Feeling sad

Key Messages:

Everyone feels sad sometimes, it's a normal part of life.

Some ways to feel better: be creative and express how you feel (draw, write, paint, build, cry, sing); do something you like doing; talk to someone about how you feel.

If you have been feeling sad for a long time, tell someone and get help and support.

Classroom preparation activities:

  • Class discussion using stories, movies, tv shows:
    Generate class discussion about feeling sad based on a story, movie or tv show that relates to this topic. Discussion questions may include: why was the character feeling sad?; what did the character do about feeling sad?; what things happened that helped the character to feel better?
  • Draw and share:
    It may be useful during this activity to play first some music that feels sad and then music that gradually brightens up to help the class tap into the emotions of sadness and moving forward. Paint a picture just using shapes and colours to show the feelings of sadness and feeling better again. What colour represents sadness for you? What shape is sadness? What colours and shapes show that things are getting better? Do these grow and change over time?
  • Create a symbol:
    Create a safe place collage. Give the class an A3 sheet of paper with three circles on it (each circle encircling the other). In the middle circle draw or paste a picture of something that represents sadness. In the next circle draw /paste pictures of the people or things that can provide support for you to feel safe and cared for while feeling the sadness. In the outside circle draw/paste pictures of things can help you feel happier.
  • Group activity:
    Children sit in a circle. One child (child 1) starts by saying "If I was feeling sad". The child next to them (child 2) offers a solution "you could ask someone for a hug". Then child 2 turns to the next child (child 3) in the circle and says "if I was feeling sad .." and child 3 offers a solution, and so on around the circle. This activity is fun and also generates options that children in the group may not have thought of.

Sample Questions:

Examples of questions students may want to ask the Kids Helpline Counsellor:

  • What things do kids think and do that might keep them feeling sad?
  • What do you think about the idea that it is OK to feel sad sometimes? How long is too long to feel sad?
  • How might you know that a friend /family member is feeling sad? How might you help them? What would you say? What would you do?