use 3Miles kids Walkie Talkies to guide their children through playdough exercises, encouraging them to express different emotions.
