Discovering Our Feelings: A Printable Social Story
Help your child explore their emotions with this engaging social story. Perfect for preschoolers, it encourages understanding and expression of feelings.
Story Preview
Discovering Our Feelings
Today, I feel lots of things. My tummy feels funny.
When I smile, I feel happy. Happy feels warm like sunshine.
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Who Is This For?
What's Inside
This social story includes relatable sentences and activities to help children understand and express their feelings.
About This Story
Discovering Our Feelings is a printable social story designed to help young children recognize and express their emotions. Through relatable sentences and engaging illustrations, children learn that it's okay to feel a variety of emotions.
- Encourages emotional awareness
- Promotes open discussions about feelings
- Ideal for preschool and early education settings
Disclaimer: This resource supports learning. It does not replace professional advice.
How to Use This Story
When to use this story
This social story, "Discovering Our Feelings," is a wonderful tool for parents, teachers, and therapists working with preschoolers. It is particularly helpful during moments when children are beginning to notice and articulate their emotions. Whether at home, in the classroom, or during therapy sessions, this story provides a gentle and engaging way to explore feelings and enhance emotional expression.
What's inside
In "Discovering Our Feelings," children are taken on a journey through various emotions using relatable imagery and simple language. The story begins with the child reflecting on their feelings, starting with a funny tummy that may signify a mix of emotions. As the narrative unfolds, children learn to connect specific feelings with descriptive imagery—happy is likened to warm sunshine, sad to rain in the eyes, angry to a roaring lion, and scared to a big shadow. This vivid storytelling approach helps young learners recognize and label their emotions.
The story includes interactive activities such as vocabulary exercises, spelling challenges, comprehension questions, and open-ended discussions. It encourages role-play scenarios that allow children to practice expressing their feelings in a safe and supportive environment.
What kids learn
Through this social story, children gain important skills in emotional awareness and expression. They learn to:
- Identify and name different feelings, fostering emotional literacy.
- Understand the physical sensations associated with various emotions, helping them make connections between body and feelings.
- Communicate their emotions effectively, using phrases like "I feel..." to express themselves.
- Develop empathy by recognizing that everyone experiences a range of emotions.
Research context
The use of social stories has a rich tradition in educational and therapeutic settings. Developed by Carol Gray, social stories provide narratives that help individuals understand social situations and emotional responses. Research on narrative-based social and emotional learning supports the effectiveness of storytelling in developing emotional regulation and self-control skills. By engaging children with relatable stories like "Discovering Our Feelings," we nurture their ability to navigate their feelings and interactions with others in meaningful ways.
Tips for parents and educators
- Read the story together and discuss the feelings described, encouraging children to share their experiences.
- Use visuals or drawings to represent each emotion, creating a feelings chart that children can refer to.
- Incorporate role-play activities where children can act out different emotions and practice expressing them.
- Create a safe space for children to talk about their feelings regularly, reinforcing that it's okay to feel a variety of emotions.
- Encourage the use of the phrase "I feel..." in daily conversations to help children articulate their emotions.
How This Story Lands — Clinical Review & Perspectives
One named clinical review from our co-founder Rajini, plus three composite perspectives summarising how this story tends to land in a classroom, at home, and in therapy. How we write these.
Engaging Resource for Emotion Exploration
As a pediatric speech-language pathologist, I find 'Discovering Our Feelings' to be an excellent tool for discussing emotions with preschoolers. The simple language and relatable examples make it easy for children on my caseload to connect with their feelings. While reading, I encourage kids to express their emotions and listen for phrases like 'I feel...' to promote vocabulary growth. This story opens the door to deeper conversations about feelings, helping kids articulate their experiences in a supportive environment.
Useful for Sensory Regulation and Emotions
OTs often pair 'Discovering Our Feelings' with activities that help children identify and manage emotions. In sensory-regulation work, this story can be used to connect feelings to physical sensations, like the 'roaring lion' for anger. This connection aids in developing coping strategies. The engaging illustrations and relatable language support children in recognizing their emotions, making it a practical resource for therapists working on emotional regulation skills.
Composite perspective synthesised from common feedback patterns — read how.
Sparking Meaningful Conversations at Home
Parents reading 'Discovering Our Feelings' with their child often notice an increase in their child's willingness to talk about emotions. The relatable descriptions make it easy for kids to connect their feelings to real-life situations. At home, this story tends to spark conversations about daily experiences, helping children articulate what they feel. It’s a wonderful way to explore emotions together, creating a safe space for sharing and understanding.
Composite perspective synthesised from common feedback patterns — read how.
Great Support for Emotional Learning
In an inclusive classroom, 'Discovering Our Feelings' works well because it provides a clear, engaging framework for discussing emotions. Educators using small-group settings will find that the story's repetitive structure allows for easy visual supports, like emotion cards, enhancing comprehension. The relatable scenarios help children understand and express their feelings, which can lead to improved interactions with peers. It’s a practical resource for fostering emotional intelligence among diverse learners.
Composite perspective synthesised from common feedback patterns — read how.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of activities are included in this social story?
This printable social story includes a variety of activities such as vocabulary building, spelling, comprehension questions, and creative role-play scenarios. These activities are designed to be interactive and fun, helping your child to not only learn about feelings but also practice expressing them in different contexts.
How can 'Discovering Our Feelings' help my child understand their emotions?
'Discovering Our Feelings' uses engaging illustrations and simple language to help preschoolers identify and express their emotions. The story encourages discussions about feelings, making it easier for your child to recognize their own emotions and those of others.
What age is this social story suitable for?
This social story is designed for preschool-aged children.
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This resource supports learning. It does not replace professional advice.