24 secrets of daycare teachers—steal their tricks!
13Name big emotions
The windows of Shelly Sjuberg’s daycare in Hudson Bay, Sask., are lined with sensory bottles filled with coloured water. These act as both redirectional and calming tools, but they also help kids define their big emotions—an important first step toward self-regulation. On the front of the bottles are poems, such as these ones:
Green, green, green, I was feeling so mean. Green, I was feeling so mean. Grrr…
Red, red, red, I got a bump on my head. Red, I got a bump on my head. Ouch!
When children act out, says Sjuberg, teachers can direct them toward the bottles. Children can shake them if they’re still really angry, tip them back and forth to calm down, and read the poems with their teacher to help process how they were feeling in that moment. At home, you can make your own bottles (even the least crafty parent can throw some water, food colouring and glitter in a water bottle and glue it shut).
