30 Emotion Card Games Guess the Emotion – How to Use Emotional Flashcards

Does your child struggle to understand emotions, their own or others’? These hands-on emotion card games guess the emotion are fantastic – and I’ll explain why. These cards made below can even be used as Montessori emotion cards setting with the ‘real pictures’.

How would a child identify emotions?

Maybe they’re a little detective, always trying to figure out what people are feeling from their faces. Maybe they struggle with emotions? I studied psychology at university and it is still an big part of why I set off on this social emotional learning journey for kids. This blog post is your answer!

Emotion Cards Game Guess the Emotion Printable

We’re diving into the world of 30 emotion card games, a treasure chest filled with laughter and learning all about feelings.

This blog post even includes a printable set of emotion card games with real-life emotion faces, perfect for helping kids learn in a fun way, whether you’re a Montessori teacher or just a parent looking for some quality family time.

Download your free set right here in the post!

How to play guess the emotion game?

Alright, here’s how to play a super fun guessing game using the emotion cards – the ones found in this post and beyond:

Grab your cards! Print out those awesome emotion cards you downloaded (with the funny thumb people and real faces).

Sign into the site below and come back to download your free set!

1. Gather your players! This game works great with one child or even a whole group of friends.
2. Pick a card, any card! Shuffle the deck and have someone (you, your child, it can take turns!) pick a card from the top.
3. Show and tell (sort of)! Hold the card up for everyone to see. Let them have a good look at the silly “thumb person” showing the emotion.
4. Guess time! Now comes the fun part! Ask your child, “What emotion do you think the thumb person is feeling?”
5. Clues and giggles! If they’re stuck, you can give them a little hint. Maybe point to the word on the card, or even act out the emotion yourself with a funny face (wide eyes for surprised, furrowed brows for grumpy).
6. Ding, ding, ding! If they guess the emotion right, celebrate! You can even give them a high five or a silly cheer.
7. Next round! Shuffle the deck again and pick another card for a new round of guessing fun!

Autism Emotion Cards Printable

Learning about emotions can be tricky for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These printable emotion cards can be a fun and visual tool to help them identify and understand different feelings.

Don’t forget to grab your printable activity below:

What you’ll need:

• Cardstock paper (different colors are optional)
• Printer
• Scissors
• Markers (optional)
• Laminator (optional, but recommended for durability)
• The printable cards (shared above)

Here’s how to make your own emotion cards:

1. Download and Print: These cards often feature clear pictures of faces expressing different emotions, like the ones in this post – I am sharing some more below, along with the corresponding emotion word written below.
2. Cut and Customize (Optional): Print the cards on cardstock paper. If you want to add a personal touch, have your child color the pictures or decorate the borders.
3. Laminate (Optional): Laminating your cards will make them more durable and easier to wipe clean.

Emotional Flashcards Games

• Matching Game: Print two sets of cards, one with just the pictures and another with the pictures and words. Turn the cards face down and have your child find the matching pairs.
• Charades Challenge: Draw a card and act out the emotion on the card without talking. Have your child guess the emotion based on your body language and facial expressions.
• Feeling Faces: Spread the cards face up and talk about each emotion. Ask your child to identify situations where they might feel that emotion.
• Story Time: Use the cards as prompts to create a story together. For example, “The happy cat was playing with a ball of yarn, but then he tripped and fell. Now he feels…”

More Emotion Cards Printables

Here, I’ve highlighed my favorite emotion cards printables if you fancy some new additions to your rotations.

Simple Feelings Cards

These cards are so simple, the cartoon characters are similar to real faces.

Positive Emotions and Experiences Cards

From the author: “Inspirational Positive Alphabet Cards and Poster Set – a powerful tool for teachers and parents to help kids grow in confidence and develop coping skills. This set turns learning the alphabet into an uplifting experience, connecting each letter with inspiring words and illustrations that show a young girl navigating through positive emotions and experiences. From “A is for Awesome” to “B is for Brave,” and all the way to “Z,” these cards and posters are filled with motivational messages.”

Tips for using emotion cards with children with ASD

• Start with basic emotions: Focus on basic emotions like happy, sad, angry, and scared. As your child becomes more comfortable, you can introduce more complex emotions.
• Keep it positive: Focus on positive emotions whenever possible.
• Use simple language: Use clear and concise language when talking about emotions.
• Make it fun! The most important thing is to have fun and create a positive learning experience.

By using these printable emotion cards, you can help your child develop a better understanding of their own emotions and the emotions of others.

Bonus Tip: You can also create your own emotion cards using pictures from magazines or by drawing your own faces!

Montessori Emotion Cards

Montessori education emphasizes fostering a child’s social and emotional development alongside their intellectual skills. Emotion cards are a fantastic tool that aligns perfectly with this philosophy, offering a fun and engaging way for children to explore and understand their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.

What makes these more ‘Montessori friendly’ are the real-life images of people emotions.

With 30 unique emotion cards featuring everything from happy sunshine faces to grumpy thundercloud frowns, these games offer endless possibilities to help kids grasp different emotions. 

These are just a few ideas to get you started! The beauty of these cards is that they can be used in so many ways. Adapt the games to fit your child’s age and interests. For younger children, focus on basic emotions like happy, sad, and angry. As they get older, you can explore more complex emotions like proud, disappointed, or jealous.

The most important thing is to have fun and create a safe space where your child feels comfortable exploring the world of emotions. Download your free set of emotion cards, grab a smile (or maybe a frown!), and get ready to make learning about feelings a blast!