BETWEEN FEELING AND ACTING – IMPLEMENTING ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE EMOTIONS AND AFFECTION IN PRESCHOOL EDUCATION

Abstract

This article results from an internship experience in a preschool context and focuses on the implementation of the project Between Feeling and Acting, which aims at developing emotional and affective competencies in children aged 3 to 5 years. The project was carried out at São Jorge school, in Fafe (Portugal), and aimed to promote emotional recognition, expression, and self-regulation through playful and intentional activities. The adopted methodology was based on action research and reflective practice. Seven activities were designed and implemented according to the Health Education Framework and the Curricular Guidelines for Preschool Education, with the goal of fostering empathy, assertive communication, and cooperative learning. The results showed a significant improvement in the children's ability to identify and express emotions, as well as in the quality of interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution. The article concludes that emotional education should be an integral part of pedagogical practices from early childhood, contributing to children’s holistic development and the creation of emotionally safe and inclusive learning environments.