A Walk Through a Typical Shichida Session

Arriving

You arrive a few minutes early, shoes off, and settle onto the mat beside your child. The room is deliberately plain — no bright clutter on the walls — because a distraction-free environment is part of the method, not an oversight in the decorating.

The opening

Every class opens the same way: a greeting song and a short breathing and imagery exercise. The repetition is intentional. A predictable start tells a young child's nervous system that it is safe to relax, and a relaxed child absorbs far more than an alert one.

The core

Then the pace lifts. Flashcard sequences shown at speed. Memory games where your child recalls the order of hidden objects. Listening tasks. Number and quantity work. Spatial puzzles and shape sorting. Fine motor activities with pegs, beads or tongs. Each one lasts two or three minutes, and the instructor moves on before anyone has a chance to lose interest.

Imagination and image training

Somewhere in the middle we slow down for imagery work — eyes closed, a story told aloud, your child picturing the scene. It looks like nothing much is happening. It is one of the most valuable parts of the hour.

The close

We finish with heart-based exercises: gratitude, a hug, an affirmation. Children leave calm rather than wired, which their parents appreciate on the journey home.

The first class

If your child spends most of their first session on your lap watching, that is a completely normal first class. Nothing is being missed.

Curious to see it for yourself? The easiest way to understand a Shichida class is to sit in one. Message our team on WhatsApp to book a trial class and we will help you choose the right stage for your child.

Sources & Further Reading

For readers who would like to explore the wider science of early years cognitive development, the following authoritative organisations offer trusted further reading:

1. Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University. Brain Architecture & Early Childhood Development.
2. World Health Organization. Improving Early Childhood Development: WHO Guideline.
3. UK Department for Education. Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
4. NHS. Children’s Development & Early Learning.