Explore our curated list of fun and educational kids songs about feelings and emotions that help them better understand how to express their emotions. This playlist is perfect for both early learning and emotional development!
by Lorrie Holmes
As an early childhood educator and early learning music teacher, I am truly honored to work in a field that plays such a pivotal role in shaping the emotional and intellectual development of young children. The impact we have on their growth is something I hold close to my heart. Our role as educators goes far beyond teaching; we are their guides, caregivers, and first mentors. Using this playlist of curated feelings and emotions songs in our teaching not only enriches the learning experience but also creates a special connection with children, helping them express their emotions in ways that words alone sometimes can’t.
In this post, I’m excited to share some of my top picks for children’s social-emotional songs that teach kids about emotions and feelings. Music is a powerful tool in helping little ones identify, understand, and navigate their emotions, and these songs are perfect for fostering emotional awareness in a fun and engaging way. Let’s dive into how these melodies can make a meaningful difference in young lives.
HERE ARE TOP PICKS FOR FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS SONGS FOR KIDS
1. THE FEELINGS SONG by Hopscotch
This song is a beautiful musical tool to help young children understand that each emotion serves a purpose and is a message to help for us understand how we are feeling. Love how this song starts to talking about how stuffing our feelings deep down is not the way to work with and through them. We have started our picks with this song as it’s the perfect song to introduce emotions to children and start with the concept of how important it to work through our feelings.
2. THE FEELINGS SONG – by Miss Molly Learning
This the perfect choice to introduce how we often experience different emotions in various situations. This is a great song to play for the children and then discuss afterwards which feelings each child has in different situations and to ask them if they feel these things in these situations so we can talk about how we sometimes feel the same and sometimes we feel different. A great conversation started to learn about feelings and even empathy as we discuss our feelings as a group.
3. EMOTIONAL HOKEY POKEY – by The Kiboomers
Everyone loves The Hokey Pokey and this version of the popular song is no exception! It’s a fun way to teach children about emotions and feelings while also giving our kids a creative way to express their feelings with associated movements and expressions. It’s a very valuable song to open up the conversation and concept that our whole body is affected by our emotions and they show through our facial expressions and body movements. It’s a great way for kids to start to learn about empathy as they can read their young friend’s body language as well through this song as we play a game of musical charades as this song plays!
4. BREATHE IN & OUT – by The Kiboomers
This song helps children understand that taking a deep breath whenever they’re feeling anxious can help them calm down and relax. It’s an excellent song for teaching kids how to recognize and manage their emotions.
5. EMOTIONS DANCE – by Sesame Street
This Emotions Dance Song is the perfect song to learn what actions go with what emotions and then to try them out with this song and afterwards, trying these gestures to other songs to reinforce the learning. We can even do this as an emotions Simon Says, Music & Movement game!
6. SHARE MY EMOTIONS – by Baby Shark – Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories
This song is such a wonderfully safe space for kids to share many different emotions and why and when they experience them. A wonderful, feel good musical conversation starter to explore after watching this video with your kiddos!
7. ABC’S OF FEELINGS SONG – by Diane Alber
Having an emotion to match every letter of the alphabet is genius and opens up many possibilities for exploration. We can also play a lot of games with the letters of the alphabet and matching them up to naming emotions!
8. FEELINGS AND EMOTION CHANT – by ELF Kids Videos
This emotions chant song is the perfect opportunity for the children to chant together and also begin to associate the sound of each emotion as they practice saying the words and acting them out!
9. FEELINGS – by Caitie’s Classroom
Using the popular melody, If You’re Happy And You Know It, the children will have so much fun joining in and learning these new lyrics as they act out all their feelings and emotions that they are learning in this progressive playlist!
10. KIDS FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS SONG – by Diane Alber
This song associates the colour with the emotion which is a super handy tool to use with young children – especially if you have colour keys in the classroom for them to point out!
We hope you enjoy this Playlist as much as we do! Feel free to drop us a line to let you know how these songs worked out for you in your classroom or at home! We would love to hear from you!
Don’t miss our recent story, Kids Songs About Love This Valentine’s Day, to explore even more emotions!
This story is sponsored by TEACHING THROUGH STORIES & SONGS
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