I wonder how you feel today? Wild, worried, cross, stressed, anxious, fed up, angry?
What are 'uncomfortable feelings'?
Uncomfortable feelings are negative feelings that aren't enjoyable and make our bodies feel uncomfortable and our minds feel restless. At The Wonder Tree we prefer to use the term 'uncomfortable' rather than 'bad', 'monster' or 'big' feelings as we want children to understand that we all have a range of feelings and emotions and that all feelings/emotions are ok.

Recognition and Acceptance
A wide range of uncomfortable feelings will be affect us all at one time or another. Recognition and Acceptance of these uncomfortable feelings are the first steps to gaining control. We want our children to know that it is ok to feel these feelings. Life is not perfect and it is impossible to be happy all the time. Allow your child (and yourself) time to feel and name these uncomfortable feelings. One Tool to develop emotional literacy to help children to recognise, cope with and accept these uncomfortable feelings is the 'Personal Weather Report' tool.

Recognising and accepting are the first steps to relieving the tension that the uncomfortable feeling has created. Notice the sensations felt in the body such as the heart beating fast, holding the breath or muscles tensing. The result, your child may soon begin to notice their body relaxing. The feeling will then be easier, more comfortable fo your to sit with. Accepting these feelings without judgement will help our children to cope with the vast range of feelings that we all experience. "I am feeling stressed. I can feel my heart beating fast and my chest feels tight."
How to Become Comfortable with the Uncomfortable

Be Brave!
'I am brave' is one of our Wonder Tree affirmations. Yoga teaches us that we are brave enough to cope with the uncomfortable sensations in our body that some of the poses create when we hold them. We talk about the difference between being in pain and being uncomfortable. This helps children to relate to the idea of uncomfortable feelings and the sensations they create inside our bodies. The children sub-consciously begin to understand that life isn't always comfortable, but that that's ok.

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