The feeling words most often involved in problem-solving are HAPPY, SAD, ANGRY, PROUD and FRUSTRATED.

Using the words IS and IS NOT while looking together at a few children’s books will allow you to ask simple questions of your child. For example, “This boy IS smiling. Do you think he is HAPPY or SAD?” and “This girl IS NOT smiling. Do you think she is HAPPY?”

You can also ask, “Are the boy and girl feeling the SAME or DIFFERENT?” and state, “We know the girl IS HAPPY because she IS smiling. She IS NOT frowning.”

Your child may give silly or opposite answers to some of your questions, but try to remain patient. Explain to your child that there are three ways people can tell how another person is feeling: eyes, ears and mouth.

Go through a simple exercise of hiding your face but expressing various emotions. For example, cover your face with a sheet of paper and whimper. Then ask, “Am I HAPPY or SAD?” Continue this game by laughing, singing, sniffling, etc. Remind your child how he came to this conclusion — using his ears!

Talk about how your child might be able to see a person’s emotions. Smile, wipe a tear, frown, etc. while asking, “Am I HAPPY or SAD?”

Now keep a straight, unemotional face and ask the same question. You don’t want your child to know how you feel. When he guesses your emotion and he is incorrect, say, “With your mouth you can ask how a person feels. Then with your ears you must listen to what that person says.” Have your child ask you how you feel, and answer him. Then ask him how he feels.

Introduce the words ANGRY, PROUD and FRUSTRATED with this activity and use pictures from magazines or books. When watching a video or DVD, be sure to stop the movie for a moment to identify how a character might be feeling. Discuss how your child knows that character’s emotions. Keep talking about feelings while you read, color and watch television.