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🌱 Family Feelings Check-In 🌱
Hello Sproutly Families,
In the rush of everyday life: meals, carpools, homework, and bedtime. It’s easy for family emotions to get buried beneath the to-do list. A simple feelings check-in can help bring connection and calm back into the day.
As a family therapist, I’ve seen that when families regularly take time to pause and ask, “How are we feeling today?”, it creates emotional safety. Kids learn that their feelings matter, and parents gain insight into what’s happening beneath the surface. The goal isn’t to fix every emotion, but to listen and connect.
A family that checks in together grows in empathy, trust, and understanding. One feeling at a time.
In this newsletter, you will get....
Parenting Tips
Photo by Caleb Oquendo on Pexels
Making Family Check-Ins Simple & Meaningful
Keep It Short & Consistent
Aim for 5 minutes at dinner, bedtime, or in the car. Kids open up more when it’s routine and low-pressure.Use Visuals or Prompts
Try an Emotion Wheel or Feelings Chart for younger kids. For older kids, use prompts like:
“What’s one good feeling and one tricky feeling you had today?”Model Openness
Share your own feelings, “I felt frustrated this morning, but I took a breath and felt better.” It shows that adults have emotions and ways to handle them.Validate, Don’t Fix
When your child shares something tough, respond with curiosity, not solutions. “That sounds hard. Do you want comfort or help?”End with Connection
Close each check-in with a hug, gratitude, or a simple “Thanks for sharing.” It reinforces emotional safety.
Activity of the Week
Phtot by fauxels on Pexels
The Feelings Circle
You’ll Need:
A small object to pass (stone, plush toy, or even a spoon!)
How to Play:
Sit together and pass the object around.
Whoever holds it shares one feeling word and a short reason (e.g., “I feel excited because I have a field trip tomorrow.”).
Others listen without interrupting or judging.
End by sharing something that brought each person joy today.
Why it works: It gives everyone a turn to speak, encourages empathy, and builds emotional vocabulary in a safe, playful way.
Sneak Peek: Emotional Wellness Kit
The Emotion Dice
Turn emotions into play! Each roll helps kids explore feelings through storytelling, empathy, and imagination. With dice for emotion, character, location, and intensity, children learn that every feeling can show up in different ways. And that all emotions are okay.
When families make space to check in with each other’s hearts, they build emotional fluency that lasts far beyond childhood.
These small moments of sharing around the dinner table, in the car, or before bed become powerful reminders that every feeling belongs and every voice matters.
Parent Reflection Prompts:
How often do we check in emotionally as a family?
Do I model honesty about my own feelings?
What time of day could become our family’s “feelings moment”?
Warm regards,
Millie & Melissa
The Sproutly Team
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