🎨 Behind the Worksheet: Why I Created “Color Your Emotions”

When I first created the Color Your Emotions worksheet, it wasn’t part of some big product plan. It was the very beginning of summer break, and I was sitting with this urge—this need—to create something that could help students feel just a little more seen and supported.

Honestly? It was a test run.

I printed it out to see if it would even work. Would students enjoy it? Would they find it calming? Would it do more than just fill a few quiet minutes in class?

And that’s when something unexpected happened…

🌈 My Daughter Picked It Up First

My daughter—5 years old at the time, going into first grade—had never really tried one of my worksheets before. She’s always been curious about my art. She watches me paint florals in the studio, draw my neurographic lines, and design things on the computer. But this time, she wanted to try the worksheet herself.

She quietly filled out the emotion wheel with two different colors. When I asked her what they meant, she explained:

“Blue is sad… because I’m still upset about spilling my water.”
(She was referring to something I had completely forgotten—but she hadn’t.)

Then she said her second color was pink—because it’s her favorite—and after completing the reflection and coloring portion, she bounced off to play with her brother, cheerfully and calm.

That moment moved me deeply.
This simple worksheet gave her space to notice and name her feelings.
To process them.
To move through them.

It was like watching the power of SEL unfold in real-time.

💡 Why This Matters—For Me and My Students

As a high school art teacher, incorporating SEL isn’t always easy. Teens will often shut down if they feel something is “too soft” or “too emotional.” They call it “lame” or “stupid.” But the truth is, our students are struggling.

Since COVID, I’ve noticed a shift. In the hallways. In my classroom. In the community.
So many students—and adults—are carrying so much more than we can see.

And honestly, I’ve been there too.
Two pregnancies back-to-back. Hormonal swings. Big feelings. Identity shifts.
Like many of you, I’ve done the work—books, journals, therapy, mindset tools—to build emotional resilience. But it wasn’t always easy.

Now that I’m stronger, I feel called to help the students in my classroom and beyond.
To create tools that give them a safe, creative space to check in with themselves, just like my daughter did that day.

🌟 The Bigger Picture

The Color Your Emotions worksheet isn’t just a printable—it’s a moment of connection.
A pause.
A reset.

Whether you're a teacher using it with a full class…
A parent printing it at home…
Or a counselor looking for quick check-ins…

This resource is designed to meet students where they are—without judgment, without pressure, and with the power of color, creativity, and reflection.

✨ Want to Try It?

You can download the free worksheet here:
👉 Color Your Emotions SEL Art Worksheet (Free Download)

And if you’d like more like it—including a full bundle of follow-up pages for deeper reflection and expanded student support—explore the full set here:
👉 Color Your Emotions SEL Art Reflection Worksheet Bundle

Thanks for being here.
Whether you’re teaching, parenting, or supporting young people in any way, I hope this brings a little peace, purpose, and possibility to your day.

Let’s keep helping students reflect, create, and bloom.

With heart,
Sara Black