NORTH SHOREVIEW MONTESSORI PTA

The Mad Feeling and Kimochis®  Kotowaza: It's okay to be mad, but it is not okay to be mean. This Kotowaza helps children to understand that it is acceptable to have mad feelings (all humans experience them). However, it is not okay for anyone to express those feelings by being hurtful or unkind to others. We all know how easy it is to use our eyes, face, voice, body language, words, and actions in unkind ways to express our mad feelings in a way that is not hurtful to others. One tool was to use a "cool down strategy" such as taking several deep breaths before speaking. Each student chose the cool down strategy that they felt would work best for him/her. Ask your child to share his/her cool down strategy and acknowledge your child when you see him/her using it effectively. Another tool was to use "posibive self talk" to help upsetting thoughts get smaller and calmer ("This isn't so bad. I can handle this.") Ask your child what positive self-talk words he/she might be using as a way to cope with mad feelings.

 

Family Challenge: Ask each family member to identify one situation that can make him or her feel really mad. For example, "When I say it is dinner time and no one comes to eat and I have to repeat myslef, I feel really mad." Take the Cool Down Challenge and commit to using a deep breath or other cool-down strategy the next time you find yourself in this maddening moment. Check in at family mealtime on how this is working for everyone and see if anyone has discovered other ways to cool down mad feelings so you can communicate in a way you won't regret!

 

Previous Kimochi Lessons:

Kimochi Keys

Key 1: A School Where Everyone is Known by Name

Key 2: Use a Talking Voice instead of a Fighting Voice

Key 3: Use a talking Face and Body Instead of a Fighting Face and Body

Key 4: Choose Words That Help Instead of Hurt

Key 5: Be Brave and Redo Hurtful Moments