Teaching Kids About Emotions Through Play: Charades with a Twist
As parents, we all want our kids to grow up confident, kind, and able to handle their feelings. But let’s be honest - emotions can be tricky, even for adults. How often have you asked your child “What’s wrong?” only to get a shrug or silence in return?
Helping kids understand and express emotions doesn’t have to feel like a lesson. With the right tools, it can feel like play. That’s where mindful games like Emotions Charades come in - a fun, interactive way to turn big feelings into small, playful moments of connection.
🎭 Why Kids Struggle to Express Emotions
Children often feel emotions intensely but don’t always have the vocabulary to explain what they’re going through. A child might cry out of frustration, stomp their feet when they’re nervous, or lash out because they’re tired - but they may not have the words “I feel overwhelmed” or “I’m anxious.”
This is where play bridges the gap. Acting, role-play, and games like charades give kids a safe, lighthearted way to explore feelings without pressure.
🌱 What Is Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?
You may have heard the term “social emotional learning” (SEL). It’s a framework schools and parents use to teach skills like empathy, self-awareness, and communication. Studies show that kids who develop strong emotional intelligence (EQ) are more likely to succeed academically, socially, and personally.
Play-based learning, especially games that involve role-play and acting, is one of the most effective ways to nurture these skills.
🎲 How Emotions Charades Works
The Little Mindset Emotions Charades Game is simple, but powerful:
Kids pick a card with an emotion.
They act it out - no words allowed.
Others guess the emotion.
With 36 illustrated cards, kids practice recognising, expressing, and naming feelings from joy and excitement to frustration and sadness.
It’s a game full of laughter (because kids’ acting is always adorable), but also meaningful because it:
✔ Teaches kids the language of emotions
✔ Normalises all feelings - the happy, the silly, and the hard ones
✔ Encourages empathy, as kids guess how others are feeling
💡 Everyday Benefits of Playing
Parents often notice small but powerful changes after playing emotions games regularly. Kids:
Begin to use new words like “nervous,” “proud,” or “disappointed.”
Feel more comfortable talking about their feelings.
Learn that all emotions are valid, not “good” or “bad.”
Gain confidence expressing themselves in a safe space.
And the best part? It doesn’t feel like a lesson - it feels like family fun.
🏡 Ways to Play at Home or in Class
Here are some simple variations you can try:
Family Game Night Twist – Instead of points, focus on storytelling. After guessing the emotion, ask kids: “When was the last time you felt that way?”
Calm-Down Corner Tool – Keep a few cards in your child’s bedroom or calm space. When they’re upset, they can pick a card to show how they feel.
Classroom Icebreaker – Teachers can use the deck to open morning meetings, helping kids feel seen and ready to share.
Guess the Story – After acting out the emotion, let kids invent a short story around why the character feels that way.
🌙 Why Families Love It
Parents who play Emotions Charades often say it brings:
✔ More laughter to family time
✔ Closer bonds between siblings
✔ A gentle way to open up hard conversations
✔ A positive routine that strengthens connection
Because when kids feel understood, they feel safe - and when they feel safe, they thrive.
💛 Final Thoughts
Helping kids build emotional awareness doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, it just takes a deck of cards, a little acting, and a lot of laughter.
The Little Mindset Emotions Charades Game is designed to make emotions less scary, more familiar, and even fun. By turning feelings into play, you’re giving your child tools they’ll carry for life: empathy, confidence, and connection.
Because the best lessons are the ones learned in play. 🌱