30 Feelings Journal Prompts for Kids (Ages 3 to 8)

A feelings journal gives children a quiet, private place to notice and name how they feel. It doesn't need to be long or perfect. A few minutes of drawing or writing each day helps children build the habit of checking in with themselves, and gives adults a gentle window into what's going on.

Below are 30 feelings journal prompts for children aged 3 to 8, plus tips for making journalling work at home and in school.

Why feelings journals help children

• They build emotional vocabulary. Regularly naming feelings helps children find the right words when it matters.
• They help children spot patterns. Over a week or a month, children start to notice what makes them happy, worried or cross.
• They offer a calm routine. A few quiet minutes with a journal can help children settle at the end of the day.
• They work for every child. Children who find it hard to talk about feelings can draw instead.

Tips for young children

• Drawing counts. For children who can't write yet, a drawing or a tick next to a feeling face is plenty.
• Keep it short. Two to five minutes is enough.
• Don't correct it. Spelling and neatness don't matter here.
• Respect privacy. Ask before reading, and let children choose what to share.
• Join in. Keep a journal alongside your child and share an entry now and then.

30 feelings journal prompts for kids

Noticing feelings

1. Today I feel... Draw your face.
2. What colour is your feeling today? Why?
3. Where in your body do you feel happy? Where do you feel worried?
4. What was the best part of your day?
5. What was the trickiest part of your day?
6. If your feeling was an animal, what would it be?

Big feelings

7. What makes you feel cross? What helps you feel calm again?
8. Draw a time you felt really worried. What helped?
9. What do you do when you feel sad?
10. Who can you talk to when you have a big feeling?
11. Write a letter to your worry. What would you like to tell it?
12. What makes you feel safe?

Kindness and friendship

13. What kind thing did someone do for you today?
14. What kind thing did you do for someone else?
15. Draw your best friend. What do you like doing together?
16. How can you tell when a friend is feeling sad?
17. How could you help someone who feels left out?
18. Write three nice things about someone in your family.

Gratitude and happy things

19. Three good things that happened today.
20. What are you looking forward to?
21. What makes you laugh?
22. Draw your favourite place. How do you feel there?
23. What is something you're proud of?
24. What is your favourite thing about yourself?

Looking back

25. Which feeling did you have most this week?
26. What was something brave you did this week?
27. What is something new you learned about yourself?
28. If you could change one thing about today, what would it be?
29. What would you tell a friend who was having a hard day?
30. Draw how you want to feel tomorrow.

Using feelings journals in the classroom

A short journal slot after lunch or at the end of the day works well. Some teachers use a quick "today I feel" tick sheet every morning and a longer prompt once a week. Make it clear that journals are private unless a child chooses to share, and that there are no wrong answers.

A printable feelings journal for kids

The That's Okay Feelings Journal is an instant PDF download with a "Today I feel..." daily page featuring all 15 feelings creatures to tick, a Feelings in My Body map, a Three Good Things gratitude page, a weekly feelings tracker and reflection, a month colour grid, A Letter to My Feeling, Being Kind to Me, and a feelings words guide. Print as many pages as you need for home or the classroom.

You might also like the Feelings Wheel for daily check-ins, or get every pack in the Complete Printables Bundle. Or try the free Feelings Starter Pack first.