Emotion Wheel Handout

Use this wheel to help your child identify and expand their emotional vocabulary. First, review the primary emotions in the center. Then explore the related secondary emotions around each one.

Emotion Wheel

Primary Emotions (center of the wheel):

• Happy
• Sad
• Angry
• Scared
• Disgusted
• Surprised

Secondary Emotions (examples around each primary):

• Happy: Content, Proud, Excited, Joyful, Energetic
• Sad: Lonely, Disappointed, Miserable, Guilty, Depressed
• Angry: Frustrated, Annoyed, Resentful, Furious, Irritated
• Scared: Anxious, Nervous, Terrified, Worried, Shocked
• Disgusted: Repulsed, Offended, Revolted, Contempt, Nauseated
• Surprised: Astonished, Amazed, Shocked, Startled, Awed

(Tip: Let your child color or circle the emotions they feel most often.)

Activity: Identifying Emotions

1. Think of a recent time your child was upset. Which primary emotion did you observe?
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2. List three secondary emotions they might have been feeling:
   a) _________________________________
   
   
   
   b) _________________________________
   
   
   
   c) _________________________________
   
   
   

3. How might you use reflective labeling to name that feeling for your child?
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4. In the space below, draw your own wheel with six wedges. Label the center of each wedge with a primary emotion and write in at least one secondary emotion around each wedge.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Empathy Scenarios Cards

Cut these cards apart so each small group can draw one scenario. Read the situation, then use the prompts below to discuss how you would apply empathy techniques in your response.

Card 1: After-School Door Slam

Scenario: Your child arrives home from school, slams the front door, kicks off their shoes, and storms up the stairs without a word.

Discussion Prompts:

• Which emotion(s) might your child be feeling?
  
  
  
• Which empathy technique(s) (active listening, reflective labeling, emotion coaching) would you use first?
  
  
  
• What is one empathic statement you could say to open the conversation?

Card 2: Homework Frustration

Scenario: Your child tears up their math worksheet in frustration after getting a problem wrong and yells, “I’m stupid!”

Discussion Prompts:

• How can identifying the underlying feeling help in this moment?
  
  
  
• Which empathy technique will help your child calm down and feel understood?
  
  
  
• Draft a reflective‐labeling response you might use.

Card 3: Tantrum Over Bedtime

Scenario: At bedtime, your child refuses to get into pajamas, flails on the floor, and screams that they don’t want to go to bed.

Discussion Prompts:

• What primary and secondary emotions could be driving the tantrum?
  
  
  
• How would you show active listening in this high-emotion moment?
  
  
  
• Suggest one emotion-coaching question to help your child name their feeling.

Card 4: Sibling Conflict

Scenario: While playing, your older child yells at their younger sibling, pushing them aside so they can have a toy all to themselves.

Discussion Prompts:

• What might your older child be feeling or wanting?
  
  
  
• Which empathy technique helps validate their experience while teaching sharing?
  
  
  
• Write an empathic statement plus a follow-up problem-solving prompt.

Card 5: Spilled Snack Meltdown

Scenario: Your child spills their snack on the carpet and starts crying uncontrollably, declaring it the “worst day ever.”

Discussion Prompts:

• How can reflective labeling diffuse the intensity of the meltdown?
  
  
  
• Which step of emotion coaching will you use to guide them toward a solution?
  
  
  
• Offer a brief empathic response that also moves toward clean-up support.

Card 6: Repeated “No” Reactions

Scenario: You’ve said “no” to your child three times in ten minutes—no to candy, no to TV, no to staying up late—and they’re on the verge of a tantrum.

Discussion Prompts:

• What feelings arise for a child after repeated refusals?
  
  
  
• How might you combine active listening and reflective labeling here?
  
  
  
• Draft a validating statement that acknowledges their frustration and reinforces boundaries.

Building Empathy Reflection Journal

Use this journal to reflect on today’s workshop and plan concrete steps to practice empathy with your child.

Date: _________________________________

1. Which empathy technique resonated most with you and why?

(Active Listening, Reflective Labeling, or Emotion Coaching)

2. Recall a recent situation when your child was upset.

Describe what happened, how you responded at the time, and how you might apply your chosen technique now.

3. What challenges or barriers might you face when practicing empathy at home?

Identify at least two and brainstorm strategies to address them.

4. Set a Goal for This Week

Define a specific, measurable action you will take to strengthen empathy with your child.

• What exactly will you do?
• How will you know you succeeded?
• When will you review your progress?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

5. Weekly Reflection

At the end of the week, jot down your successes, surprises, and next steps for continuing to build empathy with your child.

Thank you for committing to empathy in action! Feel free to revisit these prompts regularly to track your growth and celebrate your progress.