Kimochi Feelings Dolls

A child’s social competence is a critical developmental achievement for later social success. An important aspect of prosocial development in the early years is the ability to learn to develop healthy relationships through positive interactions. But, let’s face it conflicts are inevitable simply because we are all different. We all have different thoughts and ideas, different solutions, and different ways to approach problems. As a result, we have decided to create a safe space in our classroom to invite and encourage the Kindergarteners to resolve conflicts peacefully.

Because our job as teachers is not about telling, but rather by guiding, we have generated the “Peace Bench” to guide the Kindergarteners in becoming effective problem solvers. We invited the children to decorate the bench and then added soft cushions for a comfortable feel. We then spoke about the use of a “talking stick” that they can use when “negotiating.” The purpose of this stick is to give each participant the opportunity to speak as only the person with the stick can speak and no one may interrupt or speak until the stick is passed to them.

Along with the talking stick, we have also included some Kimochi Feelings Dolls that were generously donated to our classroom by the McGeehan family (Cara’s family). Kimochis are small pillows with a feeling (happy, sad, angry, etc.) printed on one side and a corresponding facial expression on the other. These little plush characters help the Kindergarteners express their emotions in a fun and comfortable way.

After a quick discussion on how to best use this space and its props, we role-played different situations that the Kindergarteners might experience in the classroom. It was so comforting to hear the positive solutions each Kindergartener came up with. Go ahead. Facilitate a conversation with your family to include a scenario for a typical problem and encourage your child to share her/his positive solutions.