The Feeling Friends

The Feelings Company operates as a B2B consumer product business focused on creating and distributing social and emotional learning (SEL) content. The company's business model is centered on selling its educational programs and providing professional development to school districts, Head Start programs, and private daycares. This positions the firm in the educational services and products market, with a specialized niche in early childhood emotional wellness. Revenue is generated through the direct sale of its curriculum, associated materials, and training services.

The company's creation was spurred by a personal need experienced by founder Karen Cuthrell. When her six-year-old daughter was facing emotional challenges, Cuthrell found a lack of tools in the market to help children articulate their feelings. This led her to co-create The Feeling Friends, a set of 12 characters designed to help children, educators, and parents discuss emotions. This initiative evolved from an idea to a concert with coloring books and cassette tapes within a three-month span. Cuthrell, also known as Miss KK, began visiting schools to introduce the characters through songs and dance.

The core offering is The Feeling Friends Educational Program, an evidence-based SEL curriculum designed for children in the early years, specifically from kindergarten through second grade. The program is built upon the CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) framework, focusing on competencies such as self-awareness, self-management, and social awareness. It utilizes a variety of tools, including 12 distinct animal characters each representing a specific emotion, such as Lotta Love the LovaRoo and Angie the Angry Tiger. The curriculum package includes books, songs, puppets, and other activities. A key differentiator is its culturally inclusive lens, noted as a significant African American-developed, evidence-based SEL program in the country.

A significant component of the business strategy involves professional development for the adults in a child's life. The company provides training for educators to build their own emotional competencies, equipping them to effectively teach SEL concepts. This approach aims to create a supportive environment where both students and adults share a common emotional vocabulary. The program has shown a notable impact in schools, improving the behavior and mental state of students by providing them with the tools to identify and express their emotions constructively. The team consists of CEO Karen Cuthrell and Operations Director Mandez Douthit.

Keywords: social-emotional learning, SEL curriculum, early childhood education, emotional wellness, educational programs, professional development for educators, B2B education, child psychology, emotional intelligence tools, classroom resources, character-based learning, school district vendor, Head Start programs, private daycare curriculum, evidence-based learning, culturally inclusive education, Karen Cuthrell, children's mental health, educational content, feeling vocabulary