Guess My Feeling

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Can last from a couple minutes to much longer depending on how many times you and your child want to play.

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Start by saying to your child, "I am going to make a face, can you guess what I am feeling?" Then make a happy, sad, or confused face. If your child guesses correctly, respond by saying, "That’s right! Do you know what makes me feel that way?" and then describe a simple situation that makes you feel that emotion. For example, "I feel sad when it rains and storms, and we can’t play outside." Next, say to your child, "It’s your turn. You make a face and I will try to guess what you are feeling.” Once you guess correctly, ask your child when they have that emotion. Take turns until your child is not interested in continuing.

Don’t be surprised if your child chooses the same emotions as you! It might take some time for them to get creative and think of their own emotions.

Start with simple feelings like happy and sad.

Try more difficult emotions such as surprised, worried, sleepy, bored or silly. Also, try to think of more complicated situations that would make you and/or your child feel that way. For example, "I feel frustrated when I don’t get to pick a movie."

Adapted from ‘Teaching Your Child to: Identify and Express Emotions,’ The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning, Vanderbilt University.