Frustrated with Teaching Emotions?
Do we need to ‘teach’ emotions as a distinct topic?
Teaching emotions to children and young people with Down's syndrome is crucial for their social and emotional development. Emotions play a critical role in our lives, influencing our thoughts, behaviour, and relationships. Young people with additional learning needs may experience difficulties in understanding and expressing emotions, which can affect their social interactions and relationships with others. However, with proper support and guidance, they can learn to recognise and regulate their emotions effectively
Why is teaching emotions important for children and young people with Down's syndrome?
Improves communication: Learning to recognise and express emotions can help children with Down's syndrome communicate more effectively with others. They can convey their feelings and needs more clearly, which can reduce frustration and improve social interactions.
Enhances social skills: Understanding emotions is essential for building healthy relationships. When children with Down's syndrome learn to recognise and regulate their emotions, they can interact with others in a more positive and empathetic manner. They can also better understand and respond to social cues, such as facial expressions and body language.
Increases self-awareness: Recognising and understanding one's emotions is an essential component of self-awareness. By teaching emotions to children with Down's syndrome, we can help them develop a better understanding of themselves and their feelings. This leads to improved self-esteem and confidence.
Supports emotional regulation: Children with Down's syndrome may struggle with emotional regulation, which can lead to outbursts or meltdowns. Teaching emotions can help them identify triggers and develop strategies to manage their emotions more effectively.
Promotes independence: Children with Down's syndrome may face challenges in their daily lives, such as difficulty with communication and social interactions. Learning to recognise and regulate their emotions can support their independence and help them navigate these challenges more effectively.
Top 5 Tips for Teaching Emotions to Children and Young People with Down's syndrome
Use visuals: Visuals are effective tools for teaching emotions. Use pictures, drawings, or facial expressions to help them understand different emotions and how they look.
Role-play: a fun and interactive way to teach emotions. Encourage children to act out different scenarios and emotions, such as feeling happy, sad, or angry. This can help them practice recognising and expressing emotions in a safe and supportive environment.
Use real-life examples: For example, if they see someone crying, explain that the person might be feeling sad or upset. This can help them connect emotions to real-world experiences.
Be patient: Encourage and praise their efforts, and avoid becoming frustrated or impatient. Teaching emotions can take time and patience, especially for children with Down's syndrome.
Model healthy emotional expression: Children with Down's syndrome learn by example, so it's essential to model healthy emotional expression. Show them how to express emotions in a positive and constructive way, such as taking deep breaths or talking to someone they trust when feeling overwhelmed.
Finding the right resources that are age-appropriate for our pre-teens and young adults is a real challenge for teachers and parents alike.
That’s why Learn and Thrive launched our Learning for Life project. A whole series within this project is dedicated to teaching emotions; from happy and sad to confused and frustrated. 10 videos, each with downloadable resources and worksheets, are here to work through one-to-one or in group settings with the support of an adult to help differentiate the learning and provide clarity where necessary. As always at Learn and Thrive - it’s all free!
Want to try out a selection of the Emotions series? Get access to one learning session here.
Learn and Thrive is a national charity dedicated to building completely free resources to teach young people with learning difficulties about relationships, appropriate behaviour, and keeping themselves safe. When it comes to emotions, Learning for Life has done the hard work for you. They deliver video lessons, with associated resources and activities, ready to pick up and use straight away with your young people. Emotions is the second series of videos from the Learning for Life project and launches on 21st March 2023 to celebrate World Down’s Syndrome Day.