Feelings Chart: Simple Descriptions of Common Feelings for All Ages

About this tool

A feelings chart is the simplest version of an emotion reference: a short list of common feelings, each with a plain description, so anyone can point to what they are experiencing. It is a staple in classrooms, family homes, and therapy rooms because it removes the hardest first step, which is finding the words at all.

For children, a chart builds emotional literacy: the basic ability to recognize and name feelings. That skill is the foundation of self-regulation, because a child who can say 'I feel frustrated' is far better placed to ask for help than one who can only act it out. For adults, the same chart works as a quick check-in, a way to pause and name a mood before reacting to it.

The descriptions below are kept short and concrete on purpose. They are meant to confirm a feeling, not to define it perfectly. Use the chart as a starting point: once you or a child can name the basic feeling, you can get more specific, talk about what caused it, and decide what might help.

The idea of naming feelings before managing them comes from emotional intelligence research, most notably the RULER approach developed by Marc Brackett and colleagues at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, which starts with recognizing and labeling an emotion before moving on to understanding its cause and choosing a response. Work by developmental psychologist Susan Denham links this kind of naming ability in early childhood to how ready a child is for school and how well they get along with peers and teachers.

One common mistake is stopping at the first word that seems close enough. Angry and frustrated can look alike on a chart but often call for different responses, and a feeling can also be layered, for example scared underneath angry. Encourage a second pass: after naming the first feeling, ask if there is another one sitting underneath it.

If big feelings are frequent, intense, or hard to bring back down even with naming and support, that is worth raising with a pediatrician, school counselor, or therapist. A feelings chart is a starting point for building the vocabulary, not a substitute for support when emotions are affecting sleep, school, friendships, or family life. Psychology.com's therapist directory can help you find a provider who works with children or families.

Reviewed by Michael Callans, MSW
Reviewed the feeling words and descriptions for accuracy and age-appropriate clarity.

References

1. Brackett MA, et al. Emotional intelligence and emotion regulation: implications for child and adult development. In: Handbook of Emotion Regulation. Guilford Press; 2014.
2. Denham SA. Social-emotional competence as support for school readiness. Early Educ Dev. 2006;17(1):57-89.

Feelings Chart FAQ