Feelings Tornados
Suggested Age Group(s): Young/Middle/Teen
Purpose: Identifying and coping with feelings associated with the loss
Task/need: Moving toward the pain of the loss
Activity Setup Ideas: Process with the group and discuss the wave of emotions being felt within the body when they feel stressed, angry, sad, etc. Identify a color that might be associated with each emotion (i.e. anger might be red). Explain to the children that feelings can sometimes look like a tornado inside of us. The tornado does not stay forever but comes and goes at different times due to events that happen to us. Process what events might trigger an angry tornado inside of us.
Materials:
- Empty plastic water bottle with lid (rinsed and clean)
- Water
- Dish Soap
- Paper and markers
- Food coloring
- Glitter, various colors to represent different feelings
Description:
- Have the group create a tornado bottle by adding water, food coloring, glitter and tokens of choice.
- Fill the bottle three quarters of the way with water. Add dish soap, food coloring and choice and glitter.
- Glue the top on to prevent spilling.
- Shake the bottle up and down and swirl it around until it resembles a tornado.
- After a few minutes come back to the bottle and see how calm it is. (Group members can also be instructed to focus on the larger confetti while the glitter is settling).
Activity Wrap Up Ideas:
- Process with the children about how feelings can tornado up inside each of us.
- Have the children name some things they can do to calm the tornado inside of them. Make a list for the children to reference later when they get angry or upset.
- The children can take the bottle home as a reminder that feelings come and go. As with the tornado in the bottle, things eventually settle down and go back to normal baseline.
- By using this visual, the children can understand their feelings and have a list of coping skills.