Pretending how we feel, or might feel, at certain times can be a good way for children to talk about feelings.

Materials:

• Paper plates
• Construction-paper shapes cut to represent facial features
• Tape

Directions:

Use a paper plate, construction-paper shapes cut to resemble facial features and tape to create different facial expressions. Ask your child to tell you the feelings each "face" expresses.

As you and your child arrange different faces on the plates you have a chance to ask questions such as How would you feel if you were

• Getting ready to open a present
• Riding a tricycle and someone pushed you off
• Throwing a ball in the house and broke a vase
• Going to get a new puppy
• Hearing thunder
• Going to sleep somewhere else

Your child might want to make different expressions about the different situations you present. It helps children to know that we have lots of different feelings -- ambivalent feelings -- about a lot of things, even about a divorce.

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