Okay, so yesterday, I decided to try this “two emotions” thing with my toddler, Leo. He’s three, and, well, let’s just say emotions are a BIG deal right now. Everything is either the BEST THING EVER or a complete meltdown.
The Setup
I grabbed some construction paper – red for angry, blue for sad – and some crayons. That’s it. Super simple. I wasn’t going for Pinterest-worthy, just functional.
The First Try
First, I showed Leo the red paper. “This is angry,” I said, making a grumpy face. He giggled. Then, I showed him the blue. “This is sad,” I said, putting on my best sad face. He poked the paper, then looked at me, kind of confused.
We practiced a few times. I’d say, “Show me angry!” and he’d (sometimes) point to the red paper. “Show me sad!” And he’d (again, sometimes) point to the blue.
Then I draw a simple angry face on the red one,and a sad face on the blue one.
The Real Test
Later that afternoon, the real test came. Leo wanted a cookie, and I said no (it was close to dinner time). Cue the meltdown. He started to yell and throw himself on the floor.
Instead of my usual “stop that!” routine, I grabbed the papers. “Leo,” I said, holding them up, “Are you angry?” I pointed to the red. “Or are you sad?” I pointed to the blue.
He stopped crying for a second, looked at the papers, and then pointed (with a still-tear-stained finger) at the red one. “Angry!” he yelled, but it was less of a tantrum yell and more of an “I’m identifying my feelings” yell.
The (Small) Victory
It wasn’t a magic fix. He still didn’t get the cookie. But, and this is a big BUT, he calmed down way faster than usual. We talked (well, I talked, he mostly listened) about why he was angry and why he couldn’t have the cookie. He still pouted, but he wasn’t screaming.
What I Learned
- Keep it simple. Toddlers don’t need fancy charts or explanations.
- Repetition is key. We practiced a bunch before the actual meltdown happened.
- It’s not a miracle cure. It’s just a tool to help them understand their feelings.
- Be patient. It takes time for them to grasp the concept.
I’m definitely going to keep using this. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start. Anything that helps navigate the toddler emotional rollercoaster is a win in my book!
