Helping Kids Name and Navigate Their Emotions: A Simple Tool That Makes a Big Impact

Children experience a wide range of emotions every day. One moment they’re happy, the next they’re disappointed or overwhelmed. But even when those feelings are big and real, putting them into words isn’t always easy.

Sometimes kids just need a simple, inviting way to check in with themselves — something that helps them pause, reflect, and express what’s going on inside.

That’s why we created the Wheel of Feel.

A Feelings Wheel and Fidget in One

This hands-on tool was created to help children explore their emotions in an approachable, interactive way. It’s part feelings wheel and part fidget — something they can hold, spin, and use as a prompt for conversation.

Each disc reveals one of twelve relatable emotions: happy, tired, angry, loved, scared, embarrassed, sad, bored, confident, disappointed, surprised, or sick. These are feelings children experience in everyday moments — at school, at home, and everywhere in between.

What makes the experience especially powerful is that children often identify layered emotions on their own. Without prompting, many will point to more than one feeling — saying they feel both sad and tired, or excited and a little scared. It’s a simple way for them to explore the complexity of what they’re feeling, and begin making sense of it.

By engaging with the wheel, kids are encouraged to express how they feel and why. It gives them a way to say, “This is me right now,” and helps open the door to meaningful conversations with parents, teachers, counselors, or caregivers.

Designed for Everyday Moments

The Wheel of Feel fits seamlessly into daily routines. Use it at breakfast to set the tone for the day. Use it after school to talk about how the day went. Use it in therapy sessions, classroom check-ins, or bedtime wind-downs.

Wherever and whenever it’s used, the wheel invites reflection. It encourages children to become more aware of how they’re feeling and more comfortable expressing it.

And because it doubles as a fidget, many kids naturally reach for it — not because they’re told to, but because it feels good to engage with.

A Simple Tool for Emotional Growth

The Wheel of Feel isn’t about getting the “right” answer. It’s about helping kids connect to what they’re feeling, whether that’s scared, embarrassed, or confident, and creating space for those emotions to be noticed and shared.

If you’re looking for a supportive and accessible way to help the children in your life better understand and express their feelings, we invite you to visit our homepage to learn more.

It’s a small tool that can make a big difference.