KIMOCHIS: Toys with Feelings Inside LuluCo Intn’l P/L
This can best be described as an educational toy, consisting of a set of seven Kimochis (Japanese word for feelings) characters, each of which has its own particular disposition, such as bossy, shy, moody and sensitive, and with a pouch to insert their feeling cushion, of which there are 29, an educator’s tool kit, a series of picture books and a nesting heart.
It is designed specifically to support children with autism to develop the skills they need to build relationships and to participate and achieve appropriately in their social worlds. It encourages children to talk, while also identifying, recognizing and managing their feelings, in order to develop their emotional literacy. The development of this kit is based on research relating to self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. Some pieces are priced individually $3.95 to $49.95, but here are also packages available from $142.20 to $550.00. It certainly would be a useful tool with autistic children, but could also have a place with supporting young children to understand and deal with their feelings. SC
