All week long, we have immersed ourselves in all things Inside Out!  And what a week it’s been!  Disney’s Pixar movie, Inside Out, personifies five main emotions and shows how they drive our behavior and influence the choices we make. 

Sometimes those emotions can get the better of us and can cloud our judgment – we dismiss our own sadness, or lash out at others because of some pent up anger, or we can become so overcome by fear that we miss out on what could have been an awesome opportunity. 

There are days when things are just not right. It can be hard to express how we feel. This chart is a great way to start the conversation using the emotion characters from the movie.

What you need:

2 pieces of White Construction Paper,

Small piece of Cardboard (to make the arrow),

Crayola Crayons,

Sharpie Marker,

Glue Stick,

Scissors,

Paper Fastener

Directions:

Cut one of the pieces of paper into a half a circle.

Using your sharpie marker divide the half circle into 5 pie looking portions.

Print out the emotions below.

Cut out the emotion characters and glue them inside each portion. Color with your crayons each portion the emotion color (seen below).

Cut out an arrow and color it any color you want out of the cardboard. Then, attach the arrow to the half circle and the piece of paper with the paper fastener. This is so your child can move the arrow to any emotion of their choice.

Write on each portion:

Joy- FEELING HAPPY!

Sadness- FEELING UPSET AND WANTING TO BE ALONE!

Fear- I AM SCARED AND I AM AFRAID!

Disgust- I DON’T WANT TO DO THAT!

Anger- I’M MAD!

Your project is complete!

Understanding our feelings and how they affect our choices is a huge lesson and an important skill to teach our kids.  We all have a unique perception of the world around us, and some of us are more sensitive than others. 

Children may find it difficult to discuss how they feel because they don’t want to be criticized. Remind them that they are safe and that their feelings matter.  As parents, remember to take some time for yourselves in order to regulate your own emotions.  Talk to your kids about how you reconcile some of the big feelings that are within you , and with time, patience,  and consistency, your kids will gain the confidence to openly and willingly share with you what’s inside, out.