As I’ve worked with different students on identifying emotions and scaling emotions, I’ve realized that some kids have a harder time talking about those emotions. Two of my clients have ADHD and are in the third grade. I thought it was hard to get a 7th grader with ADHD to sit down for a 15 minute session, but my 3rd grader takes the cake. He is always bouncing around my room. After a pinterest search, I decided to create my own Feelings Jenga game for my clients to help them answer emotion-specific questions in a fun way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure page for more information.
Many of my clients have dysfunctional home lives and are very cautious with what they share to outsiders. I have found that kids are more willing to answer a ‘random’ question than a direct question from a counselor. The game provides a neutral setting. I’m not grilling them on their life and what they could do better…the game is asking those questions. Even though I am very careful in my self-disclosure, I answer the questions too. For this game, I again used the emotions from Disney’s Inside Out: Anger, Joy, Sadness, Fear, and Disgust.
How to create your own Feelings Jenga game
I bought a Jenga Game
Other versions of Feelings Jenga wrote questions directly on the blocks. I painted one side of the block a certain color. The colors represent categories, and I’ll be able to change the categories anytime I need to. I only painted one side of the block. When the game is assembled, we won’t know what color block we’re grabbing.
I pre-wrote 15 questions for each emotion (If you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the post, you gain access to my resource library!). Some of the questions ask the players to describe a time when they felt that emotion, make a face showing that emotion, give a real-life situation to problem solve, etc. There are 11 blocks of each color, and you won’t use all 11 blocks in every game because the Jenga tower will eventually fall over. When I used this set for my first therapy session, my client and I played 3 times, and we didn’t use all the questions.
I printed the questions on color coded paper so that it was easy to identify which questions went with each block.
Then, you’re ready to play!
Just follow the normal rules of Jenga. When someone pulls a block, he/she also answers a question related to the corresponding emotion. When the tower falls over, start the game over.
I’ve used this game in group counseling, individual counseling, and family counseling sessions. When I work with families, I’ve had moms tell me they really enjoyed playing the game too and thinking through the questions. In addition, it’s been a hit with all of my clients and has led to deeper conversations about some of the struggles they have with processing emotions. Again, check out my posts on identifying and scaling emotions for more session ideas!
Do you have any great counseling games? Share below in the comments! Again, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter (green box at the bottom of this post!) to gain access to our Resource Library!
This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure page for more information.
Hello Ester! How cool is this? Do you allow readers to have access to your questions? This would be a neat thing to incorporate into my practice. The image said “free questions”, but I just cannot find them! Thanks for any reply.
Thanks, Allison! I do allow readers access to my questions by signing up for my newsletter. When you sign up for the newsletter, you’ll receive the password for the resource library where the jenga questions are posted.
Thanks so much! How can I access the resource library and your Jenga questions? Looks great thank you!
Kathy
subscribe to the newsletter, confirm your email address in the email, and then you should get an email with the resource library password.
Hi,
I did subscribe I believe but never got a link to where to download the Feelings Jenga game.
Thank you.
I would like these PLEASE! Where do I sign up for newletter?
The green box underneath the post is the sign up for the newsletter!
I would like the questions to the feelings Jenga game please and thanks
Subscribe to the newsletter, and you will receive the password to the resource library.
Would like to sign up for continuing ideas
So glad to hear that you want to continue to get updates from Unseen Footprints! There is a form above the comments section to join the newsletter! Fill it in to stay up to date!
I was able to access your cards but I didn’t see the “silly” feeling. Do you have cards for this feeling?
Thank you!
With the Feelings Jenga, I only have questions featured in the movie Inside Out. I added a Silly face to the DIY Feelings Book, because I had so many clients ask “Can I just do a silly face?”
Thanks for a great resource
You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by!
Great idea!! I am going to use this for a presentation on Play Therapy, I will give you credit no worries!! Great to get this idea from a NGU grad! I live right down the road!
Thanks, Adam! I hope your presentation well. Proud NGU grad and now working on my PhD at USC, so it’s good to be back in SC.
Love this idea!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi! I’m a retired elementary teacher, and I have about 10 years of experience working with at-risk kids, mostly as a substance abuse prevention specialist. (Dual career). I’ve recently joined a team at my church working with at-risk kids as an outreach program. Love your Jenga game, looking for other similar activities. I used to make up many of my own activities, but didn’t keep much from my “BAG OF TRICKS” when I retired. I’m happy to have found your game on pinterest, send will continue to explore your site and resource page! Any simple Christian related books/ materials are welcome too. These kids don’t have much church background, and as I’m getting to know them, I’m learning about some tough home situations. Thanks.
This looks great. Thank you!
Thank you!
Great activity
Awesome Activity
Love this idea!
Thank you for this page