Kimochis® helps children develop essential social and emotional tools, including emotional regulation, empathy, positive relationships, and responsible decision-making. Grounded in neuroscience and social-emotional learning research, it supports school readiness, academic success, and emotional competence. Using engaging Kimochis® characters and feelings pillows, children learn to recognise and name a wide range of emotions (both those we like-to-have and those we find hard-to-have) and practice tools to make them bigger, smaller, or to keep them the right size. Kimochis® helps children learn how we are different and similar to each other, how to communicate clearly, and to show ultimate value and worth to all people every day. Through the Kimochis® Keys to Communication, children are taught clear, respectful ways to express themselves and navigate big feelings, building a strong foundation for healthy communication and self-awareness. In turn, children build a tool kit to help navigate everyday life in practical and helpful ways. For more information on the program, visit: https://www.doinglifetogether.com.au/kimochis-in-australia

Expected outcomes for this program are:

• children demonstrate an increase in understanding of emotions (how they feel, what they look like, how they sound, how they are experienced) and their daily operational emotion vocabulary (identify, acknowledge, and validate emotions)
• children develop practical ways (a lifelong toolkit), to make emotions bigger or smaller, or keep them the right size as they need (self-regulation)
• children demonstrate increased prosocial connections between each other and develop their tools to be able to problem solve within relationships, including redoing hurtful moments (pro-social, problem-solving, and communication, and compassion tools)
• increased confidence of educators, who are equipped with practical tools, common language, and evide

Kimochis is delivered in-person or online, over a full day workshop. The initial professional development workshop provides you with an interactive introduction to the resources, as well as additional handouts, annual planners and sequences for delivery. You choose which elements you would like to scaffold a session around and then ask children to add content through story and suggestions. It is a play-based and experiential learning tool.

This program is delivered for $270 per person for a full day workshop. The program can be delivered to a group for $1,850 for groups of 1-15 people, or $2,850 for groups of 16 or more. The Kimochis® Early Childhood Tool Kit costs $960. Various costs for additional resources including additional kits, characters, books, or mixed bags of feelings: further information can be found at www.doinglifetogether.com.au/store. Follow up personal development workshops (to further development) are available at the same cost as initial workshop. These are available but not compulsory. Travel costs include a mileage reimbursement ($0.66 per km) when more than 100km from Adelaide CBD. Overnight accommodation and additional travel costs (such as flights) may be applicable if same day travel is not possible. A formal quote can be provided before accepting or confirming PD arrangements.