Emotional literacy is presented through a bright one-page feelings map, with five themed places that group common emotions in a child-friendly way. Joyful Jungle includes happy, excited and silly; Grumpy Gorge includes angry, frustrated and upset; Worry Woods includes worried, nervous and scared; Calm Cove includes relaxed, peaceful and safe; and Confidence Castle includes brave, loved and confident.
The design uses playful illustrations, including monkeys, a lion, a dinosaur, an owl, a turtle, a dragon, a tent and a smiling sun, to make the vocabulary feel approachable rather than clinical. Paths between the areas suggest that feelings can shift and move, which can help children talk about changes in mood without feeling judged or put on the spot.
Parents, carers, primary school staff, social workers, play therapists and counsellors could use the printable poster as a quick emotions check-in. A child might be invited to point to the area they are in today, choose a feeling word, talk about what moved them there, or identify where they would like to go next, such as from Worry Woods towards Calm Cove.
The map is particularly suited to children in early years and primary settings, including kids who find open-ended questions difficult or need visual supports for feelings vocabulary. It can be used in classrooms, nurture rooms, therapy spaces, family support work or at home as part of a daily feelings board, emotional regulation activity or conversation starter.
The practical value lies in its simplicity: the page gives adults a shared visual language for talking about happiness, anger, worry, calm and confidence without needing a long worksheet. It can also support social emotional learning, wellbeing check-ins, behaviour reflection, transition support and gentle discussions after a difficult moment.
