Growing Empathy Through Stories, Stones, & Sticks - Part 2
Supporting children’s emotional growth through storytelling and nature play + free printable.
Do you ever feel like a failed weather forecaster when it comes to predicting little one’s emotions? One moment, they’re beaming with sunshine, proudly displaying their sand castle. Then the waves crash through…and thunder, in the form of your little one, isn’t far behind. Or maybe you served the wrong shaped noodles and you’re suddenly in a whirling emotional hurricane.
It can be a challenge to navigate these big-feeling moments for both the child and caregiver. According to Occupational Therapist, Ashley Patek, “…we tend to see meltdowns as the enemy. We feel we need to shut ‘em down, but in doing so, we are hindering how children diffuse their stress and overwhelm.”
In other words, meltdowns signify a developing brain. And while “we can’t punish a brain into developing more quickly, we can guide it to grow optimally.”
During those big-feeling moments, The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld is a story that continues to resonate. This book is quiet and sweet, yet powerful enough to remind little ones (and adults) to trust the process.
Books like The Rabbit Listened have a beautiful way of holding normal moments up to the light. They help children feel seen and heard, name their emotions, and help them understand it’s okay to feel all of it.
Therein lies the heart of emotional literacy: building skills to recognize, understand, and express emotions in healthy ways. And in the midst of parenting’s everyday ups and downs, surely it’s one of the most powerful tools we can nurture.
Here’s what you’ll find in this edition:
Invitation to play
A simple, sensory-rich activity that extends the stories we read beyond the last page and into the realm of play.
Putty Faces - children explore emotions through playful manipulation of putty and nature treasures.
Recipe Corner
Tactile recipe to spark connection and creativity.
Nature Putty - our favorite long-lasting play dough recipe. It’s soft, earthy, and adaptable.
Book recommendations and reviews
Stories centered on emotional literacy, with a few gardening gems to celebrate the season we’re in. 🪴
Invitation to Play
Invite children to linger in In My Heart: A Book of Feelings (by Jo Witek, Illustrated by Christine Roussey) through a simple, sensory exploration. My kids decided to create three “putty buddies” to hang out on the top of their playhouse - a triad of happy, silly, and confused faces.
📄 To make things easy, I’ve linked a printable PDF of the Invitation to Play and Recipe is linked at the bottom of this newsletter.
Putty Faces
Materials
Mud or Nature Putty (optional - see recipe)
Nature treasures (flower petals, leaves, grass, pinecones, evergreen needles, etc.)
Introduction to Putty Faces
An essential step in building emotional literacy is recognizing and naming basic human emotions. When kids learn to identify these emotions in themselves and others, they’re better able to understand how to connect, respond, and empathize.
Putty Faces invites children to explore emotions through playful manipulation of nature putty (or mud!) and found nature treasures. But first…
Share In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek, Illustrated by Christine Roussey.
As you read, create time for reflection and conversation by guiding children beyond just naming emotions. Dive a little deeper if time allows:
What do you notice about the characters’ faces when they feel different emotions?
What does a “happy” face look like?
What does a “sad” face look like?
Were there any feelings in the book that were new to you?
The characters felt so many emotions. Do you think it’s okay to feel all of these emotions? [Absolutely!]
Invitation to Play
I wonder... how could we practice identifying emotions using these materials?Through this activity, kids will explore emotions in a playful way. As they shape facial expressions using putty (or mud), they’ll begin to understand feelings aren’t just something we experience, but something we can notice in others, name, and express in creative and healthy ways.
I wonder... what kind of face could we create with this nature putty?
Invite kids to shape a small ball of putty into a face.
I wonder... how we can use nature treasures to show different feelings?
Encourage kids to explore different ways to use natural materials to form the eyes, mouths, and eyebrows.
Keep the wonder going…
I wonder... what might happen if we left our creations outside?
Invite kids to place their putty faces on trees, stumps, or rocks. This adds a touch of magic while weaving in a literacy component through storytelling. You’ll encourage them to build those foundational blocks of empathy, and imagine how others came to feel the way they do.
Recipe Corner
Our favorite, long-lasting play-doh recipe. Just a tip - I recommend not coloring your putty to resemble any form of cheese. My toddler immediately assumed that’s what it was. I’m’ sure you can imagine the disgust on his face after he took a bite. 🤭
Nature Putty
Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 10-15 minutes
Gather your materials:
1 cup flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
½ cup salt
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup water
Fresh herbs (optional)
Essential oils (optional)
Food coloring (optional)
Here’s what you do…
Mix dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together (flour, cream of tartar, salt, and herbs).
Prepare the wet mixture. In a microwave-safe measuring cup, combine water and a few drops of food coloring. Stir in the vegetable oil.
Heat the wet mixture. Microwave the colored water mixture on high for 2 minutes, until hot.
Combine wet and dry ingredients. Carefully pour the hot water into the flour mixture, adding one or two drops of essential oils, if using. Stir until a dough begins to form.
Knead the dough. Once the dough forms a ball, let it cool slightly. Then, knead the dough until it is soft and pliable (about 5 minutes).
Troubleshooting Tips
Dough not soft enough? Knead for another 5 minutes - warm hands and movement help soften it.
Dough too dry and crumbly? Add a small amount of oil (½ tsp at a time) and knead until texture improves.
Dough too wet or sticky? Sprinkle in a bit of flour (1 Tbsp at a time), kneading well until dough is smooth.
Storage
Once putty is completely cooled, store in an air-tight ziplock bag, or container. If properly stored, this dough will last for months!
Book Recommendations + Reviews
Brief summaries of titles we’ve enjoyed with a link to a full review.
⭐️ Title featured in Invitation to Play
Feelings by Libby Walden, Illustrated by Richard Jones:
This book brings emotions to life for children—making them tangible and visual to aid in understanding, especially for young readers learning to identify and express their feelings. It’s a beautiful exploration of emotion through lyrical rhyme and metaphor.
Yesterday I Had the Blues by Jeron Ashford Frame, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie:
A beautifully crafted book that explores the emotional landscape of a young boy through a rich tapestry of colors. The author seamlessly weaves rhythm into the text, using colors as a way to depict a wide range of emotions.
Tiger Days: A Book of Feelings by M.H. Clark, Illustrated by Anna Hurley:
This book is a charming, poetic journey through emotions using a cast of animals to explore different moods. Not only does the text connect emotions with the behavior and characteristics of animals, it also invites movement. Fun read for my little one!
⭐️ In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek, Illustrated by Christine Roussey:
A beautiful exploration of emotions, offering young children a rich introduction to feelings. Written in clear, expressive language, the text uses playful similes, making big emotions feel a bit more manageable.
Just Flowers by Erin Dealey, Illustrated by Kate Cosgrove:
A heartwarming picture book celebrating the beauty of blooms, the richness of community, and the powerful act of kindness. As the story unfolds, readers witness how even the most closed-off hearts can be softened by a few well-chosen petals.
Little Seasons: Spring Seeds by Mirka Hokkanen:
A delightfully educational read blending botanical science with creativity and humor. It’s a great introduction to plant life cycles and an invitation to get your hands dirty. The back matter is packed with activities perfect for home or classroom exploration.
In a Garden by Tim McCanna, Illustrated by Aimee Sicuro
A lovely journey into the vibrant and lively world of a garden. McCanna’s poetic text seamlessly weaves together the rhythms of nature, offering readers a gentle but rich exploration of how gardens grow—from seeds to blooms, and down in the soil.
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
A gentle, yet powerful story about transformation and perseverance. At the heart of the tale is Liam, a curious boy living in a dull, gray city, and how he begins a journey that changes not only the landscape, but the spirit of the city itself.
Printables & Resources
Enjoy this free printable to support your little one’s journey toward building emotional literacy:
For convenience, here’s a printout of the Invitation to Play and featured Recipe:
Generation Mindful is a wonderful resource “dedicated to helping adults raise caring, confident, and resilient children through play-based social-emotional learning tools.”
Slumberkins was founded by a special education teacher and family therapist. It is a resource we’ve used in our own home, and we’re especially fond of their collection of social-emotional learning books.
Just a note: I’m not affiliated with Generation Mindful or Slumberkins—I'm simply sharing insights based on my own research and personal experience.
Thank you
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Find the previous post in this series here:
Growing Empathy Through Stories, Sticks, & Stones - Part 1 (Empathy Intro)
Coming May 15th on KidLit Grove: Compassionate Empathy in Action
In the third and final installment of our empathy theme, we’ll take a look at how children’s books open hearts and inspire readers to lead with kindness.