I Feel, I Need, I Can – Feeling Cards for Children is a free, printable resource that helps children recognise, name, and manage their emotions in a healthy and confident way. Each card presents a simple structure—“I feel… I need… I can…”—to help children connect emotions with their needs and actions.
This emotional literacy tool encourages children to think about what they are feeling, what might help, and what they can do next. For example: “I feel angry. I need space to calm down. I can take deep breaths.” Through clear language and relatable examples, the cards teach emotional awareness, communication, and problem-solving.
Perfect for teachers, social workers, counsellors, therapists, ELSA practitioners, and parents, these cards can be used in classrooms, therapy sessions, or at home to support social-emotional learning (SEL). They are particularly effective for children who find it hard to express feelings verbally or manage strong emotions, including those with autism (ASD, Asperger Syndrome), ADHD, anxiety, or social communication difficulties.
The cards explore a wide range of emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, worry, loneliness, embarrassment, pride, and confusion, helping children understand that all feelings are valid and manageable. They can be used individually, in groups, or during check-in activities to encourage open conversation and emotional reflection.
These printable feeling cards support:
Emotional awareness and vocabulary development
Communication and self-expression
Empathy and understanding of others
Self-regulation and coping strategies
Positive behaviour and wellbeing
Bright, simple, and child-friendly, the I Feel, I Need, I Can cards empower children to explore emotions in a calm, supportive way. By teaching children to express how they feel and what they need, this resource helps them build emotional intelligence, resilience, and confidence — essential life skills for healthy relationships and wellbeing.
This engaging, easy-to-use set of printable feelings cards for children is an ideal addition to any emotional literacy toolkit, helping professionals and caregivers nurture children’s emotional growth one feeling at a time.
