Big Feelings in Little Nests: Helping Children Navigate Emotions This Easter

Spring is often seen as a time of new beginnings. The flowers start to bloom, the days grow lighter, and there’s a gentle feeling of hope in the air, but holidays can stir up a surprising mix of emotions for little ones. The excitement of an Easter egg hunt, outings, and family gatherings — along with the sugar rush from chocolate — can sometimes be closely followed by tiredness, overwhelm, or even sadness when the fun comes to an end. These feelings are all part of being human, but for young children, they can be especially hard to name — and even harder to manage.

That’s why I created my Emotions at Play book collection — stories designed to mirror the feelings children experience in their everyday lives. Our first two books, When the Rain Came Down and Petra and the Brightest Star, were written to help young children recognise some of the trickier feelings, like sadness, disappointment, and loss.

In When the Rain Came Down, we meet Cleo the Cloud — a cloud who tries her very best to hold back her tears, until she learns that letting her feelings flow is a perfectly natural part of life. And in Petra and the Brightest Star, young children follow Petra on a gentle journey through loss and connection, reminding them that even though someone we love may no longer be with us, the bond we share can last forever.

Both stories invite children to explore their feelings through play and imagination — because connection is the most important part of helping little ones navigate big emotions.

A Gentle Reminder

Easter doesn’t need to be perfect. The real magic isn’t in perfectly planned days or picture-perfect baskets — it’s in the small, everyday moments: snuggles on the sofa, giggles over sticky chocolate fingers, and quiet chats that help little ones feel seen, safe, and loved.

And if you’d like a story to help you along the way, When the Rain Came Down and Petra and the Brightest Star are always ready to lend a helping hand — written with care to gently guide young children (and their grown-ups) through all those big feelings.

Wishing you and your little ones a play-filled, chocolatey, perfectly imperfect Easter.

The Emotions at Play team