Big Feelings, Little Learners: Helping Preschoolers Name Their Emotions

Preschoolers experience big feelings in tiny bodies—joy that bubbles over, frustration that feels enormous, and sadness that can show up out of nowhere. As adults, we’ve had years of practice understanding and expressing our emotions (and we’re still learning!). For our littlest learners, identifying and naming feelings is a brand-new skill—and it’s one of the most important building blocks for lifelong emotional health.

Why Naming Emotions Matters

When young children can put words to how they feel, something powerful happens. They begin to:

Build emotional regulation skills

Improve communication with peers and adults

Reduce tantrums and outbursts

Feel seen, understood, and safe

Instead of acting out or shutting down, children can say, “I’m mad,” “I feel left out,” or “I’m really excited!” That’s the first step in learning how to cope.

How We Teach Emotions in Early Childhood

In both the playroom and the classroom, emotional learning can be gentle, fun, and part of everyday routines. Here are some practical ways to support preschoolers as they learn the language of feelings:

1. Use Feeling Words Every Day

Model emotional vocabulary by naming your own feelings out loud. Try:

“I’m feeling a little tired, so I’m going to take some deep breaths.”

“That made me so happy! I’m smiling because I love spending time with you.”

2. Create a Feelings Chart or Board

Visuals help preschoolers make connections. Hang a simple feelings chart with faces showing basic emotions (happy, sad, angry, scared, excited, etc.). Let children point to how they feel during check-ins.

3. Read Books About Emotions

Picture books are a wonderful bridge to feelings. Choose stories where characters feel frustrated, nervous, or proud, and pause to ask:

“How do you think they feel right now?”

“Have you ever felt that way too?”

Some favorites:

The Color Monster by Anna Llenas

Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang

When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang

4. Teach a Calm-Down Routine

Help children build a “toolbox” of strategies like:

Belly breathing

Asking for a hug

Squeezing a stress ball

Drawing how they feel

Keep these tools visible and accessible—consistency is key!

5. Introduce Emotion Puppets or Play Characters

Puppets like Moxie, our curious preschool friend, can model emotional language in a playful, non-threatening way. Try role-playing with imaginary friends, dolls, or stuffed animals to help kids work through big feelings in small steps.

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A Gentle Reminder for Grownups

It’s normal for preschoolers to feel deeply and respond in unpredictable ways. When we stay calm, validate their emotions, and guide them with patience, we become their safe place. Every meltdown is a chance to teach—not punish.

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Free Resource: Moxie’s Feelings Faces Activity Pages

To help you get started, download our free printable from Moxie’s Teaching Toolbox—a simple matching game that helps preschoolers recognize and label basic emotions. Perfect for circle time, transitions, or home use!

Emotions aren’t something to “fix”—they’re something to understand. When we give our little learners the tools to name their big feelings, we’re helping them grow into compassionate, confident problem-solvers.

From the playroom to the classroom, that’s what learning is all about.