Social-Emotional Learning
SEL Activities for Preschoolers
Help Kids Identify Feelings, Build Self-Awareness & Practice Emotional Regulation
What is Social Emotional Learning for Preschoolers?
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) helps young children begin to recognize their emotions, express what they're feeling, build relationships, and practice ways to manage big feelings. For preschoolers, these skills can be explored naturally through stories, songs, drawing, movement, pretend play, and everyday conversations.
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The activities below are designed for children ages 3-6 and can be used at home or in the classroom. You don't need to teach SEL like a lesson--young children can practice these skills through play.Â
Simple SEL activities for ages 3-6 using stories, music, drawing, movement and The Feelings Journal with Annie & Rocco
The Feelings Journal is an interactive sing-along
picture book designed to help children ages 3-6
identify, name, and express emotions through
storytelling, music, drawing, and play.
Pair the book with Annie & Rocco's Feelings Journal video and song. Children can sing along, notice different emotions, and practice putting their own feelings into words and pictures.Â
Transform your child's emotional journey into a daily habit with our simple 'Read, Watch, Play, Journal' approach. This system is designed for children ages 3–6 to build self-awareness before 'big feelings' become big tantrums.
Feelings Activities for Preschoolers
01
Draw Your Feeling
Invite your child to choose a feeling and put it on paper. They can draw a face, choose colors, scribble, or make any marks that represent how the feeling feels to them.Â
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Try asking: "If your feeling had a color, what color would it be?Â
02
Read, Sing & Name the Feeling
Read or sing a page together and pause when an emotion appears. Ask your child what they notice about the character's face, body, or voice.
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Try asking: "How do you think they are feeling?"
03
Move a Big Feeling Through the Body
Feelings aren't only words. Invite children to show what an emotion might look like through movement. Stomp out frustration, shake out nervous energy, take a slow breath, or dance with excitement.
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Check out SEL Videos for Kids!
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04
Create a Daily Feelings Check-In
Choose a consistent time--after school, before dinner, or at bedtime--and ask your child how they're feeling. They can say it, draw it, point to it, or act it out.
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The goal isn't to change the feeling. It's to help children practice noticing and expressing what's happening inside.Â
Tips for Practicing SEL at Home
Keep it judgement-free: Feelings don't need to be labeled "good" or "bad." Help your child notice the feeling, name it when possible, and talk about what they might need.
Keep it short: Five playful minutes can be more meaningful for a preschooler than turning emotional learning into a long lesson.
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Make it part of everyday life: Try a feelings check-in at breakfast, after school, during storytime, or before bed.
Why Journaling About Feelings
Can Help Young Children
The Feelings Journal was created as an intentional multimedia bridge, seamlessly connecting the magic of storytelling with real-world emotional management. It’s more than a book; it’s a companion for your child’s emotional growth.
Why Journaling About Feelings Can Help Young Children
The Feelings Journal combines rhythmic language, drawing prompts, music, and playful activities to give young children approachable ways to explore emotions.
The Heart Behind The Feelings Journal
1
Emotional Literacy: Children learn to identify, name, and understand their feelings, building a vital vocabulary for life.
2
Strengthened Self-Regulation: By externalizing big emotions onto paper, kids practice calming techniques and problem-solving.
3
Early Literacy & Fine Motor Skills: Journaling encourages pre-writing skills and drawing, fostering a love for creative expression.
4
Deepened Family Connection: Sharing a journal creates a dedicated space for meaningful conversations and bonding moments.
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Confidence & Autonomy: Empowering your child to own their feelings builds a strong sense of self-assurance and independence.