Stay connected with the Kimochis Paper Nesting Heart! The Kimochis Paper Nesting Heart are 2 hearts that can be printed, cut out and carried or stand on table or desk. The two hearts are a physical and emotional symbol of how your hearts are connected and can bring comfort during heartfelt conversations or times of separation.
Heart and Seek: Hide each other’s hearts in fun or funny places as a reminder that “I love you!”
Follow Your Heart: Clip the heart to your child’s back-pack or belt loop as a special reminder to have courage or feel close to loved ones.
Picture a Big Heart: Place a photo of your loved one in the big heart when they are away.
Pour Your Heart Out: Give the inner heart to a loved one when you have something to confide. Tuck a Mini Kimochis® Feeling into the outer heart to express your heartfelt feelings.
Have a Heart-to-Heart: When it’s time to talk about the hard stuff, use your hearts to soften the mood and speak the truth from a loving place.
Cross Your Hearts: Make a promise to each other to say how you feel, even when times get tough.
Heartfelt Rituals: Create a ritual for the Nesting Heart as you prepare for a separation. For example, take turns kissing or hugging each heart when you say good-bye. Use video chat to hold the hearts together or re-enact your special Nesting Heart ritual while you are away.
If you know you won’t be able to connect by phone or computer, plan ahead! Pick a time each day that you will think of each other and give the heart a squeeze.
When you are reunited, make a special point of putting your hearts back together and sharing your feelings of joy and gratitude knowing your hearts are in the right place.
Tips for Communicating from the Heart
Acknowledge sad feelings “You sound so sad. I remember feeling sad when I was away from my mommy at your age.”
Validate and normalize feelings “Of course you feel sad, most kids don’t like it when their parent is away.”
Use your Nesting Heart ritual “Let’s kiss our hearts.”
Look at the positive “Feeling sad means that we have such a big love, we feel sad when we can’t be together.”
Remind those feelings come and go “I bet you remember a time when you felt sad before. (Have child share.) Are you still sad about (name what they shared)? See how feelings come and go?”
Think forward “When I am home on Tuesday, let’s think of something fun we can do together.”
Use humor “Just think…if I were home right now, we could be folding the laundry together.”
Empower your child to self-soothe “I bet you can think of a way to make your sad feelings smaller. What if you…”
Purchase our Plush Nesting Heart