We all know how much kids love playing games – it keeps them entertained and engaged. But did you know games can also open the door to understanding complex emotions? That’s right! In this post, we present to you three emotion games for kids that aim to help them not only have fun but learn how to express and manage their feelings effectively. These games cater to children with various learning needs, including neurodivergent kids, and focus on promoting communication, empathy, and emotional intelligence.
Table of Contents
1. Feelings Bingo: Turning Emotion Recognition into a Winning Game
A twist on the classic Bingo, Feelings Bingo is one of the easiest and most entertaining emotion games for kids when it comes to teaching emotions. Here’s more about the game:
- Players need a Feelings Bingo card each, which consists of emotion face diagrams.
- You, as the conductor, call out emotions and provide examples or real-life situations for context.
- Players mark the corresponding emotion face if it matches the one called out.
- The first player to complete a row, column, or diagonal pattern is the winner.
Feelings Bingo is not just about winning but also about learning together. It’s a fantastic way to teach children to recognize different emotions, both in themselves and others.
But how can you create those Bingo cards? Here’s an easy DIY method:
| Materials Required | Cardstock or blank paper, marker, emotion images or stickers |
| Instructions | Cut cardstock or paper into squares, draw a grid (3×3 or 4×4) on each, paste or draw emotion faces in each grid cell |
2. Emotion Charades: Acting Out Feelings for Fun and Learning
A spin-off of the classic Charades, Emotion Charades is an exciting way to help kids express and understand feelings. To play this game, follow these steps:
- Create a set of emotion cards with words or images that represent different emotions.
- Players draw a card and act out the emotion without speaking any words.
- Other players try to guess the acted-out emotion.
- Keep going until all players have had their turn.
With Emotion Charades, kids get to practice expressing and interpreting emotions nonverbally. This game is particularly beneficial for children with communication difficulties or those who struggle with verbal expression.
Wondering how to create a deck of emotional cards for this game? Here’s a simple method:
| Materials Required | Index cards or cardstock, markers, emotion images or stickers (optional) |
| Instructions | Cut cardstock into equal-sized rectangles or use ready-made index cards, paste or draw an emotion image or write an emotion word on each card |
3. Emotion Matching Game: A Memory Boost for Emotional Skills
Read More: Top List of Emotions for Kids: A Colorful Spectrum of Feelings
The Emotion Matching Game is an engaging way for your child to develop memory while learning about emotions. Here’s how you can play the game:
- Prepare a set of cards with pairs of matching emotions represented by faces or words.
- Shuffle the cards and place them face down in a grid pattern.
- Players take turns to flip two cards, name the revealed emotions, and check if they’re a match.
- Matched cards are kept by the player; unmatched ones are flipped back over.
- Game continues until all pairs are found and claimed.
The Emotion Matching Game teaches children to identify and communicate emotions while enhancing focus and group dynamics. Furthermore, it develops memory, attention, and a competitive spirit.
Making emotion cards for the game is simple; let your creativity shine through:
| Materials Required | Cardstock or blank paper, markers, emotion images or stickers (optional) |
| Instructions | Cut cardstock into equal-sized squares, paste or draw an emotion image or write an emotion word on each card (make sure there are duplicate cards for matching) |
Goally | Kid’s Tablet for Building Emotional Regulation Skills
Is your child struggling with understanding and managing their emotions? Goally teaches emotional regulation skills in a fun and interactive way!
The Mood Tuner app encourages kids to look inwards and identify their feelings, helping them understand what’s going on inside. Once they’ve recognized their emotions, they can choose from a variety of exercises designed to help them self-regulate and find their balance.
To Sum Up: Emotion Games for Kids—Fun and Learning Go Hand in Hand
These three emotional games for kids not only provide an enjoyable experience but also help them learn and grow emotionally. By incorporating these games into your child’s daily activities, you’ll be building essential emotional skills, creating priceless memories, and fostering an enriching environment for your growing child. Let the games begin!
This post was originally published on 06/04/2023. It was updated on 07/14/2023.
Goally
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