Kimochis... What is it?

Kimochi means “emotion” in Japanese. The Kimochis® are a tool created by one of the illustrators of the animated film Despicable Me, in partnership with a psychologist, with the goal of putting an end to violence in schools.

These characters, each with a unique personality that children can easily relate to, come with small emotion cushions, the Kimochis, or “Ki-motions” ;) that can be tucked into a pocket.

Implemented in Montessori classrooms or used in our extracurricular workshops, the method helps children identify the emotions they feel and teaches them tools to handle challenging situations without resorting to violence.

For example, Cloud, the cloud-shaped character, teaches children a calming breathing technique, as shown in the video beside this text.

Did You Say… Emotional Intelligence?

Studies show that children who receive social and emotional learning experience:

a 23% increase in social and emotional skills (friendship, compassion, forgiveness, cooperation, resilience…),
an 11% decrease in anxiety and relationship-related stress, and a 9% reduction in aggression, violence, and conflict,
an 11% improvement in academic achievement.