New Life and Emotions
The Mood Cards, developed by Ms Andrea Harrn, were used in this workshop. They are based on cognitive-behavioural therapy, mindfulness and positive psychology, where guided questions and affirmations were included on each emotion. The Mood Cards were found to enable greater understanding and practical ideas to overcome difficulties.Talking about emotions, thoughts and feelings from an early age is very beneficial for positive mental health. Mood cards can help immigrant children develop emotional awareness by providing them with a visual representation of different emotions. They offer a non-verbal communication method that allows immigrant children to express how they feel, which empowers them to have a sense of control over their emotional well-being. Especially when moving to the UK and adapting to a new culture can be overwhelming for immigrant children. Mood cards can normalize the experience of having various emotions during this transition, letting them know that it’s okay to feel a wide range of emotions, which are a natural part of life. In the long run, being able to identify and manage their emotions through mood cards can contribute to emotional resilience and well-being.
The children were invited to engage in a discussion where they picked a mood card, and they talked about one event related to their immigration that was associated with that particular mood. They made their own “mood cards”, where they drew their emotions and the events related to them.