Objective:
Teach kids to identify, express, and understand different emotions through a fun, hands-on activity using animal character masks.
Teach kids about perseverance and the value of trying again.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRINTABLES AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS ARTICLE
Materials Needed
- Animal character coloring pages (happy, sad, scared, angry, and calm). Download them at the bottom of this article.
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
- Safety scissors
- Glue
- Wood sticks or popsicle sticks
Instructions
Invite your kid to color each animal, and ask them to choose a color that represents the emotion of the animal. Encourage them to notice and discuss each emotion as they color.
After coloring, cut out the animal faces and attach them to popsicle sticks to create emotion masks.
Emotion Games
1. Express and Match
Secret Pick: Place the masks face down, and the child picks a mask randomly without showing it to anyone else. Ask the child to put the mask back face down.
Act It Out: The child acts out the emotion using only facial expressions, body language, and sounds—no words allowed!
Guessing Time: The other players take turns guessing the emotion. Whoever guesses correctly earns a point!
This game helps children better understand emotions, express them safely, and recognize emotional cues in others.
2. Emotion Stories
Pick a Mask: Place the masks face down, and the child picks one at random.
Storytelling Time: The child creates a short story or scene explaining why the animal feels that way. They can act out the animal’s emotions while telling the story—flap like a happy parrot, frown like a grumpy gorilla, or even growl dramatically!
Example:
“This parrot feels happy because he got a surprise hug from his friend!”
“This gorilla feels grumpy because he woke up too early, and his hair is all messy!”
Add to the Story: You and the other players can:
- Add to the story,
- Guess what might happen next, or
- Act out a different character in the scene!
Encourage funny, unexpected reasons for the emotions—like:
“The lion is surprised because a tiny mouse just sang him a song!”
This activity boosts emotional intelligence, sparks creativity, and strengthens storytelling skills—all while making everyone laugh and learn!
A Fun, Creative Adventure Book to Help Kids Identify Emotions, Practice Mindfulness, & Build Self-Compassion
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Growth Mindset Games
3. Role Play “Try Again”
Pick a Mask: Place the masks face down, and the child picks one at random.
Create a “Try Again” Story Together: Start with a situation where the animal faces a challenge. Ask the child:
What should the animal do?
How does the animal avoid giving up?
Example:
“The scared lion is learning to climb a tree but didn’t make it the first time… (the child adds) He keeps trying until he finally reaches the top!”
“The angry gorilla wants to jump into the water, but it’s too cold… He takes a deep breath and finally does it!”
Act It Out!: The child role-plays the animal’s emotions and actions, using:
- Body language (e.g., trembling, determined stomping)
- Dramatic facial expressions
- Sound effects (roars, splashes, etc.) to bring the story to life!
Then, ask:
How does the animal feel after trying and succeeding?
What does the animal do next?
…Keep the imagination flowing!
Encouragement Time! After each story:
- Cheer for the character’s persistence and bravery,
- Do a happy dance or strike a celebration pose to show the joy of not giving up!
This activity builds resilience, patience, and confidence while letting kids explore emotions in a fun, creative way!
4. “Learning Friends”
Meet the Learning Friends: Explain that each animal represents a “Learning Friend” who helps us grow through curiosity, self-control, practice, or teamwork!
Pick a Common Skill: Choose a skill that takes practice, like:
- Tying a shoe,
- Drawing a star,
- Riding a bike, or
- Writing a letter.
Pick a Mask & React!: The child picks an animal mask and imagines:
How would their “Learning Friend” react if they didn’t succeed at first?
Examples:
“The angry gorilla tries to tie a shoe, gets frustrated, but then takes a deep breath and asks for help!”
“The curious parrot is learning to draw a star. She keeps asking questions and watches how others do it!”
Role-Play the Scene: The child acts out:
- Their animal’s initial reaction,
- How they overcome the challenge (using self-control, practice, or teamwork).
Bonus: Two Learning Friends can team up!
(Example: The gorilla and parrot work together to build a tower of blocks!)
Create Your Own Learning Friend: After playing, kids can:
- Draw their own Learning Friend,
- Give them a special skill and personality!
This activity helps kids develop a growth mindset, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills—all while having fun with storytelling and role-play!
Through these activities, kids get to practice identifying emotions, explore different feelings, and learn to express empathy and understanding for others. Encourages kids to embrace mistakes as part of learning and to seek help when needed. It’s a fun way to strengthen emotional intelligence and reinforce a growth mindset while being creative!
