Emotion cards for teenagers: 7 ways to use feelings cards at home, school and in sessions
Most emotion cards are made for young children: cartoon faces and simple words like happy and sad. Teenagers need more than that.
Good feelings cards for teens use real-life pictures, richer words and a link to what is happening in the body.
In this article
- What makes good emotion cards for teens?
- 1. Check-in card
- 2. Guess the feeling
- 3. Body map
- 4. Find a better word
- 5. Sort by state
- 6. Move it on a track
- 7. Make a calm plan
- Questions people ask
What makes good emotion cards for teens?
- Pictures of real teen moments, not cartoon faces
- A wide range of words, beyond happy, sad and angry
- A link to body sensations
- Something hands-on, so it does not feel like a test
1. Check-in card
Ask your teen to pick one card that shows their day. No need to explain unless they want to. This works well at dinner, in tutor time or at the start of a session.
2. Guess the feeling
Use a card with no label. Take turns guessing what the person in the picture might feel. Then check the labelled twin.
3. Body map
Pick a card and ask: “Where would you feel this in your body?” This helps teens notice early signs before feelings get too big.
4. Find a better word
Start with a simple word, like angry. Look for more exact words: frustrated, embarrassed, left out. Naming a feeling clearly can help it feel more manageable.
5. Sort by state
Sort cards into three piles: calm and connected, fight or flight, and shut down. It shows teens that every feeling has a place and makes sense.
A note on the science: polyvagal theory is a model, and researchers still debate parts of it. We use it as a helpful map for talking about feelings and behaviour, not as a diagnosis.
6. Move it on a track
Place a card on a coloured track board, then move it. “What would help this person get back to calm?” Movement makes the idea stick.
7. Make a calm plan
Pick the cards that show your teen’s hardest moments. For each one, write down one thing that helps. Keep the plan somewhere easy to find.
Questions people ask
What age are emotion cards for?
There are cards for every age. For teenagers, choose real-life pictures and richer words, so they do not feel childish.
Do emotion cards help neurodivergent teens?
Many neurodivergent teens find it easier to point or sort than to explain. Cards give them a way to show how they feel.
Can teachers and practitioners use them?
Yes. They work in tutor time, PSHE, pastoral sessions, counselling and youth work.
Where can I buy emotion cards for teenagers in the UK?
The What’s Your State? Toolbag includes 90 picture cards in matching pairs, plus a fold-out track board. It costs £29.99 with free UK postage.
Try the What’s Your State? Toolbag
Real-life picture cards made for teens, in matching pairs, with body sensations and feeling words on the back. Plus a fold-out track board.
£29.99, free UK postage.
See the toolbag and how to use it