In Your Feels: A Journal to Work Out Your Emotions

This colorful illustrated journal for ages 8 to 12 helps kids manage stress and anxiety and build confidence with 50 fun writing and drawing prompts.

Big feelings can be overwhelming but letting yourself be in your feels – no matter how uncomfortable–is really okay, totally normal, and even good for you.

Happiness, sadness, anxiety or worry, anger, and other emotions are experienced by everyone and help make us who we are. This beautifully illustrated journal explains what feelings are and equips middle grade readers with a coping toolbox to identify their triggers, express themselves, and develop their social and emotional skills.

The journal can be especially helpful during times of change or stress, such as transitioning back to school or starting at a new school, moving to a new home, making or losing friendships, navigating sibling or family changes, preparing for a big performance or competition, coping with disappointment, or working through grief and other difficult experiences. Parents and caregivers can offer it as a thoughtful way to open conversations—or let kids use it privately at their own pace.

With chapters organized around common emotions—including pride, fear, grief, embarrassment, guilt, and more—kids can explore each feeling and recognize the moments that bring it on. Inside, young readers will find dozens of fun activities, including:

• Writing prompts such as drafting a letter to someone you trust and making lists of who gives the best hugs or what makes you proud
• Meditation and breathing practices to help kids feel calmer in stressful situations
• Drawing exercises like designing a superhero mask to wear when they are sad, imagining anxiety as a magical creature they can tame, or picturing anger as a friend

As kids work through the prompts, they will discover how to handle their feelings and feel more confident in their relationships with friends and family. Plus, parents and caregivers will feel reassured that kids are building coping strategies they can turn to when tough times come around.

Emily Edlynn, PHD, is a clinical psychologist and practicing therapist with a Master’s and Doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the child and adolescent program at Loyola University in Chicago. She lives in Oak Park, Illinois with her husband and three children. 
Marisa LaScala is the senior parenting and relationships editor at Good Housekeeping and has previously written about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, New York.

Cate Andrews is an illustrator and designer based in Washington State. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Oprah, Wall Street Journal, Healthybaby, Food Culture Collective, PLANSPONSOR/PLANADVISER, Barron’s and Sierra Magazine, among others.