Identifying Emotions

Teaching your child to identify emotions in themselves and others is a great skill. It helps them express themselves, make rational decisions, and have better social skills. You can use this chart to help your child identify emotions in several ways. I have listed a few below.

Act out different emotions with your child. For example, you and your child could yawn to act out the sleepy face, or pretend to cry for the sad face.
Use the chart to show your child how you are feeling. For example, when your child dresses him or herself, point to the proud picture. Explain to your child that you are proud of him or her. Another example could be that on Saturday you show your child the excited face because you are excited to spend the day with him or her.
Use the chart to help your child tell you how he or she is feeling. For example, when your child cannot sit still, you could ask your child if he or she is excited, or if your child is going to the doctor for a shot, you could ask if he or she is nervous.

Emotion Chart Color

Emotion Chart Black and White

Teaching Tip: Help your child process emotions. If your child is scared of a monster in the dark, tell your child that the emotion is real, but not the monster. If your child is sad because grandma left, let your child know that we are all sad when loved ones leave, but grandma will visit again. Let your child know that emotions are okay, but emotions do not determine how we act. Model for your child how to respond to different emotions appropriately.

Teaching Tip: Little ones can have a hard time explaining their emotions. For example, a child might say they are happy that a pet has died. The child really may mean that they are happy that the pet is in heaven. There is no need to tell a child that the emotion that they are having is innapropriate. Instead you can affirm that you have hear what the child has said, and explain how you feel. For example, you could say, "I hear that you are happy. I am missing our pet. I am sad that I cannot spend time with our pet. I am happy that I can spend time with you."

Check out more social emotional learning ideas here.

Encouragement: When your child is able to communicate how he or she feels, you can better help your child through tough times. Great job for teaching your child about his or her emotions!

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