Let’s find our hidden feelings!
What you’ll need: Paper, coloured pens or pencils, scissors, tape or blu-tac, at least one other person.
What’s it for?
This activity helps to explore and discuss feelings, increase open communication regarding different feeling states, and strengthen relationships.
Check In:
Notice how you’re feeling right now. Close your eyes and notice what’s going on inside your mind and body.
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking?
How does your body feel?
Method:
Cut paper into rectangles about the size of postcards. Make sure they are big enough for you to be able to write and draw on them.
Write various feeling words on each index card such as happy, sad, angry, scared, guilty, brave, excited, jealous etc. You can draw feeling faces to match the words.
Using tape or blu-tac, hide the index cards around the room.
Players take turns finding the hidden feelings cards and discussing the time they experienced the feeling written and drawn on the card.
Extra Activity: You can make several bonus cards with a smiley face drawn on it. Players who find one of these cards discuss a feeling of their choice.
At the end of the game ask each player the following questions:
What was the easiest feeling to discuss?
What was the hardest feeling to discuss?
Is it better to hide or talk about your feelings and why?
Who is the easiest person to talk to about feelings and why?
What did you learn from this game?
Conclusion:
Sometimes people ignore their feelings and keep them hidden instead of dealing with them. Even though this may seem easier, ‘hidden’ feelings will continue to bother you until you’re able to identify, express and understand your emotions.
Take a moment to notice how you are feeling at the end of this activity. Did you learn a new feeling? What would make it easier to discuss and express your feelings?
If you would like to, share something about your experience with this activity with someone you live with! Ask the person who looks after you to send us an email if you have any questions or comments about the activity, or would like to send us any pictures (info@catcorner.co.uk). Don't forget to subscribe for more fun CAT activities!
Created by Karolina Koman © March 2020
Creative Art Used: Art
Psychological Area: Emotional Literacy, Relationships, Communication and Play
References:
This activity was taken and adapted from: Lowenstein, Liana. “Favourite Therapeutic Activities for Children, Adolescents and Families: Practitioners Share Their Most Effective Interventions.” Liana Lowenstein : Free EBook, Champion Press, 2011, www.lianalowenstein.com/eBookletForm.html.
These activities could be done by children of all ages, but some may need the support of their parent or carer to read the instructions or complete the activity safely.
This website was made by CAT Corner to help you explore your feelings through fun creative arts activities. The people using the website and the people responsible for them need to make sure they stay safe (full disclaimer on About page).