“The Feeling Bag” – Letting Emotions Out

What do your customers do when they feel down, confused or angry? Since they are adults, perhaps they talk to a friend or even a professional. Some may express themselves artistically, work it out at the gym or run until they feel the feeling start to dissipate Young kids often don’t know how to work out their feelings and, when problems get bottled up, they can become miserable. Here’s a clever solution!

The Feeling Bag is a short, simple book that deals with emotions and how to release them. The original book was developed by writer Jennifer Griffin when she noticed her young daughter going through tough times brought about by a difficult period. The book comes in a choice of boy or girl versions. With each book comes a plush Feeling Bag that kids can punch and hit or hug and take to bed. The Feeling Bag is written simply, addressing emotions and how they can be dealt with in an appropriate way. Tots aged three to eight greatly benefit from having the story read to them or, when old enough, reading it themselves.

In some cases, older children have also found the book a help when difficult situations are present. The books is fourteen pages long with illustrations that are suitable for each gender. The Feeling Bag itself comes with the book and is available in different colors and textures, but every bag is soft and squishy. A small pocket on the front of the bag can hold the book or another special item that a child might want to carry with them for comfort. The bag is machine washable, an important consideration for an item that is bound to be in and out of little hands often.

Kids have responded with great enthusiasm to the book and bag as have professionals who work with children. Readers and listeners learn to understand that feelings are not “good” or “bad” but simply personal emotions that are entirely normal and part of life. Parents find it a great conversation starter to get kids talking about how they feel, which encourages them to release pent-up emotions and, ultimately, feel better regardless of their situation.

Author Griffin thought of The Feeling Bag concept when her own young daughter was having a hard time dealing with parental divorce. The book and bag helped the little girl express herself in a healthy way, just as it can help the youngsters your customers care about. Expressing feelings by talking about them is helpful — kicking the cat, throwing a hissy fit or punching another child is not. The book, bag and ensuing conversations encourage young children to open up and divest themselves of troubling emotions.

Show off this book and the accompanying bag and watch shoppers respond. It’s likely to have a very positive effect on kids bothered by one or more of the problems of modern life, but too young to deal with them effectively. With this approach, they can.

Punch it or dance with it: www.thefeelingbag.com