Feelings tree

Purpose
If used at the start of a group this is an activity to look at positive and negative things in the sibling's life. If used later it could be used for more specific feelings.

You will need
A tree outline drawn on the largest sheet of paper you have.
Download tree, leaf and petal template

Outlines of leaves on dingy brown/orange paper and petals on brighter pastel colours.

Pens, pencils and crayons

How to do it
Ask children to write or draw things they like about their life on the petals, and things they dislike on the leaves. Then the petals go on the tree, the leaves get scattered around the base, as fallen leaves in autumn.

With younger children they will need a lot of staff support. Work in little groups with one leader to two or three children, but all ideas go onto one tree.

Alternatives

• Have two trees, one for things you like the other for things you dislike. You may prefer green leaves to go on the trees in this case.
• If you have space to leave a display up, twigs planted in sand would make a 3-D tree, to which the leaves and petals could be tied.