If my phone’s predictive text suddenly forgot every word in the dictionary but kept every single emoji, I’d probably still manage to communicate for a solid week. 😂 And honestly? My kids would probably understand me better.
We live in a world of little yellow faces. They’ve taken over our texts, our social media, and quite frankly, our ability to express emotion without a crying-laughing face. So, when I found out there’s an actual holiday dedicated to these little pictograms—World Emoji Day on July 17th—I knew we had to celebrate.
But how do you throw a party for a bunch of digital faces without everyone just staring at an iPad? I’ve been racking my brain (and testing these out with my own little humans) to bring you the ultimate list of Emoji Day activities for kids. These are hands-on, creative, and most importantly, they don’t require a single notification. Let’s get this party started.
1. Emoji Cookie Decorating (The Edible Kind)
If there is one universal language that trumps emojis, it’s sugar. Decorating emoji cookies is probably the most delicious way to spend this holiday. You don’t need to be a contestant on a baking show to pull this off.
Here’s how we do it mess-free (ish):
- The Base: Buy a pack of plain sugar cookies or make a batch of simple round sugar cookies. I usually take the store-bought route because, let’s face it, I’m not trying to win any parenting awards for “Most From Scratch.”
- The Icing: Grab a few tubes of pre-made yellow icing. It’s a game-changer.
- The Faces: Use candy eyes, mini M&Ms for mouths, and red hots for hearts. You can also use black icing pens to draw the details.
IMO, the best part isn’t the eating (though that’s a close second); it’s watching the kids try to decide if their cookie is going to be the “screaming in terror” face or the “cool sunglasses” dude. The creativity is wild. 😎
2. Play-Doh Emoji Squish
This is the ultimate low-prep activity. If you have a toddler, you probably have Play-Doh somewhere. If you don’t, you’re either very brave or very new to this parenting thing.
Just grab some yellow Play-Doh and roll it into balls. Then, flatten them slightly. Provide googly eyes, pipe cleaners, beads, or just those little plastic Play-Doh tools to carve out expressions.
- Why it works: It’s sensory, it’s silly, and it’s great for fine motor skills.
- The Challenge: See if they can make the whole range of emotions in five minutes. Angry, sad, surprised, and that weird sideways smiley one that looks suspicious.
3. DIY Emoji Magnets for the Fridge
I don’t know about you, but my fridge looks like a chaotic art gallery anyway. Might as well make it themed.
All you need is:
- Air-dry clay or Shrinky Dinks (if you want to feel like it’s 1995 again).
- Acrylic paint or markers.
- Magnets with adhesive backs.
If you use clay, shape them into small discs, let them dry, and paint them yellow. Once they’re dry, draw on the faces and stick a magnet on the back. If you use Shrinky Dinks, you trace circles and faces, bake them, and watch them magically shrink into hard plastic.
Personal Anecdote: Last year, my son made a poop emoji magnet. It currently lives right next to our grocery list. It makes me chuckle every single morning. Priorities, right?
4. Emoji Scavenger Hunt
This gets them moving, which is always a win. Hide printed-out emojis (or little plastic toys if you have them) around the house or yard.
Level up the game:
Instead of just finding them, give them a checklist with the meanings of the emojis. For example:
- Find the “laughing so hard I’m crying” face.
- Find the “party parrot” (or just a regular parrot if you don’t have a fancy one).
- Find the “avocado.”
It turns a simple hunt into a fun literacy and matching game. Plus, it buys you at least twenty minutes of quiet time. 🙂
5. Make Your Own Emoji T-Shirts
Kids love wearing their art. It’s like a walking brag. Grab a pack of plain yellow t-shirts and some fabric markers or iron-on patches.
Method One (The Artist):
Let them draw their favorite emoji directly onto the shirt with fabric markers. This is great for older kids who have a steady hand.
Method Two (The Designer):
Use an iron-on transfer sheet. Print out a design (or have them draw one), iron it on, and boom—custom fashion.
Rhetorical Question: Is there anything cuter than a toddler wearing a shirt that just says “💩” on it? No. No there isn’t.
6. Emoji Storytime Challenge
This is my favorite educational hack. It’s essentially creative writing with a cheat code.
Here’s the drill:
- Have your child pick 5-10 emojis from a hat (or just scroll through your phone and let them point).
- They have to write a story—or tell it out loud for the pre-writers—using those emojis as the main plot points.
For example: 🐱 + 🏠 + 🌪️ + 🚀 = A cat’s house gets picked up by a tornado and lands on the moon.
It’s silly, it encourages narrative thinking, and it’s way more fun than a standard writing prompt.
7. Emoji Bingo
Bingo is one of those games that spans generations. My grandpa loves it, my kids love it, and I love it because it requires zero batteries.
How to set it up:
- Create bingo cards with different emojis in each square.
- Instead of calling out “B-9,” you call out the description. “The face with heart eyes!” or “The screaming cat!”
- Use dried beans or pennies as markers.
You can print pre-made cards from online or just draw them yourself. It’s low-stakes, high-fun.
8. Guess the Emotion
This is a fantastic activity for helping kids with emotional intelligence and empathy. It takes the abstract emoji and makes it physical.
How to play:
- Take turns drawing an emoji out of a bowl.
- You have to act out that emotion without making the face yourself.
- Everyone else has to guess which emoji you are.
Ever tried to act out the “zipper-mouth monkey” without laughing? It’s harder than it looks. It’s a great way to talk about feelings in a non-scary, playful context.
9. Emoji Slime (Sensory Gold)
Look, I know slime is messy. I know it gets in the carpet and becomes a permanent fixture in your home. But kids absolutely adore the stuff. And for Emoji Day, we can make it special.
The Recipe:
- Make a batch of clear or yellow slime.
- Mix in those little foam ball beads (the ones that look like tiny styrofoam balls).
- Press little plastic emoji toys or sequins into the slime.
They can squish it, stretch it, and pull out the emojis. Just keep it off the ceiling, please.
10. Emoji Face Painting
Turn your kids into living, breathing emojis. If you have face paint, great. If you don’t, use a yellow makeup crayon or even just a yellow sticky note cut into a circle and taped to a shirt.
Tips for the artistically challenged (like me):
- Stick to the classics. A black circle for the mouth and two black dots for the eyes.
- If you want to get fancy, add a red heart for the “in love” face.
- Avoid attempting the “sweating” emoji. The dots just look like you messed up.
Watching them run around the backyard with their faces painted like little suns is peak summer joy.
So, there you have it. Ten ways to celebrate World Emoji Day without a screen in sight. Whether you’re baking cookies, squishing slime, or just drawing faces on sticky notes, the goal is to have fun and connect.
FYI, July 17th falls right in the middle of summer, which means you’re probably already looking for ways to keep the troops entertained. Why not let a little yellow face be your guide this year?
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with some air-dry clay and a dream of creating the perfect “face palm” magnet. Happy Emoji Day, everyone! 🎉
