Emotion Cards: A Printable Set for Naming, Matching, and Sorting Feelings
A printable set of emotion cards, one feeling per card, for naming, matching, and sorting feelings at home, in the classroom, or in therapy.
Reviewed by Michael Callans, MSW Cite 
About this tool
Emotion cards take an abstract idea and make it something you can hold, point to, and move around. Each card names one feeling, so instead of being asked the hard question 'how do you feel?', a child or adult can simply pick the card that fits. That small shift removes the pressure of finding words on the spot, which is exactly the moment many people get stuck.
Cards are flexible in a way a chart is not. You can sort them into happy, sad, angry, and scared piles to build the link between specific feelings and their families. You can spread them out for a daily check-in. You can play matching games, act them out, or use them to talk through a tricky moment after it has passed. For children, for social-skills and autism support, and in family or therapy settings, that hands-on quality makes feelings easier to explore.
The set below gives you the words and descriptions to make your own deck: print the page, cut along the lines, and you have a ready set of cards. Keep them in a jar or envelope somewhere easy to reach, so naming a feeling becomes a normal, low-pressure part of the day.
The idea of building emotional vocabulary through simple naming tools draws on emotional intelligence research, including work by psychologist Marc Brackett and colleagues showing that the ability to accurately identify and label emotions is linked to better emotion regulation in both children and adults. Early childhood research also links strong social-emotional skills, including the ability to name feelings, with school readiness.
Emotion cards are a starting point, not a full emotional vocabulary. As comfort grows, encourage moving beyond broad words like happy, sad, and angry toward more specific ones like proud, disappointed, or jealous, so the vocabulary keeps growing with the person using it. If a particular feeling shows up on the cards constantly, treat that as useful information rather than something to fix immediately.
If a child or adult is naming difficult feelings often, or a feeling like sadness, fear, or anger seems to be taking over daily life, that is a good reason to bring in a licensed therapist rather than relying on cards alone. A therapist can help build on what the cards start, especially for children with big emotional swings or for anyone who finds naming feelings out loud especially hard.
References
- Brackett MA, et al. Emotional intelligence and emotion regulation: implications for child and adult development. In: Handbook of Emotion Regulation. Guilford Press; 2014.
- Denham SA. Social-emotional competence as support for school readiness. Early Educ Dev. 2006;17(1):57-89.
Cite this source
Psychology.com. (2026, September 14). Emotion Cards. Psychology.com. https://psychology.com/tools/emotion-cards
Emotion Cards FAQ
What are emotion cards?
A set of printable cards, each naming one feeling with a short description. Instead of struggling to find the words, a child or adult can pick the card that fits how they feel.
How do I make the cards?
Print the page, ideally on card stock, and cut along the lines so each feeling becomes its own card. You can color them, add faces, or laminate them to last.
What can I do with emotion cards?
Use them for daily check-ins, to sort feelings into families, to match feelings with situations, to play charades, or to talk through a tough moment after it has passed.
Who are emotion cards good for?
They are especially helpful for young children, for social-skills and autism support, and in family or therapy settings, but they work as a quick check-in for anyone.
How are cards different from a chart?
A chart is one fixed reference. Cards can be sorted, grouped, hidden, and played with, which makes them more flexible and hands-on, especially for children.
Are emotion cards free to print?
Yes. This set of emotion cards is free to print and cut out at home, in a classroom, or in a therapy office. Each card includes a feeling word and a short plain-language description so no extra explanation is needed.