You’ll definitely want to add this fun worksheet to your toolbox of emotional regulation activities for kids!
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Emotional Regulation Activities for Kids
Before you can dive into self regulation strategies for kids, it can be helpful to rewind and start with the basics. In order for kids to be able to participate in emotional regulation activities, regulate their emotions, and generate healthy emotional responses to challenging circumstances in their everyday lives, it’s important for them to demonstrate understanding of different emotions in themselves and others.
We often find that, as kids start talking about emotions, the floodgates open and suddenly you can get into much deeper conversations about life’s challenges, feelings, and how we can find healthy and appropriate ways of sharing and demonstrating our feelings in various settings.
One of our favorite free printable emotion regulation worksheets allows kids to practice this skill by listening to short narratives and then using manipulatives to try to identify how the person in the narrative might be feeling.
We also love this awesome emotions in-hand manipulation and hand strength activity using putty! Looking for ways to work on SEL with your class? Try these Morning Meeting SEL Activities!
And be sure to download our free printable with our top tips for how to deal with toddler separation anxiety!
The Self-Regulation Handbook

If you’re looking for more self-regulation strategies, resources, and printables – you won’t want to miss our Self-Regulation Handbook. The downloadable resource is packed with pro tips, expert strategies, & tried-and-true tools to support self-regulation so kids can learn, grow, & succeed!
If you are overwhelmed by behavior challenges in your classroom or therapy sessions…
If you are frustrated with your child’s behavior at home…
If you are working with kids who need help with…
-Listening and paying attention in the classroom
-Following directions
-Interacting with peers and adults
-Transitioning between activities
-Tantrums or meltdowns
-Calming their brains and bodies
-Problem-solving and flexible thinking
-Understanding and processing emotions
This is the resource for you! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!
Free Printable Emotional Regulation Worksheet
Today’s emotional regulation worksheet has a similar focus, but uses an even simpler hands-on method for demonstrating an understanding of emotions. All you need is some very simple materials to get started.
What You’ll Need:
-Scissors
-Free printable emotional regulation worksheet (scroll down to find the form)
What to Do:
Print the worksheet and have kids cut out the strip at the bottom with the emotions faces. Help the child fold the paper in order to cut the two gray lines to create the slits to slide the strip through.
Place the strip of faces behind the piece of paper and slide it from the back through one slit and then the other slit so the faces show on the front of the paper.
Tell a story about a common circumstance or scenario (e.g. a child who loses a favorite toy, a child whose classmate cuts in front of him in line, a child who is having a birthday party) and have kids slide the strip to the face showing the emotion that the person in the story would feel.
How to Change it Up:
-To make the emotions strip easier to grasp, try punching holes and tying a short piece of string or yarn to each end.
-Use the finished worksheet as one of your self-regulation strategies for kids in your therapy room or classroom. Can kids use the page to identify how they’re feeling if they are unable to verbalize their emotions?
-Pair this activity with some of the best feelings books for kids!
-Try some of our favorite self regulation games and activities – perfect for therapy, home, or the classroom!
-Looking for other emotional regulation activities? We’ve got you covered!
-And, find all of our best emotional regulation activities and self-regulation strategies in The Self-Regulation Handbook!
-Looking for more free printable emotion regulation worksheets? Check out Coping Skills for Kids and all of the great resources there from our friend, Janine Halloran!
-Check out some of our favorite emotional regulation books for kids!
–Learning to Share – Check out our favorite tips, toys, and strategies to work on this important social skill!
