The Power of Expressing Emotions Through Art: Using Emotion Crayons

I like to use these emotions crayons to help with expressing emotions through art, giving my students the chance to tell me how they are feeling without them having to say a word. Having a student identify which emotions they are feeling can help guide the conversation and line of questioning.

Knowing the correct emotions a student is feeling helps the student to feel heard while building rapport.

Emotion crayons are not your typical crayons. They are specially crafted tools that can help bridge the communication gap, providing students with an avenue to convey how they are feeling without verbalizing it. This can be a game-changer, particularly for children who may be shy, reserved, or simply overwhelmed with their emotions.

By having students identify the emotions they are currently experiencing through these crayons, it sets a path for a more structured and empathetic conversation. It not only allows the student to feel acknowledged but also strengthens the bond of trust and rapport between the student and the counselor or play therapist.

I especially like to use these crayons when a student who doesn’t want to talk is dropped off at my office. They help break the ice and give kids a way to communicate without directly communicating.

I make these emotions crayons using a mold I found on Amazon and a ton of different colored crayons. Make your own emoji crayons, or crayons of any shape by following my step-by-step directions in this blog post.

Expressing Emotions Through Art

There’s a unique allure in these crayons. At a first glance, the emotions or emojis may not be immediately visible, but that’s part of their charm. Their subtle design captures a student’s curiosity, acting as a slight distraction that can calm an anxious mind while they select a crayon that resonates with their feelings.

These little emotion crayons help kiddos express all those big emotions through art instead of having to use words and explanations.

The real beauty of these crayons comes into play when students are prompted to draw. I ask my students to find the crayon that best matches how they are feeling at that moment. Once they find the crayon that reflects how they feel, I have them draw me a picture.

Most kids love expressing emotions through art and are happy to start drawing away freely.

As they position the crayon differently on the paper, various colors appear, adding an element of surprise and delight to the creative process. Students light up when the see the colors changing across the paper before them. It’s as close to magic as you can get.

It’s not just about identifying emotions; it’s also about exploring them in a safe, playful, and therapeutic manner. This is one of my favorite activities for expressing emotions through art.

I also keep a set of yellow, blue, and red emotion crayons in my office just for show. No one is allowed to color with those because collecting the crayons took way too long (kidding, but only kind of).

I use these as conversation starters or as comfort items that students can hold in their hands while in group.

Make It Yourself

These are a hit with my students; I hope they are with your kiddos as well! Such a fun and simple way to help with expressing emotions through art.

Learn how to make these crayons for yourself by following my step-by-step directions. You can find all of my favorite crayon molds on my Amazon Storefront.

Check out how I use these in my counseling lessons.

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You May Also Like:

• 6 Creative Ways to Get Kids Talking
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