Teaching kids how to understand what their body and emotions are telling them

Introduction

Children’s bodies speak long before they have the words to describe what’s happening inside.
A stomachache might mean anxiety.
A burst of energy might mean joy.
Tears might mean exhaustion or needing comfort — not just sadness.

In Taking Care of Me from Dream Tree Publishing, children learn that taking care of themselves starts with listening — to their hearts, their bodies, and their feelings.
This awareness builds a foundation of self-trust that will guide them for life.

Why Listening to the Body Matters

Body awareness is one of the earliest forms of emotional intelligence.
It helps kids connect physical sensations to emotions — teaching them to identify what they feel, why they feel it, and how to respond in healthy ways.

Children who learn to tune in to their bodies are more likely to:

• Recognize stress and calm themselves sooner.
• Communicate their needs clearly.
• Build resilience instead of burnout.
• Develop respect for their limits and well-being.

“When kids learn to listen to their bodies, they start hearing their emotions too.”

The Connection Between Body and Emotion

Our feelings don’t just live in the mind — they show up in the body.
You can help children recognize these signals through mindful observation.

Emotion	What It Might Feel Like in the Body
Happiness	Warm chest, relaxed face, light energy
Sadness	Heavy shoulders, quiet breath, droopy eyes
Anger	Tight fists, fast heartbeat, hot face
Fear	Butterflies in stomach, shaky hands, tight chest
Excitement	Bouncy energy, big eyes, quick breathing

Helping kids label these sensations gives them language for self-regulation — the bridge between body awareness and emotional health.

1️⃣ Practice the “Body Check-In”

💡 How to Do It:

Pause during different parts of the day — morning, mid-afternoon, and bedtime — and ask:

• “What is your body telling you right now?”
• “Do you feel tired, hungry, calm, or wiggly?”
• “Where do you feel that in your body?”

For younger children, you can use imagery:

“Does your body feel like a sleepy turtle or a jumping kangaroo?”

This turns mindfulness into play while teaching self-awareness.

2️⃣ Use Movement to Explore Emotions

Kids often express what they feel through movement before they can talk about it.
Encourage physical play that connects feelings with motion:

• Dance Your Feelings: Play different types of music and let kids move however their bodies feel — slow for sadness, big and open for happiness.
• Stretching Emotions: Ask, “What does calm look like in your body?” and “What does brave look like?”

These exercises teach children that movement can release emotion, not just express it.

3️⃣ Create a “Feelings-to-Actions” Chart

Help kids notice what their bodies and emotions need linking sensations to care responses.

Feeling	Body Signal	Helpful Response
Tired	Heavy eyes, yawning	Rest or quiet time
Anxious	Fast breathing	Deep breaths, hugging a stuffed animal
Angry	Tight muscles	Stretch, count to ten, talk to a grown-up
Sad	Droopy shoulders	Cuddle, draw, or talk
Excited	Bouncy energy	Dance, play outside, or journal the moment

This chart teaches kids that all feelings are okay — they just need healthy outlets.

4️⃣ Storytelling as a Mirror

Books like Taking Care of Me give kids language and examples for self-awareness.
After reading, ask reflective questions:

• “What did the character do when they felt tired?”
• “How did they listen to their feelings?”
• “What helps you feel better when you’re sad or upset?”

Children learn best through storytelling, especially when they see themselves in the story’s emotional journey.

5️⃣ The Mindful Breathing Game

💡 How to Do It:

Use breathing as a bridge between body and emotion.
Have your child:

• Pretend to smell a flower (inhale) 🌸
• Then blow out a candle (exhale) 🕯

Repeat 3–5 times.
This helps calm the nervous system and teaches that slowing down is a way to take care of themselves.

“Breathing is the body’s way of talking — if you listen, it tells you what it needs.”

6️⃣ Encourage “Kind Curiosity”

Children often feel shame about certain emotions — anger, fear, or sadness.
Teach them to approach feelings with curiosity instead of judgment.

Ask:

• “What’s this feeling trying to tell us?”
• “Is it asking for rest, for help, or for play?”

This builds emotional literacy — and reminds them that feelings are messages, not mistakes.

7️⃣ Model It in Your Own Life

Let your child see you take mindful moments too:

“I’m feeling a little tired — I think my body needs some quiet time.”
“My heart feels full after that hug.”

Modeling honesty about your own sensations and emotions gives permission for them to do the same.

Why This Awareness Builds Confidence

When children know how to interpret their own signals, they trust themselves.
That self-trust becomes the root of confidence and emotional stability.

They no longer look outside for all the answers — they’ve learned that their own body and feelings hold wisdom, too.

“Self-awareness is the quiet confidence that grows from listening within.”

Conclusion: The Body Knows the Way

By helping kids slow down and listen to what their body and heart are saying, we teach them the lifelong skill of inner awareness — the foundation of both self-care and empathy.

Taking Care of Me helps children learn that their body is not just something they have — it’s something they can trust, love, and listen to. 💚

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Help your child connect with their body and emotions through gentle storytelling with
👉 Taking Care of Me — a beautifully illustrated book from Dream Tree Publishing that teaches mindfulness, emotional awareness, and body respect for kids.

Because the first step to understanding the world is learning to listen within. 🌿

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Relevant Articles:

The Link Between Self-Love and Confidence in Kids

Teaching Kids Self-Care and Emotional Awareness

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