Every Learner by UpOnly Learning

Free feelings cards and calm-down square

Face Detectives: feelings cards with original faces and a clue on each card, so children can look at the eyebrows, eyes and mouth and name the feeling. With a calm-down square for a calm-down corner.

Face Detectives Feelings Cards & Calm-Down Square

Feelings cards with original faces and a detective clue on each, a calm-down square with choices to try, a matching game and a one-page adult guide.

English, Spanish and Portuguese on every card · Answer key included

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What is in the file

  • Feelings cards with original illustrated faces: comfortable feelings (happy, calm, proud, excited, loved, brave) and uncomfortable ones (sad, mad, scared, worried, frustrated, tired)
  • A detective clue on every card: what to look for in the eyebrows, eyes and mouth
  • A calm-down square with choices to try (slow breaths, counting, squeezing hands and more), plus detective questions
  • A “match the face to the word” game and a separate answer key
  • A one-page guide for adults in English, Spanish and Portuguese
  • Color pages and ink-saver (black-and-white) pages

How to start

More ideas are in How to teach emotions to kids.

  1. Name feelings as they happen during the day, using the cards.
  2. Play detective: look at the eyebrows, eyes and mouth, then guess the feeling.
  3. Practise the calm-down square when the child is already calm[1].
  4. Never use a calm-down spot as a punishment[1].

Research behind the approach

  • Head Start describes emotional literacy as the ability to identify, understand and respond to emotions, and suggests using pictures of feeling faces[2].
  • Early-childhood researchers at Vanderbilt's CSEFEL consider a feeling-word vocabulary of critical importance in a child's emotional development[3].
  • The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations advises teaching a balance of comfortable and uncomfortable feelings[4], and gives practical guidance on calm-down areas at home[1].
  • Early-childhood guidance supports teaching children words for feelings[3, 2]. These are learning cards, not a mental-health tool.

Questions

How do I teach emotions to a toddler, preschooler or autistic child?

Start by naming feelings as they happen. Head Start notes that as children's feeling vocabulary develops, their ability to identify feelings in themselves and others also progresses[2]. Use the cards in a game, or let children pick a card to show how they feel[2, 4].

Which feelings should we start with?

Start small and teach a balance of comfortable and uncomfortable feelings[4].

How do I use a calm-down square or corner?

Practise it when your child is already calm. A calm-down area should never be used as punishment[1]. Afterwards, talk about the feeling.

Why does naming feelings matter?

Early-childhood researchers consider a feeling-word vocabulary of critical importance in a child's emotional development[3]. Words for feelings give children a way to express them other than through challenging behaviour[4].

Is this a mental-health tool?

No. These are learning cards for talking about feelings. If you are worried about your child's development or behaviour, talk with your child's doctor; you can also contact your local early intervention program or public school[5].

Keep reading

Written by the UpOnly Learning team. Sources checked 26 Oct 2026; page updated 27 Oct 2026.

References

  1. National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI), funded by US Dept. of Education OSEP. Tips for Using a Calm Down Area at Home (07/07/20). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
  2. HeadStart.gov (Administration for Children and Families). Fostering Emotional Literacy in Young Children: Labeling Emotions. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
  3. CSEFEL, Vanderbilt University. What Works Brief 21: Fostering Emotional Literacy in Young Children: Labeling Emotions (Joseph, Strain & Ostrosky). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
  4. National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI). Feeling Faces cards (English-Spanish). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Concerned About Your Child's Development? Learn the Signs. Act Early. (last reviewed Feb 17, 2026). Checked 26 Oct 2026.

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