Parents, carers, teachers, school staff, counsellors and social workers may find this feelings chart especially useful when supporting children and young teens to name emotions quickly and safely. The poster is laid out as a colourful grid of illustrated feeling cards, with each box showing an expressive animal character and a clear label underneath.
The chart includes a wide range of emotions, from everyday feelings such as happy, sad, angry, scared, surprised and silly, through to more specific words such as embarrassed, disappointed, hopeful, jealous, ashamed, overwhelmed and worried but trying. It also includes strengths-based and positive emotional states, including brave, determined, confident, grateful, proud of myself, gentle and loving.
Because the images are playful and exaggerated, children can often recognise the feeling before reading the word. A child might point to nervous, tired, annoyed, lonely or confused during a check-in, while an adult can use the chart to gently ask what happened, where the feeling is felt in the body, or what might help next.
The one-page printable emotions tool works well as a wall display, desk prompt, therapy room visual aid, calm corner tool or home feelings check-in sheet. It is particularly suited to primary-aged children, neurodivergent children, children with speech and language needs, and younger teenagers who benefit from visual emotion vocabulary rather than a blank verbal question.
