Color Your Feelings: Art for Kids’ Emotions

Feelings can be big, messy, and sometimes hard to explain—especially for children.
That’s why giving kids a creative, nonverbal way to explore their emotions is so powerful. Art is a gentle invitation to connect, express, and begin conversations that words alone might not reach.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, try “Color Your Feelings”—a simple, calming activity that encourages children to tune in to how they feel and express it through colors, shapes, and images. No artistic skills needed—just an open heart and a little space to create.

Why Art Helps with Emotional Expression

• It’s safe: There’s no right or wrong way to draw a feeling.
• It builds awareness: Kids learn to name, notice, and process emotions.
• It opens dialogue: Art gives adults a way to ask gentle, curious questions.
• It’s soothing: The act of drawing, coloring, or painting can reduce anxiety.

“Color Your Feelings” Prompt

Use these prompts during quiet time, at the end of a school day, or when a child seems overwhelmed and could use a healthy outlet. Offer crayons, markers, paints, or collage materials.

1. “If your feelings were a weather report today, what would the sky look like?”
   (Stormy? Sunny? A rainbow? Draw the sky that matches your heart.)
2. “Draw a monster that shows what worry looks like.”
   (Then draw what might help your monster feel calm.)
3. “What color is your mood right now?”
   (Color a whole page with just one color or blend a few to match your feelings.)
4. “Draw a place that makes you feel safe and happy.”
   (It can be real or imaginary—somewhere your heart can rest.)
5. “Make a feelings rainbow.”
   (Pick a color for each feeling—anger, sadness, joy, fear, love—and fill each stripe with drawings or shapes that show that emotion.)

Talking Tips for Adults

After the art is complete, let the child share if they want to. Use open-ended questions like:

• “Tell me about what you made.”
• “How did it feel to draw that?”
• “What do you think this picture says about your day?”

Resist the urge to analyze or fix. Just listen. Let the art speak first.

Final Thought

Helping children express emotions through art gives them a lifelong tool for self-awareness and healing. “Color Your Feelings” is more than an activity—it’s a bridge to connection, a celebration of inner life, and a step toward mental wellness.

Let’s color with them—not just to create art, but to create understanding.

Do you want a longer version of this activity, with directions and suggestions? Check out my Teachers Pay Teachers site!