Curious Crabs – Emotions Reflection Worksheet for Kids

Curious Crabs – Emotions Reflection Worksheet for Kids

Helping children understand and express their emotions is an important part of social-emotional learning. Curious Crabs is a fun and engaging emotions worksheet designed to encourage kids to reflect on their feelings through writing and drawing.

This printable activity invites children to choose one emotion and explore times they have experienced it — all while filling adorable crab templates with their thoughts and creativity.

What’s Included in the Curious Crabs Worksheet?

This printable emotions activity features:

• A clear prompt: “Choose one emotion.”

• Writing and drawing instructions to reflect on personal experiences

• Example emotion words such as:

  • happy

  • excited

  • nervous

  • proud

  • worried

  • brave

  • calm

• A “My Emotion” title line for kids to personalise their focus

• Six large crab templates for writing or drawing inside

• Clean black-and-white line art for easy printing and colouring

The simple layout makes it perfect for classrooms, homeschool, counselling sessions, or after-school care programs.

Why This Emotions Worksheet Is Great for Kids

Social-emotional learning (SEL) helps children:

• Build emotional vocabulary

• Recognise and name their feelings

• Develop empathy

• Strengthen communication skills

• Reflect on personal experiences

The crab shapes make the activity playful and non-intimidating. Instead of staring at blank paper, kids have a clear space to fill — making it easier to open up and share.

This worksheet works especially well for:

• Kindergarten to Year 4

• School wellbeing lessons

• Calm-down corner activities

• Morning meetings

• Counselling or therapy sessions

• OSHC and after-school programs

How to Use the Curious Crabs Emotions Activity

Here are a few simple ways to use this printable:

1. Choose an Emotion

Have students pick one emotion from the examples or brainstorm their own.

2. Write It Down

Students write their chosen feeling on the “My Emotion” line.

3. Reflect in Each Crab

Inside each crab, students can:

• Write about a time they felt that emotion

• Draw a picture of the situation

• Describe what happened

• Share how their body felt

• Explain how they handled it

4. Share (Optional)

Students can share one crab with the class or a partner if they feel comfortable.

5. Extend the Learning

You can turn this into:

• A group discussion about healthy coping strategies

• A classroom feelings wall display

• A journaling activity

• A paired storytelling activity

Perfect for Classrooms, Homeschool & Wellbeing Programs

If you’re searching for:

• Emotions worksheet for kids

• Social emotional learning printable

• Feelings reflection activity

• SEL writing prompts for elementary students

• Emotional regulation classroom activity

This Curious Crabs worksheet is a simple, no-prep resource that encourages meaningful reflection in a creative way.

Print it, use it in small groups, or add it to your weekly SEL rotation.

Ready to help kids explore their feelings in a fun and creative way? Print the Curious Crabs worksheet and get started today!