How to turn roars into giggles
Cookie: “You are just the biggest Pterodactyl!”
Dandy: “Why is that?”
Cookie: “Because you’re the meanest dinosaur!”
When kids get upset, their emotions can feel as big as a dinosaur stomping through the room. But what if we could help them to swap their ROAR for a giggle?
Humor is a powerful tool to help children express their feelings in a way that’s safe, creative, and even fun! Encouraging kids to use playful, silly words—like calling someone a “Grumpy T-Rex” or a “Fussy Triceratops”—helps them vent their frustration without hurting feelings.
More importantly, when children label their emotions as their own funny characters, they learn to separate their feelings from themselves and from the people they are upset with. Instead of saying, “I’m so angry at you!” they might say, “I feel like a stomping stegosaurus right now!” This mindful practice helps them see emotions as something temporary, rather than defining who they are or damaging relationships.
By turning their frustration into something playful, they:
Try it out:
Next time your child is feeling frustrated, encourage them to turn their feelings into fun characters:
What crazy character will you create to diffuse your anger into laughs?