Awareness of emotions
Toddlers participate in a book sharing focused on how a mama fox loves her little fox no matter what he does.
[Invite several toddlers to read a book about being loved.]
Our book is about a mama fox who loves her little fox.
[Show book cover. Point to the mama and little fox.]
Here is Mama Fox. Here is her Little Fox. What are they doing? (hugging)
Mama Fox and Little Fox love each other! Let’s find out more about the mama and little fox.
[Use the following strategies to share the book:
The little fox did lots of different things in our story. Did his mama ever stop loving him? (no!) The mama fox always loved her little fox.
Monitor toddlers’ reactions to your words and the pictures to determine whether to provide more description or explanation of a situation or feeling. Most toddlers will understand many of the little fox’s behaviors, such as standing on his head and being sick. Most toddlers will understand many of the little fox’s emotions, like feeling happy, sad, and angry. They likely have experienced feeling frightened, bashful, brave, proud, and curious, but may be unfamiliar with the words that describe these feelings. The goal is not to introduce a wide range of feeling words, but to help toddlers appreciate the bigger idea that Little Fox’s mama loves him no matter what he does or what he feels.
Extra support
Enrichment
Awareness of emotions
Toddlers participate in a book sharing focused on a little fox’s feelings in different situations.
This book sharing is designed as a follow-up to Option 1. The focus of the current session is situations in which Little Fox:
(1) feels happy or good about himself— standing on his head, rolling on the rug, and finding a lost ball, and
(2) feels sad, worried, or angry—frightened by a noise, bashful in a new situation, and crying because he does not want to do something.
Select situations in the book that you anticipate will be helpful for toddlers in your gathering to talk about, especially situations that you can easily help toddlers connect to their own experiences. Two or three situations of each of these two broad types of feelings will likely be sufficient for the session.
Use the following approach to talking about each situation:
Conclude the session by emphasizing that Little Fox had different types of feelings in different situations, and by reminding toddlers that Mama Fox loves Little Fox no matter what he did or how he felt.
This option offers a closer look at what Little Fox might be feeling in different situations. As suggested in the activity description, select situations that you anticipate will be meaningful to toddlers in your gathering. Talking about similar situations in your room offers a shared context for discussion. Toddlers will likely be more aware of their similar situations and feelings than they are able to communicate verbally. Look for opportunities to connect with individual toddlers through eye contact, smiles, and other nonverbal means in response to their facial expressions, nods, gestures, or brief utterances.
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: paper and crayons or markers
Draw toddlers’ attention to how Little Fox drew a picture (a valentine) for his mama in our story. Invite toddlers to draw something special for someone who loves them. Offer to add a toddler’s words to his/her picture.
Materials Needed: I Love You Because You’re You by Liza Baker
Invite preschool-age children to participate in Options 1 and 2 and in the Interest Area activity. Preschool-age children’s contributions to the discussion of similar situations or feelings in Option 2 may be particularly helpful.
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