The Feelings Buddy basic tool kit, along with corresponding items, was introduced to the ECSE program through a grant from the school foundation. This initiative was aimed at assisting students in understanding emotions and developing self-regulation skills, which are considered critical for future success. The program emphasized the importance of distinguishing between feeling an emotion and embodying it, as the latter can lead to uncontrolled reactions.
The Michigan State Board of Education’s Early Childhood Standards of Quality highlighted the necessity for children to develop the ability to experience, express, and control their emotions and social interactions. The Feelings Buddy tool kit was designed to support this development by fostering emotional security and social connection among children, which in turn would encourage them to explore and learn confidently.
The tool kit employed a mix of drawing, dictating, and writing activities to help children narrate events, sequence them appropriately, and express their reactions. This approach was intended to facilitate children’s emotional and social learning within a nurturing and positive educational environment.
