16mo–2.2y9 minStory timeFamily time

Happy and Sad Naming Game

A playful emotions activity using faces and toys so your child hears clear labels (happy/sad) and practises noticing and responding to others’ feelings in a simple, supportive way.

What you'll need

Essentials

mirror (or phone front camera)
2 soft toys or dolls

Nice to have

simple picture book with faces
paper and crayon

Movement level: false

What you'll do

The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.

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What this develops

What it practices

Plays cooperatively with a familiar adult, e.g. rolling a ball back and forth.
Observable behaviour from Development Matters

Where it comes from

Framework: Early Years Foundation Stage (England)
Source: Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
Original guidance: “Help young children to understand the feelings of others by labelling emotions such as sadness or happiness.”
License: Open Government Licence v3.0