Emotional regulation is a life-long learning game. We can help set up children for success in learning how to regulate and manage their emotions by supporting them from the very beginning. Children experience a multitude of big feelings every day. This is where free emotion cards come in very handy! When it comes to daycare and preschool spaces, setting up an engaging, fun, and calming daycare space is a critical component in helping with emotional regulation. Ensuring you have set up your daycare or preschool space in a way that provides the children with ample opportunity to both play and wind down when required, can be key to helping manage those big emotions.
We are big fans of calming corners over here – you can reach more about how to set up an engaging daycare space as well as a calming corner over here. Often times, children need a bit of help articulating themselves when they are experiencing those big feelings. This is where emotion cards come into play. Simple yet highly effective, a set of emotion cards and charts can help you understand how children are feeling. They’re also great tools to keep handy in your calming corner! Today we’re sharing a variety of free emotion cards for daycare and preschool.
Free Emotion Zones Chart for Kids
Help children identify and express their feelings with this simple, colour-coded chart. The four emotion zones (Blue, Green, Yellow, Red) make it easy for kids to recognize how they’re feeling and learn the language of self-regulation. Perfect for classrooms, calming corners, and at-home use.
Download for free here.
Emotion Regulation Thermometer
We love this visual thermometer that teaches children how to recognize and manage big emotions. From the “Rest Zone” to “Stop,” this tool helps children understand when they’re ready to learn, when they need to calm down, and when to ask for help. A great addition to calming corners and daily routines.
Download the regulation thermometer.
Emotion Flashcards
Support children in recognizing and naming their emotions with this set of printable flashcards. Featuring real-life photos of kids expressing a wide range of feelings — from happy and excited to nervous, frustrated, and lonely — these cards help build emotional vocabulary, empathy, and self-regulation skills. Perfect for circle time, calming corners, or one-on-one conversations.
Get your free emotion flashcards for daycare or preschool!
