sad

Feeling sad is not a very nice feeling but it’s a common emotion that is felt by everyone and is actually an important emotion to experience at times. It helps us reflect and often leads us to making change.

An interesting read on sadness:  Four Ways Sadness May Be Good For You. 

How to explain feeling sad to children

“Sometimes you might feel sad. It’s normal to feel sad sometimes but not all the time. It means you are not happy. 

Being sad might be caused by missing someone or by feeling left out. 

When you feel sad, you might feel like being alone – or you might feel like a cuddle from someone you love. You might look down and your shoulders might slump down too. Your body might feel slow and heavy. Often when people feel sad their mouths move down – but not always. Sometimes they might get some tears in their eyes – and they might even cry. 

Sometimes you might feel sad for no particular reason. 

If you notice someone else looking sad, it can help to go slowly yourself, to put a bit of a sad look on YOUR face and you might try and say something caring like:

“Are you OK?” or “Would you like to come and play with me?” 

You might even say, “You look sad. What’s wrong?” “

Managing the feeling

Like any feeling, if it isn’t a nice feeling it can help to say how you feel.  “I feel sad because…”

If you feel sad, it is a good idea to spend some time doing something that you like doing. You might listen to some happy music or cuddle your favourite teddy. You might go outside and play with a ball.  

Language to explore

   *Feeling down.    *Feeling blue.    *Down in the dumps. 

Time to imagine

  Here, Coco is feeling sad.  What might have made Coco feel sad?  

Relate it to the child

 Can you think of a time when you have felt sad?  What happened?  What did you do to cheer yourself up. 

This week

 If someone you know is sad, practise saying “Are you OK?”  and think about how you might cheer them up.