Did you know that in order to feel empathy and have intuition, we need to feel our emotions? And that while these books are really helpful, this stuff is mostly "caught not taught" meaning that as parents and caregivers, we need to be our children's role models for feeling our feelings. (And not judge the uncomfortable ones as bad.) You probably also already know that emotional intelligence is a … [Read more...]
Emotional Intelligence Activities for Kids
(updated: 1/5/19) I've been reading aloud Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves to my 13-year-old daughter. It was a school assignment. She didn't want to read it so we're reading it together. Interestingly enough, it's been really helpful. It's helping AJ label emotions and also providing strategies to improve her emotional self-awareness and emotional self-management. … [Read more...]
Emotional Intelligence Activity for Kids: Pooh Sticks
As you know, we're talking a lot about emotional intelligence and mindfulness this summer. Emotional awareness is the first step to being mindful, in order to develop emotional intelligence, or EQ. To begin, you must observe your emotions without judgement. I've found an emotional intelligence activity for kids that will give them a visual representation of how the emotions flow in and out the … [Read more...]
MySELF Social Emotional Learning Books
MySELF (Social Emotional Learning Foundations) books help children in PreK - 1st grade build both their early literacy skills and social and emotional intelligence skills. When children aquire and apply the skills necessary to manage emotions, set and achieve goals, resolve conflicts, feel empathy for others, and make responsible decisions, this is called social emotional learning (SEL). A … [Read more...]
Back-to-School Books
As your children return back-to-school, you'll want to read these new picture books, especially Chopsticks by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Little Sweet Potato by Amy Beth Bloom. Back to School Books Because You Are My Teacher by Sherry North, illustrated by Marcellus Hall Teachers, here's your new first day of school read aloud! It sets the tone for your classroom, that it's a place for … [Read more...]
How to Help Your Kids Deal with the Colorado Shooting Tragedy
I can't believe it; but I can believe it. A shooting in a crowded movie theater of children and adults. Innocents. Precious lives destroyed. I feel sadness and anger. You may not want to talk to your school-age kids about this - and because school is out, that's a more viable option than normally. However, if your children are around other kids, they will hear about the shooting at some point. … [Read more...]
Family Dinner Activity – Feelings Bowl
by Susan Schroeder, mother and Kimochis expert. So many of us moms work outside of the home and try hard NOT to bring our work home with us. All parents (working outside the home or not!) crave sacred, uninterrupted, quality time with our children. We want to make sure we stay connected to our kids and make sure they know that we are available for them, even when we have to spend time away—at the … [Read more...]
Guess How I Feel? Social-Emotional Game
AJ is going to Occupational Therapy for Sensory Processing Disorder and it's been life-changing for all of us. Today, I want to tell you about an amazing website called Fun and Function, Where Special Needs is Cool (Affordable too!) and a great social-emotional game called Guess How I Feel. Both have helped us in our journey with SPD and would be equally great for all kids and very helpful to kids … [Read more...]
What Can You Do to Help Anxiety in Kids?
Stress in kids? Really? Anxiety in Kids After missing school and numerous trips to the doctor, my pediatrician kindly advised me that my kindergartner's stomach aches were mostly likely due to anxiety -- there was no physical cause. My daughter, like many kids, experience stress physically. Headaches, stomach aches, vomiting and bed wetting are all common manifestations of stress. OVERHEARD … [Read more...]
Toys to Help Emotional Intelligence
It's difficult for most kids to identify their feelings. Then, it's even harder to know what to do with them -- hint: accept, accept, accept. But, acceptance of all emotions is not always valued. Psychologists will tell you that its important to be able to identify and accept your emotions, whatever they are, and learn how to manage your feelings. But, I've found some books and toys that help … [Read more...]