🎨 Feelings Have Layers: Exploring the Plutchik Wheel of Emotions
How do we make emotions easier to understand – for children, teens, and adults?
In the EMBRACE Future project, we use Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions, a model that helps visualize how feelings connect, blend, and change in intensity.
Developed by psychologist Robert Plutchik, the wheel shows 8 core emotions, grouped in opposite pairs: • Joy ↔ Sadness • Fear ↔ Anger • Anticipation ↔ Surprise • Trust ↔ Disgust
Each emotion can vary in strength (serenity → joy → ecstasy) and even combine to create new feelings – for example, joy + trust = love (Source).
💡 How EMBRACE Uses the Wheel
In Module 3, children and teenagers explore the wheel through fun, age-appropriate activities: • Elementary students guess emotions in games with EMBRACE characters.
Middle and high school learners discuss how different feelings interact and how to manage them.
And in our public campaign #KnowEmotions, we dive deeper into the 8 core emotions: ⇒ Week 1 – Learn about the emotion. ⇒ Week 2 – Tips for parents and caregivers. ⇒ Week 3 – A quiz or story to bring it to life.
By exploring Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, Anticipation, Surprise, Disgust, and Trust, children learn that every emotion matters and that understanding them builds empathy, resilience, and emotional balance.
The EMBRACE Future project continues with Module 3, designed to help children and teenagers (ages 6-18) recognize, understand, and express emotions in healthy ways. Each age group, elementary, middle, and high school, learns through age-appropriate stories and activities.
This week, we’re focusing on elementary school students (ages 6-10) with a heartwarming classroom activity: “Feelings in Action: The EMBRACE Story Game.”
💬In this exercise, the EMBRACE characters – Sparky, Nutty, Wise, Dusty, Flutter, and Bytu – come to life in short stories that teach empathy and emotional reflection.
In one story, Dusty accidentally spills tea on Wise’s favorite book. Wise calls him to talk, and Dusty gathers the courage to say, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.” Together, they show that honesty, forgiveness, and friendship can turn mistakes into learning moments.
Through guided questions like “How do you think Dusty felt?” or “What do you think will happen next?”, children learn to: ⇒ Recognize emotions in themselves and others ⇒ Express feelings through storytelling ⇒ Build empathy, communication, and emotional awareness
Children Forum on October 17-18 2025 is just around the corner!
The EMBRACE Future partners look forward to four exciting workshops on 17-18 of October in Bucharest, Romania!
The purpose of the Forum is to give children and young people the opportunity to make their voices heard, highlight the real challenges they face, and propose concrete solutions to policymakers, experts, and representatives of civil society.
This year marks the 13th edition of the Forum, with the central theme focused on improving the mental health of children and young people – an essential topic for the emotional well-being and balanced development of the next generation.
In this context, the Children and Youth Forum 2025 will be an open, participatory, and energetic space, where over 150 young people and children from Iași, Bacău, Vaslui, Petroșani, Brașov, and Bucharest will be directly involved in the development of the EMBRACE education program, alongside decision-makers, policymakers, public authorities, professionals, and non-governmental organizations.
Participants will have the chance to share their ideas, express their opinions, and propose solutions to support the mental health of children and young people in Romania.
During the event, participants will take part in workshops, discussions, working sessions, and meetings with representatives of authorities, allowing them to actively contribute to ideas and initiatives that can influence public policies and ensure that young voices are heard.
The Forum will follow a participatory and interactive model, where children and young people will be able to share their opinions, join co-creation workshops, and interact directly with decision-makers. Additionally, emphasis will be placed on advocacy activities and the development of concrete proposals that can help shape more effective public policies to support the mental health of young people in Romania.
Looking forward to this opportunity to engage with young learners and support their mental and emotional growth!
World Mental Health Day – The EMBRACE Future Project Team Raises Awareness of Children’s Psychological and Emotional Well-Being
On October 10, 2025, the EMBRACE team joins the global community to mark World Mental Health Day with a powerful message: mental health matters for everyone.
Mental health is the inner balance that allows us to understand our emotions, manage stress, adapt to change, and build healthy relationships with others.
Every day, three adolescents in Europe lose their lives due to mental health issues, and half of all mental disorders appear before the age of 15 (UNICEF).
Romania ranks among the last EU member states in terms of children’s well-being and quality of life. The gaps are visible and painful, especially for children and young people from vulnerable backgrounds who face deep social difficulties. Lack of resources, family instability, and limited access to support services contribute to emotional imbalances and poor mental health. In fact, 33% of children aged 11 to 15 report feeling sad more than once a week, compared to an average of 13% across 45 countries in a WHO study (WHO “The State of World’s Children”). Without true emotional support in schools and communities, we risk losing entire generations who, above all, need to be heard and understood.
In Romania, many children struggle with mental health disorders: behavioral issues, anxiety, depression, or autism spectrum conditions affect their daily lives. Alarmingly, more than 40% of newly diagnosed children with autism live in rural areas with no access to therapy or specialized support. These children often remain unheard and misunderstood, even though their need for help is urgent and real.
Given the considerable time children spend in schools, they should be the place where they feel safe, supported, and motivated to learn. The reality, however, is different: about 1 in 4 middle school students face emotional problems – fatigue, anxiety, sadness – that affect their daily lives. These symptoms reflect ongoing difficulties in managing emotions in Romanian schools, which lack a coherent framework for supporting mental health. Resources are limited and unevenly distributed, existing initiatives are isolated, and there is no integrated national program. School counselors, though present in most schools, are too few in number compared to actual needs, have low visibility, and are rarely seen by students as a real source of support (UNICEF). As a result, many children are left alone with their emotions, without the help they desperately need.
At present, Romania does not have an updated national strategy for children’s mental health – the last one covered 2016–2020. This gap leaves the field underdeveloped in schools, fragmented, and inconsistent, with huge consequences for today’s and tomorrow’s youth.
Children’s and adolescents’ mental health is not just a concept – it is the foundation on which they build confidence, courage, and their future. When we offer them support, listening, and an environment that respects their emotions, we help them grow stronger and more resilient in facing life’s challenges. Investing in their well-being means giving them the chance at a happy childhood, access to education, and a life full of opportunities—because every child deserves to be heard and understood.
To mark #WorldMentalHealthDay, the EMBRACE project team highlights the importance of emotional well-being through key messages for professionals working with children and youth, as well as resources designed to educate and inspire. Maya and Leo, the beloved EMBRACE characters, reflect what many young people feel: the weight of overload and pressure. By taking a step back, grounding themselves, and reconnecting with one another, they discover how simple actions can transform stress into strength. The video encourages young people to recognize their emotions and to seek support when needed: .
This global day is part of the wider “#KnowEmotions” campaign, running from October 2025 to April 2026 within the EMBRACE project. The campaign’s main goal is to promote emotional literacy and build resilience among children and youth. Professionals are invited to explore the campaign’s key messages in “EMBRACE – World Mental Health Day”, which emphasize emotional well-being, the power of authentic dialogue and active listening, and an open call to join the #KnowEmotions movement.
EMBRACE is a European initiative dedicated to promoting children’s mental health through education, awareness, and innovative tools for teachers, parents, and policymakers. The project addresses mental health challenges faced by vulnerable children in disadvantaged rural areas and small towns in northeastern Romania, through an intervention model already piloted in 10 schools. In the project, 500 children take part in EMBRACE workshops over nine months, accessing resources, including digital tools, that will be promoted nationally and across Europe to support children’s mental health. The program is built around five modules:
My physical health and safety – the foundation of well-being
Cognitive well-being
I’m okay with my emotions
Spiritual well-being – values and beliefs
Social well-being
The project supports not only children but also parents and teachers, creating a model of intervention that can transform schools into safe, supportive spaces for the emotional health of all children.
The public is encouraged to follow EMBRACE activities online and help spread the message of World Mental Health Day 2025.
🎒 Alex & Ana Under Pressure – Finding Healthy Ways to Cope with Stress
This October, the EMBRACE Future project is teaching Module 3 in schools, which supports children and teenagers (ages 6-18) in building emotional awareness and resilience. Each age group, elementary, middle, and high school, has tailored activities and videos.
This week we focus on high school students (ages 14-18) with the new video “Alex & Ana Under Pressure.”
School, parents, sports, expectations… sometimes it feels like too much. Alex and Ana both carry heavy pressure, from grades, competitions, and family demands. But together, they learn that even when life feels overwhelming, there are healthy ways to cope.
🎥 In this short video, high schoolers will discover: •How stress and pressure can feel like “static” in the mind •Why it helps to find an anchor ~ like breathing or writing •How expressing emotions can make them easier to manage •That everyone feels pressure, and nobody has to handle it alone •The value of friendship and making a “survival pact” to support each other
🎯 Maya & Leo: The Why Behind the Doubt – Finding Confidence Through Purpose
The EMBRACE Future project continues with Module 3, designed to help children and teenagers (ages 6-18) explore emotional awareness and resilience. Each age group, elementary, middle, and high school, learns from tailored activities and videos.
This week we focus on middle school (ages 10-14) with a new video: “The Why Behind the Doubt”.
Maya’s stuck. A blank page. A loud inner critic. Self-doubt whispers that she’s not good enough. But when Leo shares his own struggles with pressure and perfectionism, something shifts. Together, they realize that reconnecting with your “why” can help quiet the noise of doubt.
In this short video, middle schoolers will explore: ⇒ What the inner critic sounds like and why it shows up ⇒ How self-doubt can block creativity and confidence ⇒ The power of sharing vulnerable feelings with a friend ⇒ How remembering your personal “why” can help you move forward ⇒ That confidence doesn’t mean perfection, it means purpose
🌟 Sometimes the best way to silence doubt is to ask yourself why you started in the first place. Your voice matters and your reasons are enough.
🌊 Riding the Waves ~ Learning to Handle Big Emotions
The EMBRACE Future project is rolling out Module 3, designed to help children and teenagers (ages 6-18) build emotional awareness and resilience. Each age group, elementary, middle, and high school, is supported with tailored activities and videos.
This week we focus on middle school (ages 10-14) with a new video: “Riding the Waves”.
Maya’s frustrated. A ripped math worksheet. A mess to clean up. She wonders, ‘what do I do with feelings this big?’ That’s when Maya+ shows up with an idea: think of emotions like ocean waves. Sometimes calm, sometimes stormy, but always something you can learn to ride.
🎥 In this short video, middle schoolers will explore: ⇒ What emotional self-regulation means (and why it matters) ⇒ How emotions act like signals that tell us what we need ⇒ Why how, when, and with whom makes all the difference when sharing feelings ⇒ Calming strategies that actually work, like talking to a friend, taking a break, or doing something creative ⇒ How expressing emotions clearly can turn frustration into connection
With practice, anyone can learn to surf the waves of emotion instead of being swept away. The more we notice, name, and share our feelings wisely, the more confident and in control we become.
🌈 How to Handle Big Feelings – with Sparky & Wise Owl
The EMBRACE Future is helping kids and teenagers learn how to be well with their emotions through fun and relatable stories.
In this new video, “How to Handle Big Feelings”, developed by Evolutionary Archetypes Consulting SL (EA), Sparky’s tower falls down. He feels sad and a little bit angry, but with a deep breath and Wise Owl’s support, he learns that it’s okay to have big feelings. What matters is what you do with them.
Children will discover: •How to recognize big feelings when they appear •Why taking a deep breath can help calm down •How to turn sadness and frustration into motivation •The power of friendship and teamwork when starting again •That every mistake is an opportunity to grow stronger
This video is one of three videos for different age groups, specifically targeted for elementary school children (ages 6-10).
EMBRACE Future launches “#KnowEmotions” Public Awareness-Raising Campaign on Children’s Mental Health Brussels/Bucharest, September 2025
The EMBRACE project team is proud to announce the launch of its Public Awareness-Raising Campaign (PAC), running from October 2025 until April 2026. The campaign, under the motto KnowEmotions, will bring children’s mental health to the forefront of European discussions, engaging families, educators, and policymakers.
The campaign kicks off with the Children and Youth Forum in Bucharest in early October 2025. The forum will engage children and youth in interactive discussions with policymakers about key aspects of mental health, paving the way for children’s participation and influence to create a society that cares about their emotional wellbeing.
Following the Forum, the campaign will continue across Europe, featuring eight core emotions identified in the Plutchik model:
Joy
Anticipation
Anger
Disgust
Sadness
Surprise
Fear
Trust
By highlighting these emotions week by week, the campaign aims to build awareness, promote emotional literacy, and provide resources for children, parents, and teachers to better navigate emotional challenges.
The EMBRACE team believes that emotions are central to children’s development, learning, and resilience, following this vision: “With #KnowEmotions, we want to make sure families, schools, and communities recognize their importance and gain the tools to support children in healthy ways.”
The campaign will run across social media, press channels, including the Children and Youth Forum, ensuring wide visibility and engagement.
About EMBRACE
EMBRACE is a European initiative dedicated to advancing children’s mental health through education, awareness-raising, and innovative tools for educators, parents, and policymakers.
The project aims to address mental health issues among vulnerable children in deprived villages and small towns from Northeast Romania, through a model of school-based interventions that is already being piloted in 10 schools.
During the project, a diverse group of participants will be engaged to reflect, learn, and use the EMBRACE resources that will be created and shared at the National and European levels for supporting the mental health of children, including:
500 children who will directly benefit from the EMBRACE toolkit – a structured program meant to educate children aged 6-18 on emotional wellbeing
300 parents who will be supported and empowered through targeted initiatives and introduced to emotional wellbeing literacy
190 specialists in child education and protection, who will be trained to work collaboratively to support the emotional wellbeing of children in schools and communities
123 representative children who will actively participate in shaping and voicing the needs of their peers in the Children and Youth Forum
EMBRACE Future lansează #DescoperăEmoțiile – o campanie publică de conștientizare despre sănătatea mintală a copiilor
România, septembrie 2025
Consorțiul de parteneri EMBRACE anunță cu mândrie lansarea campaniei publice de conștientizare care se va derula în perioada Octombrie 2025 – Aprilie 2026. Campania, sub motto-ul #DescoperăEmoțiile, va aduce sănătatea mintală a copiilor în prim-planul discuțiilor europene, implicând familiile, educatorii și factorii de decizie politică.
Campania debutează în cadrul Forumului Copiilor și Tinerilor din București, în luna octombrie 2025. Evenimentul va implica copiii și tinerii în discuții interactive cu factori de decizie cu privire la aspectele cheie ale sănătății mintale, punând baze pentru participarea și influența copiilor pentru o societate căreia îi pasă de bunăstarea lor emoțională.
După Forum, campania va continua în întreaga Europă, prezentând opt emoții primare identificate în modelul Plutchik:
Bucurie
Anticipare
Furie
Dezgust
Tristețe
Surpriză
Frică
Încredere
Prin evidențierea acestor emoții săptămână de săptămână, campania își propune să sporească gradul de conștientizare, să promoveze alfabetizarea emoțională și să ofere resurse pentru copii, părinți și profesori pentru a naviga mai bine printre provocările emoționale.
Echipa EMBRACE consideră că emoțiile sunt esențiale pentru dezvoltarea, învățarea și reziliența copiilor, urmând această viziune: “Cu #DescoperăEmoțiile, dorim să ne asigurăm că familiile, școlile și comunitățile recunosc importanța lor și că obțin instrumentele necesare pentru a sprijini copiii în moduri sănătoase.
Campania #DescoperăEmoțiile se va desfășura pe rețelele de socializare, canalele de presă, în cadrul Forumului Copiilor și Tinerilor, asigurând o vizibilitate și un angajament larg.
Despre EMBRACE
EMBRACE este o inițiativă europeană dedicată promovării sănătății mintale a copiilor prin educație, conștientizare și instrumente inovatoare pentru educatori, părinți și factori de decizie politică. Proiectul își propune să abordeze problemele de sănătate mintală în rândul copiilor vulnerabili din sate defavorizate și orașe mici din nord-estul României, printr-un model de intervenție care este deja pilotat în 10 școli.
În cadrul proiectului, un grup divers de participanți vor fi implicați pentru a reflecta, a învăța și a utiliza resursele EMBRACE care vor fi create și promovate la nivel național și european pentru a sprijini sănătatea mintală a copiilor:
500 de copii vor beneficia în mod direct de setul de instrumente EMBRACE – un program structurat menit să educe copiii cu vârste cuprinse între 6-18 ani cu privire la bunăstarea emoționalǎ
300 de părinți vor fi introduși în alfabetizarea emoțională
190 de specialiști în educație și protecția copilului vor fi instruiți să lucreze în colaborare pentru susținerea bunăstării emoționale a copiilor în școli și comunități
123 de copii reprezentanți vor participa activ la exprimarea nevoilor în cadrul Forumului Copiilor și Tinerilor
The EMBRACE Future project is finalizing the teaching materials for Module 3, which will soon be piloted in schools across Romania. Each module is tailored for age groups 6-10 (elementary), 10-14 (middle school), and 14-18 (high school).
This week, we’re highlighting an activity for elementary school children (ages 6-10):
The Emotional Wheel.
In Session 1/3, children spin the wheel and land on different emotions represented by the EMBRACE characters. For example: ⇒ Nutty might appear sad ⇒ Sparky could be in love 💕 ⇒ Wise may look surprised
The wheel sparks guided discussions where children share: ⇒ “How did you feel during the activity?”
⇒ “What did I like today?” ⇒ “What was difficult for me?”
Teachers can also encourage kids to express their answers through drawings or simple gestures. For homework, children create a drawing answering:
“Is it good to have positive or negative emotions?”
💡 Why it matters:
Learning to recognize emotions, both in ourselves and in others, helps children build empathy, resilience, and emotional literacy from an early age.
Disclaimer: Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only
and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EACEA.
Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. .
