Naming My Feelings

Learning to put a word to how you feel inside helps you understand yourself and talk to others about what is going on.

Reading is good — doing is better. Practice Naming my feelings as an interactive lesson.

Definition

Naming your feelings means looking inside yourself, noticing what is happening in your body and heart, and then finding the right word for that feeling — like happy, sad, angry, scared, or surprised. When you can name a feeling, you can start to deal with it.

Remember the rule

STOP → LOOK → NAME: Stop for a second, look at how your body feels, then name the feeling out loud.

Key words

Feeling: Something that happens inside you that tells you how you are doing, like happy or sad.
Emotion: Another word for feeling — it is the way something makes you feel on the inside.
Happy: A warm, good feeling you get when something nice happens, like getting a hug or playing with a friend.
Sad: A heavy, low feeling you get when something you care about goes wrong or is lost.
Angry: A hot, tight feeling you get when something feels unfair or really bothers you.
Scared: A shaky, worried feeling you get when something feels dangerous or unknown.
Surprised: A sudden feeling — good or tricky — when something happens that you did not expect.
Calm: A quiet, easy feeling when everything feels okay and safe.

Worked examples

Your best friend got the last turn on the swing and you have to wait. Your face feels hot and your hands squeeze tight. What feeling is this?

→ Angry · A hot face and tight hands are body clues that tell you anger is showing up.

It is your birthday and everyone is singing to you. You are smiling so big your cheeks hurt. What feeling is this?

→ Happy · Big smiles and a warm feeling in your chest are clues for happiness.

Your pet fish died this morning. You feel like you might cry and everything feels heavy. What feeling is this?

→ Sad · Feeling heavy and wanting to cry are body clues for sadness.

You hear a very loud thunder crash and you grab onto your mom. Your heart is beating fast. What feeling is this?

→ Scared · A fast heartbeat and wanting to hold someone are clues that fear is there.

You walk into class and everyone yells 'Surprise!' You jump and your eyes go wide. What feeling is this?

→ Surprised · Jumping and wide eyes happen when something unexpected catches you off guard.

You finished cleaning up your toys and now you are sitting quietly reading your favorite book. Your body feels easy and loose. What feeling is this?

→ Calm · A loose, easy body with no racing heart is a clue that you feel calm.

Common mistakes

Saying 'fine' or 'okay' when you are not sure — try to look for a more exact word instead of a quick answer.
Mixing up angry and sad — sometimes both happen at once, and that is okay, but look for which one is stronger in your body right now.
Thinking feelings are bad or wrong — all feelings are allowed; it is what you do with them that matters.
Keeping the feeling inside and not telling anyone — naming it out loud or to a grown-up helps the feeling feel smaller.
Using only one word like 'bad' for every hard feeling — there are many different feelings, and finding the right one helps you get the right help.

FAQs

Can I have more than one feeling at the same time?

Yes! You can feel happy and nervous at the same time, like on the first day of school. Feelings can mix together, and that is completely normal.

What if I do not know what feeling I have?

That is okay. Start with your body: Is your heart racing? Are your shoulders tight? Is there a lump in your throat? Your body gives you clues to help you find the word.

Is it okay to feel angry or scared?

Absolutely. Every feeling — even the hard ones — is okay to have. Feelings are not good or bad; they are just information about what is going on inside you.

How do I tell someone how I feel?

Try starting with 'I feel ___.' For example: 'I feel sad because my toy broke.' Using those words helps the other person understand you right away.

What if my feeling goes away really fast?

That is normal too! Feelings can come and go quickly, especially for kids. It does not mean the feeling was not real — it just means your brain moved on.

What should I do after I name my feeling?

Take a slow breath, then decide what to do next. You might talk to a grown-up, ask for a hug, take a break, or draw a picture of how you feel. Naming it is the first step!

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