Games That Help Your Child Understand Their Emotions Better

Why Emotional Awareness Matters Now More Than Ever

It's 7 p.m. Your child is sitting at the kitchen table, supposed to be finishing homework, but their pencil is still and eyes filled with frustration. They’re not acting out. They’re overwhelmed. Maybe they don’t know why they’re stuck, and maybe you’re not sure either—but you see it: a hurricane of emotions they can’t name yet.

Between ages 6 and 12, children are black belts in curiosity but beginners in emotional literacy. While math problems and vocabulary lists get daily practice, understanding and expressing feelings doesn’t happen through repetition. It happens through connection. That’s where games—yes, games—can offer so much more than just fun. They give your child the emotional toolbox school doesn’t always have time to offer.

From Tantrums to Talks: A Personal Story

When my son Max was in third grade, he’d come home from school tired, cranky, and sometimes erupt with tiny temper tantrums over what seemed like nothing. One day, it was the wrong color cup. Another day, homework melted into tears. I used to think, "He’s just tired." But after digging deeper, I realized he wasn't lacking energy—he was lacking the words to say, "I’m overwhelmed," or, "I felt left out today."

So we tried something unconventional: we played.

Using Games to Build a Language of Emotions

Games create a safe and natural space for children to observe and express feelings—whether theirs or imagined. The key is choosing or creating games that nudge emotional awareness without turning it into a lecture or a therapy session.

1. Feeling Charades (Movement + Emotions)

This is a simple twist on the classic game of charades. Instead of movies or characters, write down different emotions on slips of paper: excited, embarrassed, frustrated, proud, jealous. Players take turns acting out the emotion, while others guess what it is.

What makes it powerful? Your child has to feel the feeling to act it. Over time, they become more confident identifying nuanced feelings, both in themselves and others.

2. The Color of My Day (Storytelling + Reflection)

Before bed, ask this: "If today was a color, what color would it be?" Then: "Why that color?" At first, answers may be short. But soon, your child might say, “It was gray at recess because no one played with me, but yellow in the afternoon when Ms. Carter laughed at my story.”

This kind of metaphorical thinking gently educates them to unpack complex emotions. You can take it further by drawing what their emotional day "looked like" in colors or creating a weekly "emotion palette."

3. Emotion Detective (Empathy + Observation)

In this game, you and your child become "emotion detectives"—watching a movie clip or reading a story, then guessing what each character might be feeling and why. This builds empathy, which in turn enhances your child's willingness to talk about their own emotions with more nuance and less shame.

It’s also a wonderful segue into discussions about real-life experiences at school. A story about a nervous spy? Suddenly, they’re telling you about their own anxiety before their spelling test.

Learning Beyond the Game: Tools That Reinforce Emotional Understanding

Games spark awareness, but children need small, consistent follow-ups to make emotional language part of their everyday thinking. Just like they need multiple ways to learn math, they need multiple ways to understand feelings.

For instance, some kids process emotion better through quiet reflection, while others need movement or sound. If your child learns best by listening, audio stories can be powerful. That's why when Max was studying a tough lesson, we’d sometimes use storytelling apps that let him listen and relax. One of them even turned his lessons into audio adventures where he was the hero—it didn’t just help him learn, it helped him feel capable again. Apps like Skuli (available on iOS and Android) make it easy to merge emotional safety and academic confidence in small but meaningful ways.

Helping Emotions Find Their Words

Raising an emotionally aware child doesn’t mean teaching them to be happy all the time. It’s about showing them they don’t have to fear their feelings. It’s helping them say, “I’m jealous,” instead of smashing a toy. Or whisper, “I’m scared,” instead of refusing to get ready for school.

If your child struggles to open up, this guide on decoding emotional outbursts offers helpful clues. You can also explore how emotions shape your child's ability to stay motivated at school. And if you're not sure where to begin, perhaps start with these everyday practices that foster emotional expression.

You Don’t Need to Be an Expert—Just Present

Many parents tell me, “I’m not a therapist!” And that’s okay. You don’t have to be. Children don’t need perfect solutions—they need people willing to listen, play, and stay present beyond the tantrum or silence.

Let games be your bridge. Let colors speak when words fail. Let bedtime stories do the heavy lifting when your child is too tired to talk. Whatever tools you choose—whether crayons, charades, or storytelling apps—let them serve one purpose: helping your child name what they feel so they never have to carry it alone.

And just maybe, that cup won’t be the wrong color tomorrow.

Want more tools for emotional wellbeing in school? Discover our curated list of helpful resources to support your child’s emotional journey.