Children learn better through play, and these emotion stones can be used by all children, including neurodiverse, SEMH and those with non or limited vocabulary skills. They are a good starting point to help with identifying not just emotions, but different facial expressions – helping to engage conversations about their own feelings and learning about others’ emotions.
These fun, hand-painted stones contain 18 emotions, and 2 gnome characters. While children are learning about different emotions, they can also use the characters to role-play. Role playing can be very much child led; when they are using their imagination, they are also improving their language skills and maybe opening up their own feelings, where they may have encountered a difficult situation. By putting these into words can also reduce the severity of some of their feelings, leading to healthy social and emotional development.
For many children, helping to engage conversations about their own feelings can give them the confidence to discuss these emotions openly, what strategies can help which gives a more positive mind-set.
Many schools are currently using these in their ELSA/PSHE lessons.
**PDF activity sheets are also available as an optional extra (discounted when bought with the Emotion Stones). These will be sent direct to your email address (no hard copies will be posted). There are 24 x A4 sheets which can be freely printed and distributed.
12 x sheets for children to draw an emotion face and colour in.
12 x sheets for children to explore the different things that make them feel a certain emotion.
**Custom designed 'Emotion Stones' also available under a separate listing**
Listed below are a few suggestions of how the stones could be used:
- How many emotions can children name?
- Choose a stone and take turns recalling a memory when you/child felt that emotion.
- Take a stone to say how you might be feeling (morning/afternoon/evening).
- While reading a story, ask if they can pick out a certain stone to match how someone might be feeling.
- Turn a few stones upside down, then take it in turns to choose one and ‘act’ that emotion. Can they name that emotion?
- To help develop literacy skills, can they copy and write down the word.
- Can they write a sentence and give a reason they felt that emotion (eg. Last week I felt sad when my friend would not play with me).
- Have your child choose a stone and see if they can draw what they think that emotion might look like.
- Use the gnome characters and choose 2 or 3 emotion stones and see if they can create a story incorporating them all (either writing or verbalising).
- Use as a sensory toy – children may like to connect with an emotion and hold it for a while.
Set of stones come with 2 character gnomes and the following emotions: excited, worried, angry, sad, nervous, happy, upset, shy, bored, scared, silly, calm, confused, loved, mad, sick, surprised and proud.
Made from recycled glass pebbles
Approx size of each stone 4cms x 3cms
Stones have been CE/UKCA tested for over 3-year-olds.
Sealed with toy safety varnish and must not be submerged in water.
Please keep away from young children/babies.
