Emotion Cards for Kids (18 cards)

What are emotion cards for?

Young children often feel an emotion before they can name it. Illustrated emotion cards make it easier to recognise, name and talk about feelings through faces and body language.

Use them for a daily “how are you feeling?” check-in, in a calm down corner, during story time or play. The aim is not to fix a feeling, but to help children build words for what they feel.

How to use it

1. Print and cut out the cards; laminate them if you like.
2. Do a short daily feelings check-in: ask your child to pick the card that fits.
3. Talk about which feeling a story character or everyday moment might bring.
4. In a big-feelings moment, pointing to a card can help a child who cannot find the words.

Tips for parents

• Show that every feeling is okay; what matters is how we express it.
• Naming your own feelings with the cards is a good model.
• Short, playful sessions usually work better than long explanations.

These printables are general resources for everyday life; they do not replace individual assessment, diagnosis or treatment.

Related: Parent counselling