Emotions Card Deck

87 Emotion Cards to Cultivate Emotional Intelligence and Improve Self-Regulation in Kids

Understanding and naming emotions can be incredibly empowering for children. When kids can identify and label their feelings, it gives them a sense of control and resilience.

By using these cards, parents, teachers, and caregivers can help children develop better emotional intelligence and self-regulation skills, enabling them to navigate their emotions more effectively and confidently.

Our Emotions Card Deck is a valuable tool designed to assist in this process.  Inspired by our Emotions Chart, the deck includes an Emotions Chart card that lists all the emotions featured in the deck.

The Emotions Card Deck is organized into six color-coded categories to help children identify and understand their emotions:

- Sadness Emotions (Blue)

- Engaged Emotions (Green)

- Happiness Emotions (Yellow)

- Anger Emotions (Red)

- Fear Emotions (Orange)

- Other Emotions (Purple)

Additionally, there are five cards that help children recognize the physical sensations and feelings associated with each emotion and bonus activities that can be accessed online.

How to Use this Deck:

Here are some creative and effective ways to use an emotions card deck to help children identify and understand their emotions:

1. Emotion Check-In

- Activity: At the start of the day, children pick a card that represents how they feel and share with the group.

- Purpose: Promotes self-awareness and communication.

2. Emotion of the Day

- Activity: Each day, draw a card from the deck and discuss the emotion.

- Purpose: Helps children become familiar with a wide range of emotions over time.

3. Feelings Journal

- Activity: Children draw a card each day and write or draw about a time they felt that emotion.

- Purpose: Encourages self-reflection and emotional expression.

4. Emotion Charades

- Activity: Children draw a card and act out the emotion without using words while others guess the emotion.

- Purpose: Builds non-verbal communication skills and empathy.