Match the Expressions
Describe a situation and let your child combine the eyes and mouth that show the matching feeling. Then switch roles: make a face and invite your child to tell the story behind it.
- 3 years
- Some prep
- At home
- About 15 minutes
Developmental benefits
- Social/Emotional：Listening to a short situation and choosing the matching eyes and mouth helps your child connect an emotional context with a visible facial expression.
- Language：Naming the feeling and describing clues from the situation gives your child practice expressing an emotional idea clearly.
Preparation
What You’ll Need
- 1
Colored markers
- 2
six sheets of light-colored cardstock, with several paper ovals prepared as shown in Act 1
Step 1
Meet the Expressions
Copy the expressions from the preparation page onto the oval paper pieces. As you draw each one, ask your child what feeling it shows. If the expression is unfamiliar, name it and describe a situation when someone might feel that way. Finally, cut each face across the middle.
What to notice
- Names the facial expression shown in the drawing
Vocabulary - Uses child scissors to cut the cardstock in half
Fine Motor
Tips
- Before drawing, ask which facial expressions your child already knows. If the idea is unfamiliar, prompt them with examples such as crying or smiling.
- Add expressions beyond these six, such as surprise or suspicion. If one is hard to explain, connect it with a familiar character or story moment.
Step 2
Match the Expression Puzzle
After cutting out all the features, mix up the eyes and mouths. Describe a situation that might evoke a feeling and ask your child to assemble a matching face. Use a recent experience or a situation from a story.
What to notice
- Names or shows the story character’s emotion with their face
Emotional Functioning - Matches the top and bottom halves of a facial expression
Emergent Mathematical Thinking
Tips
- If your child cannot find a piece, ask which part of which expression they need, then search together.
- If your child chooses an unexpected expression, ask why it fits and how the character might feel. After hearing their idea, offer another possible expression and explain your reasoning.
Step 3
Find More Expressions
The same situation can produce more than one expression, such as a smile or a laugh. If your child’s face differs from what you expected, find a similar expression and compare them. Then make a face yourself and ask your child what situation might go with it.
What to notice
- Uses clear, simple words related to the named emotion
Communicating and Speaking - Accepts the different choices you offer
Cognitive Self-Regulation (Executive Functioning)
Tips
- Compare the two expressions. Talk about how they differ, why both might make sense, and which one might appear in a particular situation.
- You can also let your child assemble a face while you invent the situation. If they combine parts from two expressions, improvise a playful, unusual story that could explain it.
Better Parenting Content Team · Updated September 11, 2026