Emotion wheel for children
An emotion wheel is a tool often used in psychology to help a person define the specific emotion they are feeling.
This resource is also available in Welsh here.
The original emotion wheel tool, designed by psychologist Robert Plutchik, features eight primary emotions, which are then split into sub-categories. Because this emotion wheel is designed for children, we have simplified it and split it into 10 emotions with no sub-categories.
This emotion wheel can be used with children of all ages who are struggling to express their current feelings.
Using the wheel regularly throughout the day will help children recognise the changing nature of their feelings and can help identify triggers for certain emotions.
Using this resource
This resource is designed for:
- use with children aged 4 to 11
- use with individual children
Curriculum links
England - RHSE |
Mental Wellbeing Pupils should know: • that there is a normal range of emotions (e.g. happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, nervousness) and scale of emotions that all humans experience in relation to different experiences and situations |
Northern Ireland - Personal Development and Mutual Understanding |
Personal Understanding and Health Pupils should be enabled to explore: • their self–esteem and self-confidence; (KS1) • their own and others’ feelings and emotions and how their actions affect others; (KS1) • their management of a range of feelings and emotions and the feelings and emotions of others; (KS2) |
Wales – Health and Wellbeing |
Statement 1 - This Area can help learners explore the connections between their experiences, mental health and emotional well-being. By being provided with opportunities to explore the complexities of these connections, learners can be enabled to recognise that feelings and emotions are neither fixed nor consistent. |
Scotland - Health and Wellbeing |
Mental and Emotional Wellbeing • I understand that my feelings and reactions can change depending upon what is happening within and around me. This helps me to understand my own behaviour and the way others behave. |
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