They are great conversation starters with kids on how they feel that day. Without me asking, sometimes they pull out a feeling balloon ball and say, "This is how I feel."
They are also great assessment tools. I may pull out the angry balloon ball and say, "Tell me about a time when you feel angry" or "What do you do when you feel this way?"
If a child feels shameful about feeling angry, sad, or scared, they are more willing to point to the balloon face than say that they feel angry, sad, or scared.
The kids (and adults) love these! Apart from their counseling purpose, they are great fidget objects to use while talking to a counselor.
Here is how to make them:
1. Get a pack of balloons. I got a $1 pack from Wal-Mart.
2. Stretch the balloons.
3. Use a small funnel to transfer rice into the balloon. (I use white, long-grained rice, but you could use other things in your balloons, such as flour or sprinkles. Be careful what you use - if the balloon breaks, it could end up on your floor.)
4. Tie the balloon after it is round and full.
5. Use a permanent marker to draw the feeling faces on each balloon.
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