‘On a scale of how are you feeling today?’ worksheet for kids

The “On a scale of how are you feeling today?” worksheet is a feelings scale that helps kids identify and talk about their emotions. 

Feelings scales can be a useful therapeutic tool to help increase client awareness and literacy of their feelings and emotions. This article provides an overview of how to discuss feelings with children and examples of feelings activities for kids. 

We’ve included a free how are you feeling scale PDF to save to your electronic health record (EHR) and use in your practice.

How can you help kids understand their feelings?

Learning to understand feelings and emotions is a key aspect of childhood development. A 2010 meta-analysis linked stronger emotion knowledge in children to better social competence and fewer behavior problems, and a 2007 study of 325 kindergarteners found that emotion regulation was associated with early academic success. 

You can help children understand their feelings and emotions, and coach caregivers and teachers to do the same, in several ways:

1. Practice: Use feelings scales or visual aids in session to practice identifying and talking about feelings and emotions. 

2. Listen: Give the child space to share what they’re feeling, then repeat back what you heard. 

3. Validate: When a child shares a feeling, let them know it's OK to have it, thank them for sharing, and ask if they want to talk about it. This also provides positive reinforcement. For example, you might say, “I hear that you are really frustrated. It is OK to feel that way.”

4. Model: Show caregivers and teachers how to lead conversations about feelings by first sharing how they are feeling and demonstrating how they cope. You can also suggest prompts like What made you happy today? or What is something that you found hard today?

5. Observe: Notice changes in a child’s behavior, demeanor, or body language. When you see a shift, reflect it back and ask if they’d like to talk about it.

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What are feelings scales?

Feelings scales are a way to identify, label, and measure feelings and emotions. There are various types of scales used in different settings, including:  

• Social emotional check-in: This type of how are you feeling scale involves using a visual aid, chart, cards, or verbal prompts to check in about feelings and emotions. For example, a number scale may indicate:

  • 1: Calm or happy

  • 2: OK

  • 3: Confused or unsure

  • 4: Frustrated or upset

  • 5: Overwhelmed, angry, or scared

• Emotional faces scale: These scales use emojis to either match to or describe specific feelings and emotions, as in our printable emotion faces. For instance: 

  • Happy

  • Worried

  • Sad

  • Angry

  • Very scared

• Meme check-in: This type of scale uses GIFs, memes, or images to identify and describe emotions or state of mind. For example, a grumpy cat might describe a poor night’s sleep. 

• Feelings wheel for kids: Feelings wheels list different feelings and emotions in a circle, such as boredom, worry, surprise, anger, happiness, sadness, calm, and confusion. Our feelings wheel for kids is a free printable option. 

• Feelings thermometer: This visual aid helps kids identify and communicate the intensity of their feelings and emotions. Try our printable feelings thermometer.

How do you use the ‘On a scale of how are you feeling today?’ worksheet?

You can download and use the “On a scale of how are you feeling today?” worksheet in several ways:

• Use the worksheet as a visual meme check-in about how the client is feeling, or use it as a psychoeducation prompt about feelings and emotions.

• Demonstrate how to use the worksheet in a family session and give them a copy to take home. 

• Use the scale as a social emotional check-in during group therapy sessions to encourage clients to share more about their feelings with other participants.

• Combine the “On a scale of how are you feeling today?” worksheet with other worksheets for children, including our stress worksheets for kids, child anxiety worksheets, and boundaries worksheet.

• Share the “On a scale of how are you feeling today?” worksheet with coworkers or leave copies in your office.

• Use this worksheet to provide training to interns or supervisees on helping kids understand and talk about their feelings.

Sources

• Graziano, P. A., Reavis, R. D., Keane, S. P., & Calkins, S. D. (2007). The role of emotion regulation in children’s early academic success. Journal of School Psychology.

• Pelini, S. (n.d.). An age-by-age guide to helping kids manage emotions. The Gottman Institute.

• Trentacosta, C. J., & Fine, S. E. (2010). Emotion knowledge, social competence, and behavior problems in childhood and adolescence: A meta-analytic review. Social Development.

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). Teaching your child about feelings. HeadStart.gov.

• Weir, K. (2023). How to help kids understand and manage their emotions. American Psychological Association.

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