Feeling Sad

For story time yesterday, I chose the book entitled "I Feel Sad".  This is a book we normally read to 4-5 year old kids, but for some reason, I took a chance as I was curious how my toddlers would respond to it.  I love these books on emotions because it helps them able to label their emotions and I think that showing them that their feelings are normal and that everybody experiences it, somehow boosts their self esteem.

The book is quite lengthier than the usual books I read to my 1-3 year old toddlers, so I didn't expect them to be engaged at all, at least not until the end of the story.  But while I was reading the book, I noticed how still they all were (and mind you, during story time, you will see some of them running around the room, while only a few sit down and listen) and how intently they were listening to the story.

The book shows examples of things that make people sad, and they all seem to understand or maybe to some degree relate to it.  Like how one feels sad when a friend leaves town, or when a pet dog dies.  It also talked about how parents feel sad when their kids disrespect them.  I was so surprised at how my toddlers were all absorbing everything, all the way till the end of the story!

After that, I decided to do a little processing.  I asked them the question "How about you, have you ever felt sad before?"  I asked the question without expecting any response because sometimes during circle time, when I try to encourage news sharing, I don't normally get much response. I ask them a simple question "What did you do this weekend?" and I usually have to probe questions to figure out the answers.  So this time, I thought that I wouldn't get any response, this being a deeper question, but nevertheless, I did.

This is how our typical news sharing looks like.  So many things going on at the same time.

So, imagine my surprise when I actually got an answer from my 2 year old!

Me: Have you ever felt sad before?
Student: Yes
Me: When did you feel sad?
Student: When I hit my mom, I felt very sad.

Yes, it was said in a clear, complete sentence.  I was so touched that she was able to express her emotions in that way and also so proud of the way she was able to communicate it.

Another student who normally doesn't participate in news sharing, also surprised me by what he shared.    In very crudely composed phrases, I gathered that he felt sad when his Dada bumped his head (and he saw blood), and felt sad when he saw his mama and yaya crying or feeling sad too.

I was so amazed by this experience and I realize that young as they are, they too, experience the same kind of emotions that we grown ups do.  And although it may seem like nothing to them, these experiences really do leave a mark.  We grownups tend to disregard our little ones, thinking that they don't get affected by certain circumstances the way that we do.  But through this exercise, I realize that we need to be more sensitive to them, to be more respectful of them because they have feelings, just as we do!