Emotion Detective with Feelings Faces

How it works

1. 1

   First, let's make our feelings faces! Grab your paper and crayons. Can you help your child draw a happy face? While you draw, talk about what makes your child feel happy. For example, 'I feel happy when we play together!'

2. 2

   Now let's make a sad face. Draw a face with a frown. You can say, 'Sometimes I feel sad when my toy breaks.' Then, hold up the mirror and ask your child to make a sad face in the mirror. Can they show you what sad looks like?

3. 3

   Time for our third face—let's make an angry face! Draw a face with angry eyebrows and a straight mouth. Talk about how sometimes we feel angry, like when we have to stop playing. Then, ask your child, 'What can we do when we feel angry?'

4. 4

   Now let's play a game! Hold up one of our feelings faces and ask your child to make that face and tell you about a time they felt that way. Start with the happy face. Remember, there's no right or wrong answer—we're just practicing talking about feelings.

What this develops

• ◆Milestone
  Recognizing and Reflecting on Emotional States

  Contemplativeprimary

Visual example