Cards that show faces with different emotions (happy, sad, angry, surprised, etc.). Children look at the cards, name the feelings, and talk about times they have felt the same way. This activity helps build emotional awareness and language.

Cards with bold black-and-white and bright colors designed for babies and young children. These support early visual development and attention. They can also be used for naming simple objects and encouraging interaction between caregiver and child.

A chart with different emotions shown through words, colors, or faces. Each day, children choose the feeling that best matches how they feel and place their name, picture, or marker on it. This activity encourages kids to check in with their emotions and share how they are feeling in a safe, supportive way.

A poster or chart that shows a range of emotions with faces, words, or colors. Children can point to or select the feeling that matches their mood at any time during the day. The chart gives kids a visual way to express emotions and helps adults understand and support how they are feeling.

Children match pictures of faces showing different emotions with the correct emotion word or color. They can also sort cards into groups such as “happy feelings,” “sad feelings,” or “angry feelings.” This activity helps kids recognize facial expressions, connect them with words, and understand the range of emotions.

A colorful wheel of words showing different emotions. Children spin the wheel (or point to a section) and identify the feeling it lands on. They can then share a time they felt that way, or act out the emotion with a face or gesture. This activity helps kids build emotional vocabulary and understand that all feelings are important.

Set up a cozy corner with soft toys, pillows, or blankets where little ones can go when they feel upset. This helps them begin to learn self-soothing.

Play music with different moods (happy, slow, calm) and encourage toddlers to clap, sway, or dance. Talk about how the music makes them feel.

Read books about feelings. Point out faces and name emotions together (“She looks sad,” “He is happy”). Helps toddlers start connecting words to emotions.

Blow bubbles together and encourage slow, deep breaths to make the biggest bubble. Teaches calming breathing in a playful way.

Fill a jar with water and glitter glue. Shake it and watch the glitter settle. Children learn to pause and calm down while the glitter falls.

Give each child a small box to decorate. Fill it with coping tools like stress balls, coloring pages, or notes about what helps them calm down.

Use puppets (store-bought, homemade, or socks with faces) to act out short stories. For example, a puppet might say, “I feel angry because I lost my toy.” Ask the children, “What is the puppet feeling?” and “What could help?” Encourage children to take turns using the puppets to show emotions. This helps kids identify feelings and practice empathy.

Create bingo cards with different emotional faces (happy, sad, angry, excited, scared, etc.). Call out emotions one by one, and children cover the matching square. For an extra challenge, act out the emotion instead of saying it and have children guess. First to complete a row shouts “Feelings Bingo!” This game reinforces emotion recognition in a fun group setting.

Prepare small stones (or paper circles) with simple faces showing different emotions. Have children pick a stone and tell a short story about a time they felt that way (e.g., “I felt nervous on my first day of school”). For younger children, the adult can prompt with scenarios (“This stone shows happy — what makes you feel happy?”). This activity builds storytelling skills and emotional awareness.

Blow bubbles for the children to pop. Each time a bubble pops, name an emotion (e.g., happy, sad, silly, surprised) and invite children to make the matching face or body movement.

Show children pictures, comics, or short video clips of characters. Pause and ask, “What emotion do you think they are feeling? How can you tell?” Encourage children to notice facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. They can also role-play as detectives, pointing out “clues” about the character’s feelings. This strengthens empathy and social awareness.