Learn how to help a dyslexic child with their emotions by doing an emoji check-in.
Dyslexic children show and feel their emotions more. They may have trouble controlling them, which can look like:
- angry outbursts
- shouting
- hitting
- crying
- hyperactivity
- unfocused behaviour
Dyslexic children may find themselves labelled as naughty or troublemakers. Talking about their feelings can help them understand and control them better.
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Emoji check-in
Help dyslexic children to recognise and start to talk about their feelings with a daily emoji check-in.
This Mooki Cards activity is based on scientific research. Learn more: “Stronger emotional responses”.
Try it today
- Draw 3 simple faces: happy, sad and angry. Ask the child to point to the one that shows how they feel right now.
- Ask: “What made you feel that way?” Listen, and show you understand.
Print the free Daily Emoji Check-in sheet. Each day, your child ticks or colours the face that matches how they feel.
Want a daily check-in your child can use on their own?
The Daily Emoji Check-in card has ready-made steps for you on the front and a picture activity for your child on the back. Everything is in one place. It’s one of 56 ten-minute activities in the Mooki Cards deck.
Instant download · use on a phone or tablet, or print and fill in
Help a dyslexic child to deal with strong emotions
“Children are on a rollercoaster of emotions every single day. They can go from being angry, to sad, to laughing, back to angry again! All within the space of 1 hour.
It can be exhausting for the child and for the adult to manage such behaviour. My child is good at school. But when she is at home, all the emotions come pouring out. She can act very sad and angry. It can be very distressing to see her like that. As her mum, I wanted to help her. The best way I could do this was by getting her to start talking about how she was feeling.”
Watch the clickable ‘Dyslexia and anxiety’ video below, where the Dyslexic Mum shows how to do an emoji check-in.
Do an emoji check-in every day, to help the child talk about their feelings. Below are tips from the Dyslexic Mum to best help the child:
- Recognise their feelings – a dyslexic child may struggle to recognise their feelings. If they think they feel scared, ask: what does feeling scared feel like? A tight chest, a racing heart?
- Give comfort – acknowledge their feelings. Show sympathy and kindness. Show you understand that it is hard to feel sad.
- Understand why – talk about what has made them feel that way. Did something happen at school? Show you are interested in their problems.
- Help them feel positive – talk to them about what would make them feel happier. Feelings are normal, so do not rush in to try and fix everything. Children change daily. Sometimes they need space for issues to sort themselves out.
How it went
One SEN parent on using the Emoji Check-in:
“I keep an Emoji Check-in sheet on the fridge, because it works best when you do it often. One morning my child drew a happy face. When I asked why, they said, ‘There’s been no rushing or shouting today.’
It was half-term, and it made me realise how stressful our school mornings had become. We started using the School Ready card again to make mornings calmer.
Now, when my child feels angry or sad, they sometimes draw on the emoji sheet and bring it to me, to show me how they feel.”
Learn more: “Social and emotional problems linked to dyslexia”.
