Feelings cards help a child put a name to what they feel. Print 12 free cards from one PDF. Each card has a drawn face and the name of the feeling. A three-year-old can use them, and school kids make up their own games with them.
On your phone? Save the PDF and print it later.
Which feelings are on the cards?
Happy, sad, angry, scared, surprised, shy, proud, tired, excited, calm, confused and disappointed. The set includes some harder ones too, like disappointment and confusion.
How do you use feelings cards?
Cut the cards out along the border. Thicker paper or clear contact paper makes them last longer. Here are five ways to use them:
- How do you feel today? In the morning or the evening, your child picks the card that fits the day. You pick yours too.
- Guess the feeling. One person makes a face and the others guess which card it is.
- Story cards. Draw a card and think of a time someone felt that way. For example: "I was proud when I learned to ride a bike."
- Memory game. Print two sets and you have a 24-card memory game.
- With a book. After the bedtime story, your child picks the card that fits the main character.
Which ages are feelings cards for?
A three-year-old first recognizes happy, sad and angry. Start with those and add cards bit by bit. A five-year-old can already tell what caused the feeling. School kids are ready for the harder words, like confused and disappointed.
What if my child doesn't want to talk about feelings?
They don't have to. Pointing at a card is enough. The game works best when the adult goes first and says how they feel. Then your child sees that every feeling is allowed.
More printables: Free printables for kids: coloring pages and more
For parents
Ayaka is a Finnish multivitamin for children over 3. Your child decorates their own jar, so the vitamin moment becomes their own thing. A refill comes through the letterbox once a month. See the starter pack
