Feelings Crafts and Activities

Preschool Time Capsule

Give the kids a way to remember their preschool years by creating their very own preschool time capsule. They can bring in things from home, as well as use things in the classroom as memorabilia for their time capsules. They’ll have tons of fun now and in the future when they open it again.

Supplies Needed:

A sturdy shoebox (one for each child)
Construction or Wrapping Paper
Newspaper
Scissors
Magazines
Decorating material such as beads, jewels, stickers, etc.
Memorabilia from home
Picture of student
Glue/Tape
Old fabric or felt scraps

Steps for making your time capsules: 

Have the kids cover the outside of their shoe boxes (including the lid) with the construction/wrapping paper.  If you really want to date your time capsule, you can even use newspapers. Attach the paper using glue or tape.

After the outside of the shoe box is completely decorated and dry, line the inside with some old felt or fabric pieces. Glue the fabric pieces to the inside of the box using glue.

Now it’s time to begin the fun decorating. Cut pictures from magazines and glue on, use “jewels”, glue the child’s picture to the top of the box, etc.

Next, fill the time capsules with the children’s memorabilia. Some examples of great things to add to their box include: a small toy, lots of photos, newspaper clippings, a favorite outgrown shirt, sports memorabilia, movie tickets, etc. Have the kids bring in anything that they love now and will help them bring back memories when they open their capsule years from now.

Once the capsules are done, be sure to send them home with a note to the children’s parents to place it up somewhere safe for a few years.

Book of Feelings

Have your children list feelings. Happy, sad, angry, silly, bored, excited, etc.

Have your child make the face of someone who is feeling that feeling. What does someone look like when they feel happy? What does someone look like when they feel angry? Now it’s time for your child to get creative with feelings. Have each child make a picture book about feelings.

Here’s what you need:

Construction paper
Markers or crayons
Hole punch
Ribbon or yarn

Here’s what to do:

1. Have your child make the cover of their Book of Feelings first. They can write “My Book of Feelings” or include their name in the title, “Zack’s Book of Feelings”. Let them decorate the cover however they like. You can glue a picture of your child to the center of the cover or have them draw one of themselves.
2. Write different feelings on the tops of several sheets of construction paper. Happy, sad, scared, etc. On each sheet have your child draw a picture of what they look like when they are feeling that way. (Or cut and glue pictures from magazines.)
3. Stack all the sheets together and punch three holes down the side – top, middle and bottom. Use ribbon or yarn to tie the sheets together and make a book.

When all the books are completed, have your child tell you about a time they felt each feeling. Tell me about a time you felt happy. Tell me about a time you felt scared. As you go through each feeling, talk to your child about how to deal with different feelings. How can someone feel better when they are sad? How can someone calm down when they are angry?

This is a great exercise in communication for your children and their Book of Feelings makes a great keepsake! It’s important to talk to you kids about feelings and that having different feelings is okay. It’s also important to teach them how to deal with more difficult feelings such as sadness or anger.

Feelings & Emotion Snacks

Make faces on English Muffins. Spread cream cheese and make the face with any small foods like raisins, shredded carrots, licorice, and candy corns.

Or, make happy and sad cookies and gobble them up!

Show a happy face and a sad face.