All About Me! Part 2
For today’s All About Me! activities, we’ll make room for feelings, get in some tasty math and writing practice, and put a new twist on a favorite song.
Watch Together
In this episode of Pajanimals, (Season 1, Episode 1 “House of Pancakes/ Missing Mom and Dad”), Sweet Pea Sue gets upset when Mom makes pancakes instead of waffles like she normally does. Try asking your child: Why did Sweet Pea Sue get upset? What did she do to feel better? Which do you like better, pancakes or waffles? What things have changed for you lately? Did you feel upset like Sweet Pea Sue? Something else?
If your child doesn’t feel like talking about feelings, don’t force it. Allow him/her to express whatever comes up- even if that’s just the desire to watch Pajanimals in silence!
Watch the episode here.
Yummy Chart
Invite your child to ask each person in your home what they prefer: pancakes or waffles. You might even call friends or family members to get their votes!
Click below to print out the pancake and waffle pictures, or make some of your own.
On a separate sheet of paper, make a list of each person’s name who voted. Your child can use this list to copy each name onto a waffle or pancake picture, depending on what they chose.
Use the labelled pancakes and waffles to make a chart. Compare the two columns with your child, asking him/her which had the most and the least votes.
Bonus: Make a batch of the winning item!
Download the printable activity sheet here.
Cuddle Up and Read
Check your bookshelf for stories about feelings, inviting your child to choose one to read. Or, watch this read-aloud of When Sophie Gets Angry- Really, Really Angry. Discuss the strategies Sophie used to calm herself down: running, crying, climbing a tree, being alone. Help your child come up with his/her own strategies to use when similar feelings come up.
Let’s Sing!
Sing “If You’re Happy And You Know It” with your child, encouraging him/her to do the movements with you. Then repeat the song, substituting other feelings for ‘happy,’ and singing the song in the style of that feeling. Ex: Use a grumpy voice for “If you’re mad and you know it…”; pretend to cry for “If you’re sad and you know it…”
Need a reminder of the lyrics? Here you go!