My Feelings Sorting Mat

Nurture emotional intelligence with this innovative My Feelings Sorting Mat. Designed using Montessori-inspired principles, this thoughtful sorting activity helps children identify their emotional responses to everyday items while building vocabulary, self-awareness, and perspective-taking skills.

Crafted by blending social-emotional development research with practical learning experiences, these materials create meaningful opportunities for children to explore and express their feelings in a structured, supportive way.

What’s Included:

• Colourful sorting mat with three distinct categories (Makes Me Happy, Makes Me Feel Cosy, Might Not Like)
• Diverse vocabulary cards featuring common objects and experiences
• Comprehensive teaching guide with implementation strategies
• Extension activities for continued emotional learning
• Instant digital download (PDF format)

Key Features:

• Emotional Vocabulary: Helps children connect feelings to everyday items and experiences
• Personal Preferences: Encourages recognition and expression of individual likes and dislikes
• Self-Correcting Design: Materials allow children to independently explore their feelings
• Practical Approach: Focuses on real-world items children encounter in daily life
• EQ Development: Builds emotional intelligence through concrete, hands-on activities
• Teacher/Carer Friendly: Includes detailed instructions and implementation guidance
• Complementary Resource: Works seamlessly with our ‘Level 1: Foundation’ materials

Benefits for Children:

• Develops emotional vocabulary through hands-on engagement
• Builds self-awareness and personal identity
• Enhances ability to recognise and express feelings
• Strengthens decision-making and preference formation
• Encourages understanding that feelings can differ between people
• Creates connections between emotions and everyday experiences
• Prepares for more complex emotional literacy development

Easy to Use:

1. Download and print the PDF
2. Cut out the sorting mat and cards
3. Laminate for durability (optional, but recommended)
4. Introduce the three category zones to the child
5. Demonstrate sorting a few examples based on your own feelings
6. Guide the child to sort the remaining cards according to their feelings
7. Discuss their choices and emotional responses
8. Use extension activities to reinforce learning

How to Maximise Learning:

• Keep sessions short and enjoyable (5-10 minutes)
• Begin with fewer cards and gradually increase
• Accept all emotional responses without judgment
• Celebrate self-expression and personal preferences
• Use consistent language when discussing feelings
• Discuss how feelings about items might change on different days
• Connect sorting activities to real-life emotional experiences

Ideal For Children Who:

• Are developing emotional awareness
• Are learning to identify and express preferences
• Enjoy hands-on, discussion-based activities
• Are building vocabulary around feelings
• Are beginning to understand that others may have different feelings

Perfect for the Following Learning Settings:

• Home learning environments
• Early years classrooms
• Social-emotional learning sessions
• Independent exploration
• Small group discussions

Part of a Comprehensive System:

This Feelings Sorting Mat works perfectly as a standalone resource or as an essential component in our broader learning materials. For a complete foundation in early literacy and language skills, explore our Level 1 English Language Discovery Pack which provides comprehensive resources for developing foundational skills.