CosmoKidz
CosmoKidz is a set of activities created for teachers, pre-school and day-care professionals, parents, grandparents, and anyone else meaningfully connected with children ages 4-8.
If you work closely with young children, either as a caregiver or educator, you know how important their social/emotional development is in their overall well-being and in their capacity to meet the demands of life. CosmoKidz helps teach young children skills and abilities that develop their care for self and others—skills that last for the rest of their lives.
The set consists of 31 themes designed to explore a series of interpersonal topics that young children face in their everyday social world. Each topic is on a separate card and includes the topic, a common scenario, questions to help children discuss their experience of the scenario, and two role-play activities to practice acting more mindfully into the situation in the future. These topics have been gathered from young children around the world; they told us through small group conversations what they find challenging and demanding in their own lives. The topics cover a range from “feeling unsure” and “bullying” to “saying I am sorry” and “making new friends”. The box also contains 31 supplemental activity sheets, a one-page short version of the User’s Guide, and, an 11 page User’s Guide that describes the theory and thinking behind CosmoKidz and ways that adults can effectively use the cards.
We have also developed puppets with a smiling face on one side and tears on the other side. The puppets can be used as a playful and fun way to talk about any or all of the topics contained in the CosmoKidz set.
CosmoKidz sets can be purchased for $35 (US) each and puppets for $20 (US) each plus $15 for shipping each purchase.
CosmoKidz also works through an acronym. SOAR was created to remind the children (and adults alike) of what we are practicing:
S: Sense what’s around you
O: Open your hands to help others
A: Act with kindness
R: Respect other people
You can download a SOAR song free. Download here (Visit link, right click and “Save Audio As”)
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Demonstration videos
CosmoKidz Presentation
Short presentation of CosmoKidz, a set of activities to increase compassion and awareness, presented by Hele Mennesker and the CMM Institute.
Brief for Educators on Cosmokidz
Katrina Tellez provides information useful to educators on what Cosmokidz is and how to use it.
Cosmokidz – Using Puppets
Katrina Tellez, educator and parent, talks about using the Cosmokidz Puppets.
Cosmokidz – Reinforcing SOAR behavior
Katrina Tellez on reinforcing SOAR behavior using Cosmokidz.
Cosmokidz for teachers and parents
Katrina Tellez on talking about how teachers and parents can use Cosmokidz.
Cosmokidz SOAR Dance
The SOAR song and dance are part of the CosmoKidz activities to increase compassion and awareness in young children. SOAR means, “To fly or glide high in the air. To rise suddenly above the normal level.” SOAR contains the essence of what CosmoKidz is about. Young children learn through conversations and creative communication. It matters what we say and do, and how we say and do it. SOAR reminds children to be aware of this through:
S: Sense what’s around you
O: Open your hands to help others
A: Act with kindness
R: Respect other people
Use SOAR as a reminder and variation during school lessons and other times spent with children. Especially when they start losing concentration and need to use some energy. SOAR channels this energy into something positive and works as a reminder about staying present with surroundings, each other, and ourselves.
CozmoKidz Research
We have completed a three-year research project at Mt Vista School in Oracle, Arizona and we are currently replicating that research in Hammond, Louisiana with two schools. The research data are providing convincing evidence that CosmoKidz significantly increases mindfulness of children’s social worlds and helps them develop interpersonal skills that help them productively work through conflict and differences while increasing compassion, kindness and respect. Research summaries are provided below:
2014 final report on CosmoKidz
2015 final report on CosmoKidz
2016 final report on Cosmokidz
2017-2018 report on CosmoKidz in LA
Extensions of the CosmoKidz program
Our next set of goals is to create CosmoTweens (8-11 years old) and CosmoTeens (12-14 years old) to add to the skills children are learning from CosmoKidz. When these goals are completed, schools from kindergarten through 8th grade can teach their children a culture of communication skills and competencies that will carry them into high school and beyond.
Can you see ways that the CosmoKidz program can be spread further? Do you know of schools and/or communities that would love to see their children develop SOARing behaviors? Do you want to be involved?
If so please contact Marit Haavimb at mariteikaashaavimb@gmail.com or Kim Pearce at kimpearce@aol.com
Latest news on CosmoKidz
CosmoKidz: Teaching Children Response-Abilities in Their Relationships
CosmoKidz: Teaching Children Response-Abilities in Their Relationships The goals of CosmoKidz are to help children develop skills and abilities that help nurture cosmopolitan ways of being. We have recently concluded a three-year research project with all kindergarten through second-grade classes (ages 4-7) in Oracle, Arizona with results showing that if these skills and abilities are practiced consistently, they become part of a child’s repertoire for acting into his/her social worlds. ... Read More
Camp CosmoKidz: Bigger and better
Camp CosmoKidz: Bigger and better Last year we were excited to tell you about our first ever CosmoKidz Camp. This year we have more good news to report. The Camp has continued and it has become bigger and better with the generous support of the Louisiana Governor's Office. ... Read More
CosmoKidz in Louisiana: An inspiring first year
CosmoKidz in Louisiana: An inspiring first year We have just completed our first year of the CosmoKIdz program in Louisiana and it was truly inspiring. Our research data clearly show that the program is instrumental in cultivating invaluable social skills. ... Read More
Beyond CosmoKidz: We need your help!
Beyond CosmoKidz: We need your help! We created CosmoKidz to help young children develop relational awareness and related skills. We have more than four years’ worth of research to confirm it works. Now we want to go beyond CosmoKidz and we need your help. We invite all forms of collaboration in this new development. ... Read More
CosmoKidz goes to Louisianna
CosmoKidz goes to Louisianna, October 31, 2017 We have sports camps, art camps, scholastic camps, but have you ever heard of a camp that focuses on helping kids develop better communicating skills? Well, this year there was one. We held our first ever Camp CosmoKidz this summer in Louisiana. The camp and its aftermath is such an extraordinary example of how one small thing can be so positively welcomed and then blossom into more, that we wanted to tell you the story. ... Read More