Free Emotion Matching Game Printable (FREE Download)

I’m so excited to share this free emotion matching game printable with you today! This simple, engaging activity isn’t just fun. It’s also a fantastic tool for building emotional intelligence, boosting memory skills, and encouraging healthy conversations about feelings.

In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how you can use this printable with your child, why it’s such a powerful learning tool, and ways to make the most out of it.

Helping our children recognize and understand emotions is one of the most valuable life skills we can give them. Whether your child is a preschooler just starting to learn about feelings or an early elementary student working on emotional awareness, having fun, hands-on activities can make all the difference.

Why Emotional Awareness Matters For Kids?

Before we jump into the details of the game, let’s talk about why activities like this matter.

Children experience emotions from the moment they are born, but being able to identify and label those emotions takes time and guidance.

The earlier kids can understand and name their feelings, the better they can:

• Express themselves in healthy ways

• Communicate their needs

• Empathize with others

• Develop self-control and problem-solving skills

Research shows that emotional intelligence is linked to better relationships, stronger mental health, and even improved academic performance later in life.

And the best part?

These skills can be nurtured through playful, everyday activities, just like this matching game!

What’s Included In The Free Emotion Matching Game?

When you download your free printable, you’ll get a colorful, easy-to-use PDF featuring 12 different emoji faces, each showing a unique feeling.

Some of the emotions included are:

• Happy

• Sad

• Angry

• Excited

• Love

• Nervous

• Confused

• Sleepy

• Cool

• Silly

• Embarrassed

• Bored

The bright, bold emoji-style graphics are easy for kids to recognize and appealing to all ages.

How To Use The Emotion Matching Game?

The great thing about this printable is how simple it is to set up.

Here’s what to do:

1. Download & Print – Print the PDF two times so you have two copies of each card.

2. Cut Out the Cards – Use scissors or a paper cutter for clean edges.

3. Laminate for Durability – If you want to reuse the cards over and over, laminating them is a great idea (especially for classroom or therapy use).

4. Play the Game – Lay all the cards face down and take turns flipping two at a time to find matching emotions.

This game works beautifully for one-on-one play with your child, small group activities, or even larger classroom settings.

Benefits Of This Emotion Matching Game

While kids will think they’re just playing a fun memory game, they’re actually working on several important developmental skills at the same time.

1. Recognizing Emotions

Each emoji represents a different facial expression, helping kids visually connect the look of a face with the feeling it represents. This skill is especially helpful for younger children and those who may struggle with reading social cues.

2. Identifying and Labeling Feelings

When your child flips a card, you can ask:

• “What emotion is this?”

• “How do you think this person feels?”

• “Can you make that face?”

This encourages vocabulary building and helps kids learn the right words to describe their emotions.

3. Building Empathy

Understanding feelings in others is the first step toward empathy. When kids see an image of someone crying or looking worried, you can discuss what might have caused that feeling and how we can respond with kindness.

4. Memory and Concentration Skills

Like any matching game, this activity challenges kids to remember where cards are placed. This strengthens working memory, attention span, and concentration, skills that carry over into school and daily life.

5. Problem-Solving and Strategy

As kids play more, they’ll start using strategies to remember where certain cards are, encouraging logical thinking and planning ahead.

6. Emotional Regulation Practice

If a child flips two cards that don’t match, they might feel disappointed. This is a great opportunity to practice managing frustration, taking turns, and staying calm during challenges.

Fun Ways to Extend the Activity

While the basic game is fantastic on its own, you can also adapt it to fit your child’s age, interests, and learning goals. Here are some ideas:

1. Emotion Charades

Instead of just finding a match, when a player flips over a card, they have to act out that emotion before they can keep it. This adds movement and helps with body language recognition.

2. Feelings Story Time

When a child finds a match, ask them to tell a short story about a time they felt that way. This promotes storytelling skills and deeper emotional reflection.

3. Match and Talk

Once a match is made, discuss situations where that feeling might happen:

• “When do you feel excited?”

• “What makes you feel nervous?”

• “What helps you feel better when you’re sad?”

4. Sorting Game

Instead of playing memory, use the cards to sort emotions into groups, such as “happy feelings” and “uncomfortable feelings.”

5. Classroom Morning Check-In

As a teacher, you can use the cards to let your students choose how they’re feeling each morning. This helps students start the day with self-awareness and can give you insight into their students’ emotional states.

Who Can Use This Game?

One of the best things about this printable is its flexibility; it can be used by:

• Parents at home for after-school learning or family game night

• Teachers for social-emotional learning (SEL) activities in the classroom

• School counselors for one-on-one or group sessions

• Speech therapists for vocabulary and communication practice

• Homeschool families as part of their SEL curriculum

• Childcare providers for fun, meaningful playtime activities

Tips For Getting The Most Out Of This Game

• Play at your child’s pace – Some kids may want to take their time and talk about each feeling, while others will be more focused on winning.

• Model emotions yourself – Make the faces along with your child to encourage participation.

• Validate feelings – When a child shares a time they felt a certain way, respond with empathy: “That sounds frustrating. I’m glad you told me.”

• Keep sessions short for younger kids – Start with fewer cards if needed and work up to the full set.

Download Your Emotion Matching Game PDF

I’ve made it super easy for you to start playing. Just click the link below to download your free PDF:

Free Emotion Matching Game Printable (1 download )

Once you’ve downloaded it, print two copies, cut them out, and you’re ready to play.

Free Emotion Matching Game Printable

This emotion matching game is so much more than a fun memory challenge! It’s a tool for lifelong skills. By helping your child recognize, name, and understand emotions, you’re giving them the foundation for empathy, resilience, and strong communication.

Whether you use it at home, in a classroom, or during therapy sessions, this printable is a wonderful way to blend learning with laughter.

So go ahead, download your free copy, play a round with your child, and watch as they grow in both emotional awareness and cognitive skills.

More Emotions Resources For You

Here are some more blog posts you may want to consider reading:

• Friendship lessons for elementary students
• Free preschool printable activity
• Self-esteem activities for kids
• All about me self-esteem activities

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