How Do You Feel Today? Magic of the Feelings Journal

Ms Holly Ann Wood

DUCKS Global Citizenship and Sustainability Lead

It is not just adults who can face mental health challenges. Having good mental health is integral to children's overall well-being. It influences their thoughts, feelings, actions, stress-management, relationships, and decision-making. As teachers and parents, it is crucial that we understand this and support our children appropriately. 

DCSZ prioritises every child’s mental well-being and emotions. This, of course, looks different in each school. In DUCKS, children can struggle to articulate their concerns and this can pose challenges with providing support. As part of the PSHE (Personal, social and Health Education) curriculum, DUCKS teachers implement strategies to help children to express their emotions and explore them. This week, we visited Ms Holly Ann Wood, Year 2 class teacher and DUCKS Global Citizenship and Sustainability Lead. To help her new class to express and manage their emotions effectively, she has encouraged them to start keeping a feelings journal.

Feelings Journal

The feelings journal can be utilised by teachers as part of the PSHE curriculum. Supplementing the ‘Zones of Regulation’, where the children think about and document their feelings, the feelings journal serves as a tool for students to recognise, explore and communicate their emotions. 

Children can use it daily to express their feelings through drawing or writing. Teachers can also use it to help them to understand which feelings children are processing. The feelings journals are kept in the calm corner of Ms Wood’s classroom. This is an area where children can read books, relax on the sofa with sensory toys, or use art materials for mindfulness. 

Each morning, Ms Wood guides the children in relaxation techniques such as roller coaster breathing and hot chocolate breathing. These breathing techniques help children to feel calm and ready to learn. They also sing a song each day so they can settle in to their morning routine and relax. 

Let’s see what Romie L, 2D, had to share about her feeling journal:

“The feeling journal is very helpful and allows me to think and write down my thoughts and feelings. Whenever I feel frustrated or have something on my mind, the journal serves as a means for me to express myself.”

Ilkim K from 2D shared this:

“I am happy to come to school every day. The feeling journal helps me to express how happy I am every day!”

What can parents do?

To create a comprehensive well-being support system for children, parental support is crucial. We encourage parents to talk to their children about their feelings and reassure them that all feelings are ok. Creating opportunity for dialogue will help children to understand and process their feelings. We also encourage giving children downtime and making sure they get enough rest. Outdoor play is a great way to help children to relax and it also provides the opportunity to to socialise with others. For bigger and more complex feelings, children, teachers and parents have access to Ms Daisy Wang, the Whole College SEL and UCC Counselor.

At DCSZ, we create a secure learning environment for children and deliver a comprehensive education. Beyond academics, we prioritise their wellbeing, aiming for them to grow up embodying the ethos of "Live Worldwise " and making changes to the world.