A VISIT WITH Andrea Adrian's Family Child Care Program

We had a wonderful experience during our recent visit to Andrea Adrian's Family Child Care Program. Andrea invited us to participate as she introduced an engaging and educational activity aimed at enhancing social-emotional development. Join us as we delve into the magical world of emotion exploration through Moods and Emotions Mirrors.

THE MIRRORS

Each child embarked on an exciting adventure of self-discovery and emotional awareness using the Moods and Emotions Mirrors. This set of toy mirrors features an expressive image on one side, and a safety mirror on the other. It is a great learning tool to help identify, understand, and express a range of emotions.

THE ACTIVITY

The activity began with each child receiving their own hand-held mirror, sparking their curiosity and inviting them to embark on a journey of self-reflection. With the guidance of Andrea and Luz Pereyra from Brightside Up, the children eagerly explored their reflections, becoming more aware of their own emotions.

To deepen their understanding, the children were encouraged to imitate the facial expressions they saw on the other side of the mirror. Starting with simpler emotions such as happiness, sadness, and anger, the children joyfully mimicked the expressions they observed, developing their ability to recognize different emotions.

MAKING IT MEANINGFUL

Throughout the activity, Andrea facilitated meaningful discussions, encouraging the children to reflect on how their own facial expressions changed as their emotions evolved. This open and supportive environment provided a safe space for the children to express and communicate their feelings.

The session reached its peak as the children joined together in singing the delightful song, "This Is a Happy Face." The catchy melody filled the room, further reinforcing their understanding of different emotions and creating a positive and uplifting atmosphere.

THANK YOU

We extend our appreciation to Andrea Adrian and the children for their active participation and eagerness to explore their emotions. As we continue our partnership with Andrea's program, Brightside Up remains committed to providing enriching experiences that support the growth and well-being of every child.

Would you like to be featured in a SPOTLIGHT?

Email Kate at ksmith@brightsideup.org

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ACTIVITY TIPS

Encourage children to talk, give praise, ask questions, listen to their answers, and respond. Doing these five things will invite conversation and remind children that they are respected and valued.
Keep it manageable. Each child’s attention span will vary, and it is okay to lose focus for a bit. Designate a maximum of 15 minutes for one activity and remember it is okay to take breaks, move around, and/or sing songs.
Follow their lead. It may turn out that some children’s attention is elsewhere during the activity. Start a conversation based on what they seem interested in to invite them to participate.
Create conversation. There is always room for talk during playtime. Describe your actions and invite each child to describe theirs. Talk about relationships, what causes things to happen, etc.
Have fun. A child will be most engaged and enthusiastic if you are enjoying the activity. Do not worry about it going to plan, let the children explore.

WHAT TO EXPECT by child’s age

Babies birth to 1

Responds to movements, sounds, and gestures
Babble, imitate sounds, produce words
Make gestures and sounds to communicate
Direct comments to them using their names, noises, and gestures
Respond to and extend their sounds
Let them handle materials and experiment with banging them together, dropping them

Toddlers 1 to 3

Ask a lot of questions about names for things, cause and effect, etc.
Desire independence
Enjoy answering your questions, following simple directions, and discussing a lot
Help them make connections to their own experiences
Be patient-they may get frustrated and will appreciate your sensitive support
Allow them to make decisions, choose how they put things together, what pieces to use

Preschoolers 3 to 5

Recognize colors and shapes
Understand social-emotional cues like taking turns and helping others
Ask a lot of “Why” questions
Provide opportunities for them to experiment, make new rules, or explain the activity
Ask them to be special helpers for the younger children
Use complex language and provide explanations

This activity is made possible through our partnership with Parent Child +

Special thanks also go to The Schenectady Foundation and the Carlilian Foundation for helping to make this project possible.

SPOTLIGHT: Exploring Moods and Emotions Using Mirrors