Draw your Feelings
Being aware of feelings is the first step for children – and grown-ups – to understand and manage their internal world. Drawing a feeling is a fun, non-threatening way to start exploring our emotions. Expressing our emotion on a piece paper can be therapeutic, bringing focus, satisfaction and calm.
Your child can do this drawing with you or by themselves. Describing feelings in a family setting isn’t always straightforward. This drawing exercise helps develop self-awareness in a playful manner.
What you need
- Sketchbook or paper
Drawing material of your choice (coloured pencils, markers, oil pastels etc.)
Pen or pencil
How to play
1- To begin, close your eyes and take a deep breath.
2- Be aware what emotion is coming up to you – positive or negative, any emotion can be explored. Just observe without judgment or resistance.
3- If you were to give your emotion a form, what size, shape, weight, texture and temperature would it have?
4- Draw the emotion using colours. There is no right way, just follow your intuition.
5- If you like, you can also write down your feelings. Finding new words for familiar emotions can be stimulating.
6- Once you’ve done the drawing (and writing), talk with your child about the drawings. Encourage your child to talk about the colours and shapes they’ve used, why they made those choices, and why they think they felt as they did. Share the same about your drawing.
Tips
- Reassure your children that all feelings deserve to be heard, no matter what they are. The important thing is to find an expressive channel for them.
How did you feel
after drawing your emotion on the paper?
© 2023 S E N S I N G S P A C E | Powered by S E N S I N G S P A C E