All About Feelings!

Dear Gecko Class Families, 

I hope you are all doing well and had a great time celebrating the mid-autumn festival last week. Unfortunatly we did miss our Library Day as the holiday fell on Wednesday. The Geckos will be pleased to know that we will have Library and P.E class this Wednesday 25 September! 

Thank you to all the Gecko Class parents for sharing their family photos! The children enjoyed discussing their favorite activities with their families and comparing their experiences. We have created a Family Book, which will be kept in the book basket for the children to access and enjoy. 

**Some snapshots from the small group can be found here: AM / PM**

Mindfulness and Exploring Sensory Tools 

Learning about our feelings and emotions has been at the forefront of our learning the past couple of weeks. We have been thinking about what different emotions look and feel like. The children have had a lot of fun playing 'Emotion Charades' during a small group activity as they use their body language and facial features to express how they are feeling as their classmates try to guess. They have been exploring what makes them feel that way and it has been wonderful to hear that coming to ESF makes them feel excited and happy! 

**Some snapshots from the small group can be found here: AM / PM**

At home, reading stories about emotions and playing this game can be a great way of modelling that all emotions are okay and that we welcome them all - even the big ones like sadness and frustration.

We regularly refer to our Zones of Regulation Poster (below) to describe and show how we are feeling - this week, the children are 'checking-in' each day by putting their lollipop stick into the feeling box. At home, you can print this poster out and put it near your reading area to help your child recognise and label their emotions. We always want to find a way back to the Green Zone. 

Following on from this small group activity, the children have been exploring different sensory tools and mindful exercises to encourage them to find what works best for them and find strategies that can help them return to a calm and happy place the 'Green Zone'. 

**Some snapshots from the small group can be found here AM / PM**

As a class we have been incorporating mindfulness practices during transitions, whether it's tidying up and moving to circle time or returning to the classroom from PE. One simple technique is to give yourself a big hug while counting down from 5 to 0, and then blowing away your worries with a deep exhale.
I have the found some children using this strategy after open-play when they have been very excited, and we have used it to co-regulate when the children feel big emotions of sadness or frustration. 

You can easily incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine at home as well. We have also found a mindfulness video that has been beneficial:





This week, the children will be learning about their brains and how everyone has a unique brain that works in its own special way! We will encourage the children to accept, appreciate, and celebrate the diversity of human brains while fostering kindness toward one another.


***

**For more photos, please note that we continue to add to our 'Who We Are' unit of inquiry photo album weekly: 
AM / PM** 

**If you have not yet shared your child's favourite song for PE Class, please complete this form: 

Have a wonderful week ahead! 

Warm regards, 
Ammie 


 

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