Feelings Faces Matching Card Game
Match emotion face cards into pairs while naming each feeling — a hands-on way to build emotional vocabulary and recognition skills.
What You'll Need
- 1Printed or hand-drawn emotion face cards (6-8 pairs)
- 2Cardstock or index cards
What You'll Need
6-8 pairs of emotion face cards (printed from the internet or hand-drawn on index cards)
Cardstock or index cards for durability
How to Play
Create simple face cards showing basic emotions: happy, sad, mad, scared, surprised, tired.
Spread all cards face-up on the floor (face-down memory style is too hard at this age).
Pick up one card and name the emotion: "This face looks happy! See the big smile?"
Ask your child to find the matching happy face from the other cards.
When they find it, pair them up and celebrate: "You found both happy faces! Great matching!"
Work through each emotion, naming it clearly and pointing out the facial cues.
After all pairs are found, go through them and make each face together.
Why It Works
Emotion recognition is a skill that develops with practice. When your child studies a cartoon face showing "sad" and then searches for its match, they're learning to read facial cues — downturned mouth, droopy eyes, tears. This is the exact same skill they'll use on the playground when they notice a friend is upset. Pairing matching (a cognitive skill) with emotional learning makes both stickier. And making the faces together adds a physical, embodied layer to the learning.
Tips
Start with just 3 pairs (happy, sad, mad) and add more emotions as your child gets comfortable.
Draw the faces yourself if you don't have a printer. Imperfect faces with clear emotional cues work great.
Ask "How can you tell this face is sad?" to help them notice specific features like tears or frown lines.
Keep the cards in a ziplock bag. Kids love pulling them out for repeat play, and the repetition is where learning happens.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 10 min, with 10 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: printed or hand-drawn emotion face cards (6-8 pairs), cardstock or index cards.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 2-3 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This is an easy activity that requires minimal setup and supervision. Great for busy days or when you need something quick.
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