Sing about emotions – great fun for developing an understanding of feelings

What you need 

• Time and space to sing and be silly with your toddler 

What to try 

• Sing some songs about emotions (we’ve suggested our favourite below!).  
• When you name an emotion in the song, do an exaggerated impression of this feeling, perhaps a big smile and dance for ‘happy’ or a frown and stomping your foot for ‘angry’. Whatever makes you and your toddler laugh.  

Good to know 

There are lots of songs that talk about emotions; one classic is ‘If you’re happy and you know it’. You can change ‘happy’ and the action to other emotions to introduce some other feelings.  

If you're happy and you know it, give me a smile 
If you're happy and you know it, give me a smile 
If you're happy and you know it 
And you really want to show it 
If you're happy and you know it, give me a smile 

Other verses could be: 

• If you're sad and you know it, have a cry 
• If you're excited and you know it, jump around 
• If you're angry and you know it, stamp your feet 
• If you're shy and you know it, take a breath 
• If you're scared and you know it, give yourself a hug