At first glance, Kimochis® are a cute and fluffy family of friendly critters, but when you take a closer look, it is a proven system for helping kids handle big emotions.
Sharna Christie, a psychologist at Hessel Group, recently shared her successful implementation of Kimochis in her therapeutic approaches. She highlighted how Kimochis offers a unique and engaging way for children to learn about their feelings and develop social-emotional skills.
What Are Kimochis?
Kimochis—which means "feelings" in Japanese—are more than just toys. Kimochis are a social and emotional learning model based on the overarching principle of the CASEL 5 Framework or the five core social-emotional competencies. These are: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
They are tools designed to teach kids how to communicate their emotions effectively. Each Kimochi character has a distinct personality and represents a specific emotion. For example:
- Huggtopus: Represents silliness and affection but also struggles with boundaries.
- Bug: Portraying thoughtfulness while also embodying a hint of shyness and anxiety towards exploring new experiences.
These characters come with a set of "feeling pillows," small pillows with different facial expressions and words that represent various emotions. The idea is to help children articulate what they're feeling by matching their emotions with the appropriate feeling pillow.
All Kimochis® characters, feeling pillows, images and language are copyrighted and trademarked property of Kimochis and Plushy Feely Corp. All Rights Reserved.
Why Kimochis Matter
Kimochis help teach kids all about being respectful, taking responsibility, developing resilience and how to show compassion and kindness towards themselves and others. Kimochis can be used to help children with:
- Anxiety & Emotional Regulation: By recognising and naming their feelings, children can better understand themselves and others
- Anger Management: By learning to articulate their emotions, children can better navigate conflicts and find peaceful resolutions
- Social Skills: Understanding their own emotions helps children to empathise with others, fostering better relationships
- Communication Skills: Kimochis provides a safe and engaging way for kids to express their feelings, reducing frustration and improving communication.
- Self Confidence: Feeling more confident in addressing emotional development
"In sessions, I have begun introducing children to each Kimochi character (each character has its own personality, likes, dislikes and communication/behaviour struggles) and we begin exploring the core feelings for each. After this, children are matched with the character who most closely represents the child’s own personal struggles and the focus on teaching emotional, social, behavioural and communication skills with this character deepens. Children are taught the 5 keys of communication (getting someone’s attention, using a talking voice, using a talking face and body, choosing helping words, and how to redo hurtful moments) and begin developing their coping skills toolboxes for overcoming big and uncomfortable feelings." —SHARNA, PSYCHOLOGIST
Benefits for Parents, Educators & Support Workers
Sharna emphasises that Kimochis offer benefits not only for children but also serve as invaluable tools for parents, educators, and support workers.
- A Common Language: Kimochis create a shared language for discussing emotions, making it easier for adults and children to communicate.
- Teaching Tools: The structured activities and lessons that come with Kimochis provide a framework for teaching emotional intelligence.
- Support: Resources and guides available from Kimochis can help parents and educators feel more confident in addressing emotional development.
Discover the Magic of Kimochis at Hessel Group
Kimochis is an innovative and effective way to teach children about emotions and social skills.
Hessel Group supports our clients at our clinics in Fullarton and Welland, as well as within the community. Our Positive Behaviour Support and Psychology Services cater to individuals of all ages, working closely with their support coordinators and families.
If you want to learn more about our services, contact our Business Support team at 8462 0222 or complete the form via the link below:
