Emotional Regulation for Preschool: When I Feel Disappointed
This session includes emotional regulation activities for kids, helping young students notice disappointment and refocus their brain when things do not go as planned. After a short video, students talk about small ways to feel better, such as thinking of something happy, asking for a break, or telling someone how they feel. A quick movement game lets them show with their bodies what they could do next.
Extension activity
- Skill
- Self-Regulation
- Goal
- Managing Stress
- Grade level
- Pre-K & K
Get everything you need to teach the skill
These materials are part of a no-prep session designed by our clinical team, with all the structure, scaffolding, and support you need to teach included.
Engaging materials
Video modeling lessonWhen I Feel Disappointed
We feel disappointed when things don’t happen how we wanted or hoped they would. Today’s lesson is about how we can feel better by ‘refocusing our minds’ when we feel this way.
- Extension activity
Interactive Worksheet: Refocusing My Brain
While we emphasize that feelings of disappointment are normal, we also teach children that we don’t have to let these feelings rule our day. Students put the concept ‘Brain Refocus’ into action in this interactive sequencing activity.
Plus everything you need to teach them
Warm-up
- Video: Lion and Cat Breathing3:12
- Video: Our Senses Calming Break2:27
- Video: Yoga Pose Library
Session Opener
Guiding Question: What does disappointment feel like?
Practice
- Discussion Question
- Role-Play Activity
- Mini Game
How to use it with your students
- 1Watch Play the video modeling lesson so students see the skill in action.
- 2Practice Try the skill together with a discussion prompt, role-play, or mini game.
- 3Extend Use the extension activity to help students carry the skill further.
What's Covered
In this lesson, students learned that disappointment happens when things don't go the way they wanted, and that this feeling is normal and okay. They explored how to refocus their brains to make a big feeling smaller, practicing ideas like thinking about something they enjoy or letting someone know how they feel. Students also talked about pausing before a tough feeling takes over the whole day.
Key Terms
- Brain Refocus
- Brain Refocus is a way to help your mind and body feel calm again when you start to feel upset. You can take deep breaths, count to 10, picture something happy, or ask for a break.
Sample IEP Goal This Session Supports
-
Managing Stress
Learner will recognize signs of stress in their own body or thinking (e.g., tight chest, racing thoughts, feeling overwhelmed) and apply a self-selected strategy (e.g., deep breathing, positive self-talk, taking a break) to manage the feeling in 4 out of 5 opportunities independently/given X prompt(s).
Send this tip home to support generalization
When something disappointing happens at home or at school, try naming the feeling together first, then asking what they could do to help their brain refocus.
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More Self-Regulation Activities
Frequently asked questions
Is this intervention free?
Yes, this ready-to-teach session on When I Feel Disappointed is free. You can access this intervention free for 14 days through the Everyday Speech Session Library. Every user gets three free sessions, but you can get more or extend your access by sharing the Session Library with friends and colleagues.
What ages is this for?
These materials are designed for PreK and kindergarten students.
What's included?
You'll get access to your choice of warm-up videos, a session opener, a core material on When I Feel Disappointed, three practice prompts, and an extension activity, Interactive Worksheet: Refocusing My Brain.
What skill does this intervention teach?
This ready-to-teach session is on self-regulation - more specifically, managing stress.
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