Feelings & mindset · K–8
Psychology for kids: understanding feelings
Naming emotions, calming down, growth mindset, friendships and resilience — social-emotional skills taught in kid-sized lessons from kindergarten to grade 8.
- K–8
- every grade
- 86
- topics
- 205
- lessons
know yourself
Name it to tame it
Kids learn words for what they feel and simple ways to calm down, which makes hard moments easier.
grit
Growth mindset
Mistakes become part of learning. Kids practice positive self-talk, perseverance and bouncing back.
people skills
Friendships and empathy
Understanding other people’s feelings helps kids make friends, solve conflicts and work in teams.
every topic, every grade
The psychology syllabus, K–8
86 topics and 205 lessons. Open a grade to see exactly what your child learns.
KKindergarten psychology
8 topics · 18 lessons
Basic Emotions
- Happy and Sad -- Two Big Feelings
- Angry and Scared -- Two More Big Feelings
- My Feelings Can Change
Recognizing Feelings
- Naming What I Feel
- Faces and Bodies Show Feelings
Calm-Down Breathing
- Belly Breathing to Calm Down
- My Calm-Down Toolbox
Kindness and Sharing
- What Does Being Kind Look Like?
- Sharing With Friends
Being a Good Friend
- What Makes a Good Friend?
- Taking Turns in Play and Talk
- Listening With My Whole Body
Polite Words and Asking for Help
- Please, Thank You, and Excuse Me
- It's OK to Ask for Help
Following Classroom Rules
- Why Do We Have Rules?
- Making Good Choices at School
Feelings Review and Practice
- Feelings Check-In: How Am I Today?
- Being a Feelings Helper
1Grade 1 psychology
8 topics · 20 lessons
Understanding My Emotions
- Why Do I Feel This Way?
- Beyond Happy and Sad -- New Feeling Words
- Mixed Feelings Are Real
Emotion Signals and Words
- My Body Talks -- Signals Inside Me
- Telling Others How I Feel
Calming and Thinking
- Stop, Breathe, Think
- My Calm-Down Menu
- When Feelings Feel Too Big
Kindness in Action
- Kindness on Purpose
- Helping Others Who Need It
Cooperative Play
- Playing Together -- Same Team!
- Fair Play and Turn-Taking in Groups
- When Play Gets Hard -- Solving Problems Together
Using My Words
- I-Statements: Saying How I Feel
- Asking for Help the Right Way
Building Friendships
- How to Make a New Friend
- Being Happy for Others
- What to Do When a Friend Is Sad
Handling Hard Moments
- When the Answer Is "No" -- And That's OK
- Waiting and Feeling Proud
2Grade 2 psychology
9 topics · 22 lessons
Empathy and Reading Others
- How Does My Friend Feel? Reading Faces
- What Is Empathy?
- Empathy in Action -- What Can I Do?
Body Language and Eye Contact
- What Bodies Are Saying
- Eye Contact and Connection
Listening and Perspective Taking
- Active Listening -- More Than Quiet
- Walking in Someone Else's Shoes
- Asking Questions to Understand
Conflicts, Apologies, and Forgiveness
- When Friends Disagree
- How to Say Sorry and Mean It
- Forgiving -- Letting Go of the Mad
Managing Difficult Feelings
- When I Feel Really Angry
- Dealing With Frustration
- Handling Disappointment
Including Everyone
- Everyone Belongs
- We Are Different and That's Great
Classroom Expectations
- Our Classroom Community
- Being a Responsible Classroom Member
Self-Control and Responsibility
- Self-Control: Think Before I Act
- Being Responsible -- Owning My Actions
Being Honest
- Why Honesty Matters
- Honest AND Kind -- Both at Once
3Grade 3 psychology
9 topics · 21 lessons
Emotion Intensity and the Thermometer
- Feelings Come in Sizes
- My Emotion Thermometer
Triggers Awareness
- What Sets Me Off? Understanding Triggers
- Trigger + Thought = Feeling
Calming Strategies Toolbox
- Breathing Techniques Level Up
- Counting Down and Grounding
- Matching My Strategy to My Feeling Size
Positive Self-Talk Introduction
- The Voice Inside My Head
- Changing Unhelpful Thoughts
Growth Mindset
- Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
- Mistakes Are Data, Not Disasters
- The Power of "Yet" and Trying Again
Teamwork and Cooperation
- What Makes a Great Team?
- Working Together Even When We Disagree
Compromise and Problem Solving
- What Is Compromise?
- Problem-Solving Steps
- Practice: Solving Real Problems
Speaking Up for Myself
- Assertive, Aggressive, or Passive?
- Handling Peer Pressure -- Saying No
Choices and Consequences
- Every Choice Has a Consequence
- Setting a Goal and Making a Plan
4Grade 4 psychology
10 topics · 25 lessons
Advanced Emotion Awareness
- Expanding My Emotion Dictionary
- Body Signals Deep Dive
Habits and Routines
- How Habits Work -- Cue, Routine, Reward
- Building Better Routines
Knowing Myself
- Who Am I? My Values and Interests
- My Strengths -- What I'm Good At
- My Growth Edges -- Where I Can Improve
Growth Mindset in Practice
- Effort Beats Talent
- Growth Mindset in My Daily Life
Resilience and Perseverance
- What Is Resilience?
- My Resilience Story
- Keep Going -- Perseverance in Action
Positive Self-Talk
- My Inner Coach vs. My Inner Critic
- Affirmations and Encouraging Myself
Building Confidence
- What Is Confidence? (And What It Isn't)
- Facing the Fear of Speaking Up
- Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone
Understanding and Managing Anxiety
- What Is Anxiety?
- Test-Day Jitters -- Managing Test Anxiety
- Performance Anxiety -- Sports, Music, Presentations
Conflict Resolution and Mediation
- Conflict Resolution Steps -- Review and Deepen
- Being a Mediator
- When to Get Adult Help
Healthy and Unhealthy Friendships
- Healthy Friendships vs. Toxic Friendships
- Boundaries and Digital Friendships
5Grade 5 psychology
10 topics · 24 lessons
Motivation and Values
- What Motivates Me?
- What Do I Value Most?
Who Am I?
- My Identity: More Than One Thing
- Discovering My Strengths
- Strengths in Action
SMART Goal Setting
- What Makes a Goal SMART?
- Short-Term Goals: This Week and This Month
- Long-Term Goals: This Year and Beyond
Understanding and Managing Stress
- What Is Stress and Where Does It Show Up?
- My Stress Triggers and Patterns
- Managing Stress: Strategies That Work
Coping Strategies
- Healthy vs. Unhealthy Coping
- Building My Personal Coping Plan
Mindfulness and Meditation
- Being Present: Introduction to Mindfulness
- Guided Meditation and Breathing
Navigating Friendships
- Friendships Get Complicated
- When Friendships Shift or End
- Building Stronger Friendships
Digital Life and Safety
- How Social Media Affects How We Feel
- Cyberbullying: Recognizing It and Standing Up
Empathy and Perspective Taking
- Walking in Someone Else's Shoes
- From Empathy to Action: Standing Up for Others
Gratitude and Community
- The Power of Gratitude
- Making a Difference: Helping My Community
6Grade 6 psychology
12 topics · 27 lessons
Identity and Self-Concept
- How My Identity Is Changing
- My Self-Concept: How I See Myself
- Identity Is a Work in Progress
Self-Esteem Building
- What Is Self-Esteem and Where Does It Come From?
- Building Healthy Self-Esteem
Understanding Motivation
- Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation
- What Lights Me Up? Finding What Excites Me
- Fueling My Own Motivation
Making Good Decisions
- A Framework for Decisions
- Weighing Pros and Cons
- Living With My Choices
Resisting Peer Pressure
- Recognizing Peer Pressure
- Saying No Without Losing Friends
Assertiveness Training
- Passive, Aggressive, or Assertive?
- Practicing Assertive Communication
Communication Skills
- How I Communicate -- and How Others Hear It
- Deep Listening: Beyond Just Hearing Words
Conflict Styles
- How Do I Handle Conflict?
- Choosing the Right Approach for the Situation
Managing Intense Emotions
- When Emotions Feel Overwhelming
- Anger, Frustration, and What to Do About Them
Anxiety Coping
- Understanding Anxiety: What's Happening in My Brain?
- Tools for Calming Anxiety
Mental Health and Seeking Help
- Mental Health Matters: Understanding Depression and Sadness
- How to Get Help -- and How to Help a Friend
Leadership Introduction
- What Makes Someone a Leader?
- Leading in My Own Life
7Grade 7 psychology
11 topics · 25 lessons
Emotional Intelligence
- What Is Emotional Intelligence?
- Deep Self-Awareness: Knowing My Patterns
- Self-Regulation: Choosing My Response
Motivation and Empathy
- The Psychology of Motivation
- Complex Empathy: When Understanding Gets Hard
Building Strong Relationships
- Advanced Social Skills for Middle School
- Building Relationships That Matter
Trust and Healthy Relationships
- How Trust Is Built and Broken
- What Healthy Relationships Look Like
Boundaries and Red Flags
- Red Flags: Recognizing Unhealthy Patterns
- Setting Boundaries: What They Are and Why They Matter
- Practicing Boundary Conversations
Assertive Communication and Conflict Resolution
- Assertive Communication in Tough Moments
- Resolving Conflicts: Beyond Compromise
Negotiation Skills
- Everyday Negotiation: Getting What You Need
- Fair Deals in Group Work and Friendships
Time Management
- Where Does My Time Actually Go?
- Planning My Week: Homework, Activities, and Rest
Long-Term Stress and Self-Care
- When Stress Doesn't Go Away: Chronic Stress
- School Burnout: Over-Scheduled and Overwhelmed
- My Self-Care Plan
Balancing School, Life, and Fun
- The Balancing Act: School, Friends, Family, and Me
- Making Time for What Matters Most
Mental Health Awareness
- Mental Health Is Health: Breaking the Stigma
- The Person I Want to Become
8Grade 8 psychology
9 topics · 23 lessons
Emotional Intelligence Mastery
- EQ Mastery: Integrating All Five Pillars
- The Power of Self-Reflection
- My Personal Growth Plan for High School
Leadership and Influence
- Leadership Styles: Which Fits Me?
- Leading by Example in Everyday Life
- Using Your Influence for Good
Teamwork and Collaboration
- How Teams Really Work: Roles, Strengths, and Friction
- When the Group Doesn't Get Along
Public Speaking and Confidence
- Why Public Speaking Scares Us (and Why That's Normal)
- Managing Presentation Anxiety
- Speaking With Confidence
Persuasion Ethics
- The Power of Persuasion: When Is It OK?
- Persuasion in Social Media and Everyday Life
Thinking Critically About Emotions
- When Emotions Cloud Our Thinking
- Bias: The Shortcuts Our Brains Take
- Decision Overload: Too Many Choices
Mental Health Resources and Counseling
- Mental Health Resources: What's Out There
- Supporting a Friend Who's Struggling
Resilience and Life Transitions
- Life Transitions: Why Change Is Hard
- Building Resilience: Bouncing Back and Growing
- Preparing for High School: Emotional Readiness
My Future Self
- Visualizing My Future Self
- What Do I Want to Be Known For?
how it works
How your child learns psychology on iMasterly
- 1
Start at their grade
Your child gets a psychology path built for their grade and works through it at their own pace.
- 2
Short lessons, then practice
Each topic is a short lesson followed by practice questions, with every answer explained, so ideas stick instead of skimming past.
- 3
You see the progress
Your parent dashboard shows which psychology topics are done and where your child needs more time. Stuck? They can ask Ms. Emma.
Questions parents ask
What does psychology for kids cover?
Feelings and how to manage them, self-awareness, habits, growth mindset, resilience, confidence, friendships, empathy and handling worry. Every topic is in the syllabus above.
Is this therapy?
No. These are everyday social-emotional skills taught as lessons. If you are worried about your child, please talk to their doctor or school counselor.
What grades is it for?
Kindergarten through grade 8. Younger grades focus on naming feelings; older grades cover mindset, stress and relationships.
Why learn this alongside school subjects?
Kids who can manage frustration and keep going after a mistake learn everything else more easily, too.
keep exploring
More subjects
Ready when your child is. Ms. Emma will help.
Start at your child's grade, go at their pace, and ask Ms. Emma whenever something doesn't click.