Kimochis Meet Cloud
Cloud is a bit unpredictable. One day he is happy, the next he is angry, and the next day -who knows- maybe sad or even happy again. Cloud lives in the big sky and loves to travel across the Kimochis tree tops paying visits to all his friends. Cloud’s favorite number is 9. His favorite colour is gray, because there are so many different shades of it - just like his personality. Cloud loves butterscotch pudding and green tea. Cloud doesn't play an instrument, but he is a great audience!
Because Cloud can be moody, sometimes it’s hard for him to get along with others. When Cloud is happy, he spreads the most beautiful sunrise across the Kimochis Universe and makes everyone feel fantastic! When Cloud feels bad he has a tendency to snap and thunder and rain on everyone’s parade. Cloud does not do this intentionally. He just has a hard time controlling his emotions, but he does work very hard at not being hurtful, and the others love and support him because he is their friend.
CLOUD is a great teacher of emotions:
HAPPY Emotion: When your child is happy, you can say, “I see and hear that you feel HAPPY. Happiness is contagious! Teach them to send and notice warm, friendly signals such as smiling eyes, smiling. Create everyday moments into happy times; play music while cleaning up toys, sing songs during bath time, cut out paper hearts together. Practice HAPPY by going out of your way to make happiness a common occurrence rather than a special occasion.
SAD Emotion: When your child is sad, you can say, “It’s okay to be sad. You won’t feel SAD forever.” Together think of ways to help make sad feelings smaller. “When I feel sad, I can make my sad feelings smaller by…” Leave a note for someone to find that can soothe sad feelings. Practice SAD by telling them of another time they managed feelings of sadness. Do they remember feeling sad? Are they still sad? Show that feelings come and go.
MAD Emotion: When your child is mad, you can say, “ You can be mad but you can’t be mean.” Remind them that it’s okay to be mad-even really, really mad, but it’s never okay to be even a little mean. Let them hear all the mean things that are not okay to say when mad. Then, substitute these hurtful words with helpful words such as, I’m so mad I want to yell at you.” Let them have a turn practicing using helpful words. Practice MAD when you see or hear them being mean with their voice, body language, or actions, share a secret signal so that they can catch themself and redo a MAD moment without meanness.
ACTIVITIES to do while at home:
Draw out a cloud shape. Colour and decorate the way you like. Using words, describe on your paper, happy, sad, or mad moments (someone can help with the words), I was happy because I , I was mad when, I was sad when I, and so on.
MAD Animal activity: You can play this game outside in your yard; name an animal, pretend the animal is mad, show what the animal might look like and sound like when MAD. For example: I am a MAD lion, and you can roar and move your head like an angry lion. Pretend to be a cat, dog, snake, bear, tiger, elephant, shark, gorilla but keep it a secret of what kind of animal you are so that when you act it out others can guess the animal.
Practice the calm-down breath during daily activities by practicing blowing out candles: children love blowing out birthday candles. This is the same action using the calm-down breath. For fun light as many candles as you can find or bake a cake and add many candles. Take turns with your family using your calm-down breath to blow out the candles.
Marching madness: with your family describe things that make you feel mad. Show how you can use your body in positive ways to shift the madness to a smaller place. March in place and say “I feel so mad because…(name something that can make you feel mad). March out madness by engaging in marching in place while mad.
Basket of comfort: Use a basket to collect things from around your house that might comfort feelings of sadness. For example, happy pictures, toys, favorite storybooks, and stuffed animals. Now you can have this “go to” basket next time you need soothing or comfort for sad feelings.
Kimochis, Building confidence and character in kids one feeling at a time.