Informed and Inspired August 2025

Everybodyhasfeelings!Youmightfeelhappywhenyouspendtimewith friends,frustratedwhenyouloseagame,orexcitedwhenyougetacool surprise.Feelingsareanormalpartofyoursocialandemotionallife! Sometimesfeelingscanbedifficult,andthat'swhyit'simportanttobeable totalkaboutthemwithatrustedadult.

Haveyoueverfeltdifferentfeelingsatthesametime?Orhadafeelingthat youcouldn'tdescribe?Haveyoueverbeensosadthatyouwantedtohide, orsoangrythatyouwantedtosaysomethinghurtful?Allfeelingsare important,andlearningaboutthemcanhelpusunderstandthem.Itcan alsohelpusmanagetheminahealthywaysowedon'tactthemoutin wayswemaybesorryaboutlater.

Sometimesitcanbehardtonameourfeelings.Itmighthelptouse anemojitodescribehowwe readingtolearnmoreabout

Step 1: Name Your Feeling

The first step to managing our feelings is to name them. But how can we do that if we are having a bad feeling? Or a feeling that's hard to describe?

Let's look at this feelings wheel from Scholastic. This is how it works:

1. Start in the middle. Are you feeling sad, mad, happy, or scared?

2. Once you've decided which of the four middle feelings fits, look at the ones next to it in the same color section. For example, if your first feeling was mad, the next ones to look at in the green section are angry, hateful, and annoyed. Which one of those fits the way you feel?

3. Last, look at the outer ring. If you chose annoyed for your feeling in step 2, look at the two feelings next to that. Are you feeling frustrated or bothered? If not, look at some of the other feelings in that section. Maybe there's another green feeling that matches the way you feel.

Using the feelings wheel can help you find the right word for what you're feeling, and sometimes it can even help you think about why you feel that way. Then you can talk to a trusted adult or a friend about it.

Click on the picture to download your own feelings wheel!

Step 2: Talk to a trusted adult or friend.

A trusted adult is someone you can talk to about your feelings. This could be a parent, aunt or uncle, grandparent, teacher, nurse, or counselor -- anyone who makes you feel safe and who will listen with respect. This person will listen, believe you, and help you work through what you're feeling and what to do next. For example, if you used the feelings wheel and you're feeling bothered, you might talk to this trusted person about what's bothering you, and they can help you.

If you can't think of an adult to talk to, maybe you have a friend, sibling, cousin or classmate who is a safe person to talk to. After you talk to them, they may be able to help you find a solution or feel better. If they're not sure what to do, they may ask you if it's okay for them to go to their trusted adult for advice or help.

What is it like to have a trusted adult? They should have the qualities in the picture below If you want to know more, click on the picture to visit the Youth Smart website.

In this PBS Kids video, kids and their grownups talk about feelings and how to manage them

Sometimes, people with autism have a hard time expressing their feelings. This video from PBS For Parents shows some ways parents can help neurodivergent kids connect with their emotions.

This song is based on a book series about feelings by Diane Alber Can you name your feeling?

The Kids Mental Health Foundation has conversation starters that can help you talk to your safe person. Some are about feelings and mental health, but some are just about random stuff.

There are plenty of books in the library about feelings. Here are just a few. Click on the picture to see the book in our online catalog If it sounds interesting, you can put it on hold and check it out!