Emotions

Tactile symbol for anxious: heart-shaped poster board with s-hook in the middle.
Tactile symbol for anxious: heart-shaped poster board with s-hook in the middle.

Tactile symbols representing emotions are made with heart-shaped poster board. The backing could include materials such as foil, contact paper, and  netting material although in these examples none is used. The shape is the most important, but the backing can vary depending on what materials you have and what the child can tactually discriminate. 

Note: These symbols are the ones utilized at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, so they reflect that social environment. You may need to create symbols or adapt symbols specific to the environment of the student.

If you are starting from scratch with a symbol, try to pick something that will make sense to the student. As you look at the symbols you will see that some are based on visual information and some on possible tactile information.  It is important to consider the individual’s perspective when creating the symbol. These symbols are highly abstract so it is important to note his/her visual and tactile access when designing the symbol. A part or a piece of an object often works. By necessity, however,  some symbols have to be arbitrary, because there is no obvious item to place on the symbol. When that’s the case, the student will learn the meaning through repeated association.

Shape: heart-shaped

Background: none or various materials such as netting, foil, contact paper

Tactile symbol for angry: heart-shaped poster board with match glued horizontally in the center.
Tactile symbol for angry: heart-shaped poster board with match glued horizontally in the center.
Tactile symbol for anxious: heart-shaped poster board with s-hook in the middle.
Tactile symbol for anxious: heart-shaped poster board with s-hook in the middle.
Tactile symbol for calm: heart-shaped poster board with feather in the middle.
Tactile symbol for calm: heart-shaped poster board with feather in the middle.
Tactile symbol for excited: heart-shaped poster board with curly ribbon in the middle.
Tactile symbol for excited: heart-shaped poster board with curly ribbon in the middle.
Tactile symbol for peaceful: heart-shaped poster board with feather and yearn pom-pom in the center.
Tactile symbol for peaceful: heart-shaped poster board with feather and yearn pom-pom in the center.

 

Tactile symbol for frustrated: heart-shaped poster board with nylon cord tied in a knot.
Tactile symbol for frustrated: heart-shaped poster board with nylon cord tied in a knot.
Tactile symbol for happy: heart-shaped poster board with cord in the shape of a smile in the center.
Tactile symbol for happy: heart-shaped poster board with cord in the shape of a smile in the center.
Tactile symbol for loving: heart-shaped poster board with cord in heart-shape glued in the center.
Tactile symbol for loving: heart-shaped poster board with cord in heart-shape glued in the center.
Tactile symbol for mad: heart-shaped poster board with nylon cord tied in multiple knots.
Tactile symbol for mad: heart-shaped poster board with nylon cord tied in multiple knots.

 

Tactile symbol for patient: heart-shaped poster board with small artificial flower in the center.
Tactile symbol for patient: heart-shaped poster board with small artificial flower in the center.
Tactile symbol for sad or depressed: heart-shaped poster board with cord forming a frown-shape.
Tactile symbol for sad or depressed: heart-shaped poster board with cord forming a frown-shape.
Tactile symbol for sick: heart-shaped symbol with piece of cord glued in the center vertically.
Tactile symbol for sick: heart-shaped symbol with piece of cord glued in the center vertically.