People feel many feelings in a day. Happy, sad, angry and afraid are normal. All feelings are okay.

Feelings happen in the brain and the body. One part of the brain is the amygdala. It is small. It is shaped like an almond.

Feelings help the body get ready to act. A scared or angry heart can beat faster.

People show feelings with faces and bodies. Happy people often smile. Sad people sometimes cry. Babies cry to tell people what they need.

Feelings can be small or big. They come and go. They do not usually last longer than an hour.

Deep breathing is a way to calm down. Breathe in through the nose. Breathe out through the mouth.

Pretend to smell a flower. Pretend to blow out a candle. It helps children take slow breaths.

With practice, people get better at knowing what they feel. Feeling listened to and understood can calm us.

Words to know

• amygdala: brain part
• almond: a nut
• normal: usual, okay
• practice: doing again