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What is emotion labeling?
Emotion labeling is the act of noticing and naming our emotions. This strategy helps
with emotional intelligence (being aware and expressing emotions) and emotional
regulation (having skills to manage emotions).

How to use emotion labeling?

The key components to emotion labeling:
● Noticing emotions
○ Look for physical cues to help notice emotions (i.e. sweaty palms =
nervous; red cheeks = tired; racing heart = anxious).
● Naming emotions
○ Look for ways to expand emotional vocabulary (i.e. feelings chart,
feelings wheel, using books or movies to talk about emotions).

Quick tips for emotion labeling:

● Have your student use statements like: “I feel”, “I am thinking”, “I notice” or “I
wonder” to name emotions.
● If your student is struggling, use “I notice” or “I wonder” statements to help
them notice their emotions (physical cues) and name emotions.
● Approach emotions with curiosity, not judgment.
● Naming emotions helps activate the ‘thinking brain’ and can help keep
feelings from becoming overwhelming.
● Explore different ways of labeling emotions to find one that works.
○ Examples: naming the emotion out loud, drawing the emotion, writing
the emotion, finding the emotion on a feeling chart or feeling wheel.

Examples:
I notice you
MAD frowning. I
I am
feeling wonder if you
mad. are feeling
mad?

Remember!
Everyone has emotions. It takes practice to learn to notice and name emotions.
Developing the ability to label emotions can increase understanding of them.

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