Recognizing and Reflecting on Emotional States
The ability to identify, name, and reflect on one's own emotional states and those of others; to understand emotions as information and to develop emotional awareness and vocabulary.
What the research says
Framework evidence being indexed.
Full quotes, source languages, and document links coming soon as we finish the source-evidence indexing pass.
Prerequisites
Foundational skill — no prerequisites indexed.
What mastery looks like
Limited awareness or expression of emotional states; undifferentiated responses
- Does not name emotions
- Shows distress without clear communication
- Does not recognize emotions in others
Beginning to identify basic emotions in self and others with support
- Names basic emotions (happy, sad, mad)
- Recognizes obvious emotional expressions in others
- Responds to adult labeling of emotions
Identifies and describes range of emotions; beginning to reflect on causes and responses
- Uses expanded emotion vocabulary
- Explains why they or others feel certain ways
- Recognizes that emotions change
- Connects emotions to events
Demonstrates sophisticated emotional awareness; reflects on emotional experiences
- Identifies complex emotions (frustrated, disappointed, proud)
- Describes emotional nuances
- Reflects on how emotions influence behavior
- Shows empathy based on emotional understanding
Exhibits metacognitive awareness of emotions; uses emotional reflection for self-regulation and growth
- Articulates emotional patterns
- Reflects on emotional triggers and responses
- Uses emotional awareness to guide decisions
- Helps others understand emotions
Activities for this (12)
Kindness Quest
Parent and child plan and do three kind things for family members. The agent coaches the parent to observe the child's empathy, initiative, and understanding that kindness makes others feel good.
Feeling Faces Treasure Hunt
A playful scavenger hunt where your child finds objects that match different emotion cards, helping they identify and talk about feelings in a fun, low-pressure way.
Feelings Friends Tea Party
A pretend tea party where your child helps stuffed animals express their feelings and shows care through gentle actions.
Feeling Faces Fun
A playful activity where your child and you explore emotions using simple drawings and storytelling.
Feeling Faces Fun
A playful activity where you and your child create different emotion faces using everyday items, helping them recognize and understand feelings.
Emotion Detective with Feelings Faces
Feeling Faces Story Time
A playful activity where parent and child explore emotions through storytelling and facial expressions, helping your child recognize and understand how others feel.
Tower Tumble Challenge
A playful building activity that helps children practice staying calm when things don't go as planned, building frustration tolerance through gentle challenges.
Wonder Walk Adventure
A guided exploration activity that helps children notice and appreciate the small wonders in everyday surroundings, fostering a sense of joy and curiosity about life experiences.
Gratitude Treasure Hunt
A playful scavenger hunt where your child finds everyday items and shares why they make life special, fostering appreciation and positive behavior.
Kindness Cafe
A pretend play activity where your child practices showing care and respect for others' feelings and needs through role-playing as a thoughtful server at a cafe.
They are friends! II
Take time to discuss what happens in the story between the main characters, identifying them in the printouts. Ask your child to group the characters together that were friends in the movie, to make another group with the characters that were family, and another one with characters that are mean. Let this activity spark a conversation about relationships with friends and family.
Formal assessments
No matching assessment items indexed yet.