Feelings Pictionary

Feelings PictionaryFeelings Pictionary is a new take on an old game that help kids to learn about emotions while having fun at the same time. It’s a great game for small groups, schools or family game night. This game builds on the history of games like Pictionary; Win, Lose or Draw and Draw Something to create an environment where kids and adults can explore what emotions look like in all kinds of fun ways. All you need to play is two sets of cards that you can download here at Hope 4 Hurting Kids and something to draw on.

The Hope 4 Hurting Kids Emotion Cards

The first set of cards you will need is our free Hope 4 Hurting Kids Emotion Cards. Each of these 54 cards includes the name of a emotion, a face demonstrating that emotion, and a brief definition of the feeling. Unlike regular Pictionary where the drawer only needs to get their team to guess the object they are drawing, in Feelings Pictionary the teammates will have to guess both the object and the emotion shown on the Emotion Card.

The Feelings Pictionary Cards

In addition to the Emotion Cards, you will also need a set of our Feelings Pictionary cards. These can be download by clicking the image at the top of this post or by clicking here. The Feelings Pictionary cards include 189 items which are grouped into six different categories:

  • Animals (45 words)
  • Around the House (27 words)
  • Food (36 words)
  • Jobs (18 words)
  • Nature (27 words)
  • People / Body Parts (27 words)
  • Sports (9 words)

Each category of words has its own color, so you can decide to play with just one category, selected categories or all of the categories in the deck,

Something to Draw On

You can use almost anything you can draw on to play the game:

  • A simple pad of paper and some pencils, pens or crayons will do the trick.
  • We like to keep a few small white boards and markers on hand for when we play.
  • A iPad or touch screen with a drawing app can be fun.
  • WPictionary Mane invested in a clearance version of Pictionary Man (shown here) with two “people” included that we can use with just the emotion words (or the emotion words in conjunction with some of the categories like jobs and people / body parts) for a fun twist on the game.

How Do You Play Feelings Pictionary?

  • Set out both the Hope 4 Hurting Kids Emotion Cards and the Feelings Pictionary Cards. If you are only playing with selected categories from the Feelings Pictionary Cards, make sure to take out the ones you will not be using.
  • Divide into teams. If you do not have enough people, just take turns drawing the clues and have fun.
  • There are (at least) two different ways to play. All methods involve drawing one card from each of the Emotions Cards and Pictionary Cards deck and drawing to get your teammate(s) to guess both words.
  • Method #1: The first method of play involves setting a time limit and seeing how many clues each team can solve within that time frame. Teams alternate playing and the team with the most right answers after everyone has had a chance to draw wins.
  • Method #2: All teams play at the same time. The drawers for each team are shown the same set of cards (one emotion and one object card), and the first team to guess the right answer (both parts) wins.

For more awesome resources for learning about and dealing with emotions, please visit our Hope 4 Hurting Kids Emotions Help Center.

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Written by Wayne Stocks
Wayne is the founder and executive director of Hope 4 Hurting Kids. He is a happily married father of four kids with a passion for helping young people who are going through rough times. In addition to Hope 4 Hurting Kids, Wayne previously started I Am A Child of Divorce and Divorce Ministry 4 Kids to help kids who are dealing with the disruption of their parents' relationship. These are now part of Hope 4 Hurting Kids. Wayne speaks frequently at conferences and churches on issues related to helping kids learn to deal with difficult emotions and life in modern families. Wayne lives with his wife, three youngest kids, three dogs and an insane collection of his kids' other pets outside of Columbus, Ohio. In addition to his work with Hope 4 Hurting Kids, Wayne is a partner in a local consulting firm, an avid reader, coaches his son's soccer team and is a proud supporter of Leicester City Football Club (and yes, for those in know, his affinity for the club does predate the 2016 championship). You can reach Wayne at wayne@hope4hurtingkids.com.