What is Feelings Activity Book for Toddlers about?
It’s an activity book that helps toddlers identify, understand, and manage big feelings through play. The activities are designed to build emotional vocabulary, body awareness, and simple calming strategies you can practice together.
Who wrote Feelings Activity Book for Toddlers?
Feelings Activity Book for Toddlers is written by Stacy Spensley, a parenting coach and author.
What problem does this book help with?
It helps when toddlers have big emotions but don’t yet have the words or tools to express them safely. The activities focus on naming feelings, noticing body signals, and practicing age-appropriate co-regulation.
What kinds of results can parents expect from using these activities?
You can expect more shared language around emotions and more practice with calming routines when no one is upset. Over time, that can make it easier to support your toddler through meltdowns, frustration, anxiety, and transitions.
Is this book meant to be a workbook you do with your toddler or something they do alone?
It’s meant to be done with an adult. The book notes that toddlers are too young to be alone, can’t read, and will need help with setup and supervision.
How is the book organized?
It includes an introduction on how to talk about feelings, then 50 activities divided into four sections: How I Feel, How My Body Feels, Feelings about Others, and What to Do When I Have Big Feelings.
How long do the activities take?
Most activities take about 5 to 30 minutes. Many are designed for short toddler attention spans and minimal setup.
What types of activities are included in Feelings Activity Book for Toddlers?
It includes simple games, arts and crafts, movement activities, sensory play, pretend play, and calming tools. Examples include mirror faces, paper plate emotion masks, breathing games, obstacle courses, and making a “Cozy Kit.”
Does the book teach calming strategies for tantrums and meltdowns?
Yes, it includes multiple calming and regulation strategies toddlers can practice ahead of time and use when upset. Examples include deep breathing games, blowing bubbles, a sensory “ocean bottle,” blanket “burritos,” and a calming corner/Cozy Kit idea.
Does it cover both feelings and the body sensations that go with them?
Yes, it specifically teaches that emotional responses are physical and includes a full section on body awareness. Activities help toddlers notice signals like butterflies in the stomach or a fast heartbeat and connect those sensations to feelings.
Does this book help with empathy and social skills like taking turns or noticing other people’s feelings?
Yes, it includes a section focused on “Feelings about Others,” with activities like Taking Turns, The Feelings Detective (reading facial/body clues), and Daily Check-In. These are meant to support early empathy and social awareness.
What developmental skills does the book support besides emotional learning?
Each activity lists skills it practices, such as cognitive skills, receptive and expressive communication, fine and gross motor skills, sensory skills, and social skills. Many activities intentionally combine emotional learning with play-based skill building.
Is this book for all toddlers, like 12 months through 36 months?
Yes, it’s written to cover the full toddler age range, noting there’s a big difference between 12-month-olds and 36-month-olds. Activities include options for younger, older, and nonspeaking toddlers, and it encourages you to skip or adapt activities based on your child’s abilities.
Do you need special supplies to do the activities?
No, the book emphasizes inexpensive, easily accessible materials and lists what you need for each activity. Many activities use common items like paper plates, crayons, pillows, tape, a blanket, or a mirror.
How messy are the activities?
The book rates each activity’s “messiness” on a scale from 1 (no mess) to 5 (very messy). That makes it easier to choose something quick and clean or plan for a sensory/messy activity when you have time.
Are there safety notes for activities with choking hazards, scissors, or water?
Yes, the book includes a “Safety First!” section and adds caution notes on activities where extra supervision is needed. It specifically calls out risks like small objects being choking hazards, using scissors or hot glue, and never leaving a child unattended near water.
Does the book include support for toddlers who aren’t talking yet?
Yes, several activities include options for younger or nonspeaking toddlers, such as using gestures, pointing, or having the adult model the words. It also includes a “Simple Signs” activity encouraging basic American Sign Language (ASL) to support communication when speech is limited.
If I want quick, everyday ways to talk about feelings (not long lessons), will this help?
Yes, many activities are designed to fit into daily routines in just a few minutes, like Morning Affirmations, Daily Check-In, and Mountains and Valleys. The book also emphasizes that the best time to talk about feelings is when no one is upset, using play to practice.
