Life whizzes by in a constant flurry of tasks and responsibilities—yet if we pause and take a breath, we may notice that our children’s emotional worlds are just as busy and bustling. Think about it: one moment they’re over the moon with excitement, the next they’re cross as anything, and before you know it, they’re anxious about a new experience or simply feeling “off.” So how can parents, carers, and teachers help young ones make sense of all these big, swirling feelings?
Enter the brilliant project called Emotions at Play, a collaboration between two passionate creators who want nothing more than to help children navigate those emotional highs and lows. At the helm are Gillian, a play and creative arts therapist, and Sarah, our award-winning illustrator at Happydesigner. Together, they’ve combined their expertise to craft a delightful blend of storytelling, hands-on fun, and gentle guidance—all packaged into a growing series of beautifully illustrated books.
But Emotions at Play isn’t your average story collection. These are therapeutic tales designed to resonate with children, reflect their inner feelings, and reassure them that it’s absolutely normal to experience sadness, worry, glee, and everything in between. Since grown-ups are a child’s most important and beloved playmates, each book also offers parents and carers plenty of ideas and resources to keep the conversation going—and the fun flowing!
Key Takeaways
- Therapeutic Storytelling: Emotions at Play uses engaging narratives, relatable characters, and creative activities to help children understand and express their emotions.
- Expert Collaboration: The series is crafted by Gillian, a play and creative arts therapist, and Sarah, our award-winning children’s illustrator, combining therapeutic expertise with vibrant storytelling.
- Themed Collections: The books are organised into four categories—Feelings, Challenges, Diversity, and Experiences—to address different aspects of a child’s emotional journey.
- Interactive Learning: Each book includes hands-on activities and sensory games, led by the playful mascot, Rags, to make emotional learning fun and engaging.
- Debut Book Spotlight: The first book, When the Rain Came Down, helps children explore sadness through the story of Cleo the Cloud, emphasizing that all feelings are natural and can lead to growth.
Fun Fact: In Emotions at Play, Rags the mascot suggests creative activities like crafting with leaves or making sensory experiments to help kids explore emotions. #EmotionalDevelopment #ChildMentalHealth #StorytellingForKids #LearningThroughPlay
What Makes Emotions at Play So Special?
Let’s talk about “therapeutic stories.” If you’re picturing long-winded lectures on psychology, fear not. Therapeutic storytelling is all about using simple metaphors, relatable characters, and playful activities to help children explore their emotions. After all, children don’t generally announce, “I’m feeling extremely worried about that thunderstorm rolling in”—they might, however, grab some crayons and draw grey clouds with jagged lightning bolts, or start re-enacting thunderclaps with their stuffed animals.
This is where Gillian’s expertise as a children’s therapist is a complete game-changer. She’s seen first-hand how stories, games, and crafts are some of the most effective tools for helping little ones work through complex feelings. By weaving these activities into memorable narratives, children can observe how the characters cope—and, in turn, learn healthy ways to process similar issues in their own lives.
In steps Sarah, our award-winning designer who’s been creating children’s book illustrations for nearly two decades. She brings each story to life with vibrant colours and wonderfully expressive characters, ensuring young readers feel engaged from the very first page. Her designs spark imagination and beckon children to jump in and join the fun. The result is a treasure trove of inviting, visually delightful stories that emphasise emotional well-being, self-awareness, and family bonding.
A Quick Tour of the Emotions at Play Collections
Rather than a single volume, Emotions at Play spans four colour-coded collections, each focusing on a different area of a child’s emotional landscape:
- Feelings: A spotlight on key emotions like sadness, anger, joy, and worry.
- Challenges: Tackling everyday obstacles children might face, such as making friends or overcoming jealousy.
- Diversity: Celebrating differences, uniqueness, and the idea that variety is what makes our world interesting.
- Experiences: Preparing children for new or sometimes daunting adventures, whether it’s starting school, welcoming a new sibling, or moving home.
Within these categories, each book introduces a main character facing a particular feeling or situation—giving parents and children a chance to talk about what it might be like to step into that character’s shoes. Because let’s be honest: little ones often find it easier to talk about a fictional friend’s troubles before they’re ready to open up about their own.
Meet Rags, Your Child’s New Best Friend
Imagine you’re exploring a whimsical woodland or cloud-filled sky in one of these stories. Then suddenly, a playful little character named Rags pops up to say, “Fancy trying out an experiment?” or “Shall we make something out of recycled socks?” Rags is the series mascot—always ready with a joke, a craft, or a sensory game to keep children engaged and entertained.
Rags might, for instance, suggest a fun activity using simple materials found at home or outside, such as turning leaves into art or creating sensory experiments inspired by the story’s theme. It’s all about hands-on fun that encourages kids to explore and express their emotions in a creative, low-pressure way.
Spotlight: When the Rain Came Down
At present, the Emotions at Play team has one book officially available for purchase: When the Rain Came Down. This story features Cleo the Cloud, who’s feeling sad. Sometimes, all it takes is one gloomy thought for Cleo’s world to become a bit too rainy. But with gentle guidance from a friend named Sol—and, naturally, Rags the mascot—Cleo learns that a bit of rain can be OK, and there’s always sunshine on the horizon.
- Theme: Sadness can feel heavy, like a rainstorm, but it also helps us grow.
- Therapeutic Angle: Children realise that feeling sad isn’t “bad” or “naughty”; it’s a natural emotion that comes and goes.
- Fun Extras: The story sprinkles in crafts and sensory activities inspired by water, clouds, and the idea that sadness can lead to renewal—just like rain leads to flowers blooming.
By the time you and your child turn the final page, you’ll both see that “drip, drip, drop” moments are part of life—and that they often give way to brighter days.
Peeking at Future Books
If you’re excited for more, you’re not alone! Other titles like Orla and the Jelly Legs and Terry’s Terrific Shell are in the pipeline but haven’t officially launched yet. These stories will explore themes like confidence, self-esteem, and embracing new challenges. Keep an eye out for announcements, as the team behind Emotions at Play loves to share sneak peeks and updates when release dates inch closer.
Why Emotions at Play Works for Children
One of the biggest challenges in childhood is learning to name and express feelings—especially the not-so-pleasant ones like anxiety, frustration, or sadness. Because children’s brains are still developing, a direct “How do you feel?” might not always yield an in-depth answer. That’s where a playful, narrative approach can make all the difference.
By creating safe emotional distance through relatable characters, hands-on activities, and stories that children connect with, Emotions at Play helps young ones develop emotional intelligence in a way that’s fun and approachable.
Conclusion: Emotions at Play
With its blend of engaging stories, hands-on activities, and child-centred warmth, Emotions at Play offers a refreshing perspective on children’s emotional learning. The series’ debut book, When the Rain Came Down, is an inviting starting point for exploring big feelings like sadness. And as we anticipate upcoming books like Orla and the Jelly Legs and Terry’s Terrific Shell, parents and carers can look forward to even more imaginative tales that foster curiosity, empathy, and resilience.
So, why not take a moment to explore Emotions at Play? Grab a copy of When the Rain Came Down, gather some crayons and cardboard, and settle in for a reading session that doubles as an adventure in feelings.
Happy reading (and playing) from all of us at Happydesigner and Emotions at Play!
Bring your ideas to life with Happydesigner’s vibrant, award-winning illustrations and creative design solutions tailored to captivate and inspire.
