Emotion Cards for Kids

Print this page on cardstock or heavy paper. Cut along the lines to create individual emotion cards. Use these cards in role-play, matching games, or discussions to help children recognize and name their feelings.

|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Happy | Sad | Angry |

Parent Reflection Worksheet

Use this worksheet to reflect on your child’s emotional strengths, challenges, and your current practices. Your responses will help you identify goals and action steps for supporting your child’s emotional readiness for school.

1. Child’s Emotional Strengths

List three emotional strengths your child currently shows:

2. Common Triggers

Describe situations or events that tend to trigger emotional upset or stress for your child:

3. Current Strategies

What strategies have you tried to support your child’s emotions? Which worked well, and which did not? Be specific.

4. Focus Areas and Goals

Identify 2–3 emotional skills you want to help your child develop (e.g., self-regulation, expressing feelings, coping with frustration):

• Skill 1:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Skill 2:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• (Optional) Skill 3:
  
  
  
  
  
  

5. Action Plan

For each skill above, outline one or two specific steps you will take at home, including when and how often you will practice them:

• Step for Skill 1:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Step for Skill 2:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

6. Support and Resources

Who can you turn to for support (e.g., family members, friends, educators)? What resources or tools will you use?

7. Workshop Insights

What was the most valuable insight or tip you gained today? How will it influence your approach at home?

After completing this reflection, review the Emotion Readiness Checklist to turn your insights into SMART goals and track progress at home.

Emotion Readiness Checklist

Use this checklist to assess your child’s current emotional skills, set SMART goals, and track progress at home.

Part 1: Assess Current Skills

Circle the number that best describes how often your child demonstrates each skill:

1. Self-Awareness (recognizing their own feelings): 1 Rarely 2 Sometimes 3 Often

2. Self-Regulation (managing emotions and impulses): 1 Rarely 2 Sometimes 3 Often

3. Resilience (bouncing back after disappointment): 1 Rarely 2 Sometimes 3 Often

4. Empathy (understanding others’ feelings): 1 Rarely 2 Sometimes 3 Often

Comments on strengths or challenges:

Part 2: Set SMART Goals

Choose 1–3 skills to focus on. For each, fill in the SMART goal template below.

Goal 1

Skill: ____________________________

Specific: What exactly will you and your child do?





Measurable: How will you know it’s working?





Achievable: What small steps make this realistic?





Relevant: Why is this important for your child?





Time-bound: When will you review progress?

Goal 2

Skill: ____________________________

Specific:





Measurable:





Achievable:





Relevant:





Time-bound:

(Optional) Goal 3

Skill: ____________________________

Specific:





Measurable:





Achievable:





Relevant:





Time-bound:

Part 3: Track Progress

Over the next four weeks, record observations for each goal. Note successes, challenges, and any adjustments needed.

Week 1 (Date: ______):

Week 2 (Date: ______):

Week 3 (Date: ______):

Week 4 (Date: ______):

When you’ve completed this tracking log, revisit the Parent Reflection Worksheet to reflect on your child’s progress and plan next steps.

School Success Roadmap

Use this roadmap to track and support your child’s emotional development as they prepare for and transition into school. Review each stage, note milestones, and plan strategies to foster growth.

How to Use This Roadmap

1. Review the Emotional Focus for your child’s current stage.
2. Implement the Caregiver Strategies suggested.
3. Check off milestones as your child demonstrates each skill.
4. Refer back to the Emotion Readiness Checklist to set goals aligned with each stage.

Keeping this roadmap visible (on the fridge or in your child’s room) helps you and your child recognize progress and plan next steps.

Take-Home Tips Handout

Keep this handout handy for quick reminders to support your child’s emotional readiness for school.

1. Daily Emotion Check-Ins

• Spend 2–3 minutes each morning asking, “How are you feeling today?”
• Use a simple scale (thumbs up/neutral/down) or an emotions chart.
• Validate responses: “I hear you feel excited/nervous—tell me more.”

2. Reinforce Consistent Routines

• Maintain predictable morning and bedtime sequences.
• Display a visual schedule (pictures or checklist) in a common area.
• Celebrate routine wins with praise or a sticker chart.

3. Quick Calming Strategies

• Practice “smell the flower, blow out the candle” deep breaths.
• Keep a small calm-down kit (stress ball, fidget toy, calming jar).
• Offer a brief sensory break (quiet corner, soft music, drawing).

4. Validate & Praise

• Acknowledge feelings: “It seems you’re frustrated—totally understandable.”
• Use specific praise: “You shared your toy so kindly today.”
• Model positive self-talk: “Let’s try again—I know you can do it.”

5. Weekly Action Planning

• Review the Emotion Readiness Checklist once a week.
• Pick one small skill to focus on (e.g., deep breathing when upset).
• Record progress or challenges in the Parent Reflection Worksheet.

6. Additional Support & Resources

• Connect with other parents for tips and encouragement.
• Refer to the School Success Roadmap for stage-by-stage guidance.
• Reach out to your child’s teacher or counselor for extra strategies.

Consistent practice and positive reinforcement build confidence and resilience over time. You’ve got this!