Matching emotions is an activity where clients identify and label different feelings using words and emojis. While it is very helpful for young kids, studies show it can also help older kids and even adults understand and express their emotions better.
The Matching Emotions Worksheet is an activity that involves matching each feeling word with the right emoji. To complete the worksheet, they should carefully read each emotion listed at the top of the page, and write it beside the emoji that best represents it.
Completing this mood match activity helps kids and teens learn the right facial cues for different emotions, expand their feelings words, and express them clearly, even for new emotions. Our Emoji Feelings Chart can be used alongside the Matching Emotions Worksheet to deepen emotional learning.
When teachers and parents work together to give children support and let them discuss their feelings openly, they can enhance their emotional skills and better understand their emotions. This collaboration can help clear up any confusing emotions.
*This item is an instant digital download. A link to download your files will be emailed to you once payment is confirmed.
Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of feelings worksheets and handouts.
References:
- Garcia S. E., Tully E. C. (2020). Children’s recognition of happy, sad, and angry facial expressions across emotive intensities. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 197 Article 104881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2020.104881
- Golan O., Gordon I., Fichman K., Keinan G. (2018). Specific patterns of emotion recognition from faces in children with ASD: Results of a cross-modal matching paradigm. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48(3), 844–852. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3389-5
- Heck A., Chroust A., White H., Jubran R., Bhatt R. S. (2017). Development of body emotion perception in infancy: From discrimination to recognition. Infant Behavior and Development, 50, 42–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2017.10.007
- Ren, H., Huang, L., Du, F., Huang, W., Lin, G., Kret, M. E., & Chen, S. (2023). Preschoolers can match the facial and bodily emotional expressions: A behavior and eye-tracking study. SAGE Open, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231214347
- Vetter, N. C., Drauschke, M., Thieme, J., & Altgassen, M. (2018). Adolescent basic facial emotion recognition is not influenced by puberty or own-age bias. Frontiers in Psychology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00956
- Vicari, S., Reilly, J. S., Pasqualetti, P., Vizzotto, A., & Caltagirone, C. (2000). Recognition of facial expressions of emotions in school‐age children: The intersection of perceptual and semantic categories. Acta Paediatrica, 89(7), 836-845. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2000.tb00392.x
- Zupan, B., & Eskritt, M. (2023). Facial and vocal emotion recognition in adolescence: A systematic review. Adolescent Research Review, 9(2), 253-277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-023-00219-7
