Feelings Deck for Kids 30 Activities for Handling Big Emotions

A playful card deck that teaches kids ages 5–9 to name and feel emotions in their bodies, with 30 activities to regulate emotions and teach body awareness.

Lots of kids might say they feel “good” or “bad” but miss all the other emotions in between. For children to best recognize feelings in themselves and others, they first need to have words for those feelings. Featuring a range of 30 different emotions, from angry and sad to grateful and proud, as well as a meditation or mindful activity for each, kids can use these interactive cards to develop their emotional intelligence and gain self-acceptance. They'll find ways to better understand feelings, build self-compassion, and share their emotional experiences—all in a fun, interactive way. 

The cards are illustrated with evocative ways that emotions can show up in the body to help kids start to recognize how they embody feelings—for example: “When I am worried, my mind feels tangled up like spaghetti noodles”; “When I feel scared, my belly feels cold like a popsicle”; “When I am excited, my chest feels fizzy like the bubbles in a soda.” The deck includes both meditation cards, guiding kids in simple mindfulness practices focused on the card’s emotion; and activity cards, featuring hands-on activities to regulate emotions like making a calming glitter jar, planting a seed of hope, blowing bubbles of frustration and watching them float away, and creating a “Gratitude Gumball” machine.

The cards and a helpful introductory booklet are housed together in a colorful box.

JULIE KAVANAGH has been writing stories since she received a set of giant purple crayons at the age of six. After pursuing a career in marketing and advertising, she decided to use her communication skills to help nonprofit organizations raise funds for their causes. Inspired by her two children, Julie turned her talents to writing stories to help parents and kids develop social and emotional intelligence. She is fluent in French, has never seen any of the Star Wars movies, loves Japanese paper, and is terrified of butterflies.

SETH SHUGAR is a marital and family therapist in private practice. He is also a writer, a communication coach, a former college professor, and a playful papa. His therapeutic work integrates Internal Family Systems therapy with a variety of somatic and mindfulness-based approaches. Through his courses, workshops, and consultations, he has shared mindfulness practices with countless people from all walks of life. His writing has also been featured in Goalcast, BuddhistDoor Global, CTV News, and elsewhere.

ERIKA LYNNE JONES is a children’s book author and illustrator. She creates quirky characters and stories that affirm and celebrate cultures. Her creative mission is to show every child they are worthy of positive representations of themselves in literature.