Build Your Child’s Super-Emotions with ‘Feels Cards’: A Smart Strategy to Sharpen Emotional Awareness from an Early Age

Abstract

The early childhood period for a child is a golden age that occurs only once in a lifetime and cannot be repeated. Introducing and managing emotions from an early age is very important for the social-emotional development of children. This study aims to show that in learning, media such as “Feels Cards” have proven effective in helping children recognise, express, and regulate emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, and fear. This article presents a review of the concept and practical implementation of Feels Cards for children aged 3–4 years at the Government Playgroup 33 Malakasari, East Jakarta, and how this media can be integrated with religious values and character education, identity formation, and literacy in mathematics, science, technology, engineering, and arts. The article also emphasises effective methods, implementation challenges, and recommendations so that the application feels comprehensive and effective. The results of the review conclude that Feels Cards — when designed with clear and visually engaging images, used consistently, and accompanied by reflection and support from teachers/parents — are able to enhance children’s ability to recognise emotions, strengthen empathy, and increase both their non-cognitive and cognitive literacy aspects.