Music & Emotion: 3 Songs to Explore Sad Feelings with Children
Understanding and identifying emotions is an important skill in developing emotional well-being, so we wanted to share some songs you can use in everyday life to help your children recognize and embrace emotions.
This post will identify ways to explore the emotion “Sad”.
Teaching kids about sadness helps to normalize this emotion that we often don’t talk about. It’s important for them to understand that it’s okay to feel a range of emotions, and that sadness is a natural feeling that everyone experiences. Try dancing along to this song with your kids then ask them “what made Bo (the purple storybot) feel sad?” “What makes you feel sad?” Tell them that adults feel sad sometimes too and share with them something that has made you feel sad before.
By acknowledging and discussing sadness, children can develop healthy coping mechanisms to use when they are upset. This can include drawing a picture, talking to a trusted adult, engaging in physical activities, or practicing mindfulness. Listen to this song with your kids and pick one of the mentioned coping skills to try with them. By practicing coping skills when your kids are not upset, it teaches them what to do when they start feeling sad.
Mindfulness and movement help children regulate their emotions. A practice like yoga can teach kids to be aware of their body, and help them improve their blood flow. Try stretching along to this song with your kids. You can teach them some yoga poses or make up stretches as you go. When your kids are ready to move on from feeling upset, you can listen to this song and remind them of the stretches you learned.
Teaching children about sadness and other emotions helps them seek support when needed. As your children learn their emotions, it will promote improved self-esteem and increase their stress management. By incorporating these and other songs into your daily routines, you can help your child learn how to communicate their sadness, and teach them how to manage those feelings.
Wishing you and your family the best this week.
Warm Regards,
Sarah Wilson and The Harmony Music Therapy Team
P.S. If you or your child need help with managing emotions and feeling emotionally healthy, contact us to schedule a music therapy session. We’d love to work with you!
