Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
SEL Kernel
SEL Kernels are short, flexible, easy-to-use strategies and routines that build social and emotional skills. Each Kernel is designed to target a specific skill or competency, such as emotion knowledge, perspective-taking, or conflict resolution.
Quote of the Month
Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #NewWaysNovember #NewWaysNovember
“Learning to stand in somebody else’s shoes, to see through their eyes, that’s how peace begins. And it’s up to you to make that happen. Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world.”– Barack Obama
SEL Video of the Month
Weekly Activity Guide
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #NewWaysNovember
Kids are often more capable than they realize. As we help them discover this, not only will they gain confidence in themselves, but they’ll be more willing to try things that are new and difficult – a skill that will benefit them through adulthood. #NewWaysNovember #GrowthMindset
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/ Nov%202025.jpg
Week 2: When I Grow Up…
Youth often have a narrow vision of themselves or the person they might wish to become (e.g., to be liked by others, to have a particular job, or fantasies of an idealized future). Challenge youth to describe themselves 20 years in the future. Using old magazines or images from the internet, have youth create a vision board of their life 20 years in the future. Ask youth to describe the important choices and actions they would need to make today to reach this future self. #NewWaysNovember #FutureisBright #WhenIGrowUp
Week 3: World Kindness Week (November 13-17)
Spread kindness all week-long during World Kindness Week. Each year during the week of November 13, stay positive, spread joy, and make the extra effort to be kind to everyone. #NewWaysNovember #KindnessIsFree #WorldKindnessWeek
To observe World Kindness Week, have youth participate in:
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- Create a respectful poster- what does respect for your program look like.
- Create a self-kindness bag. Using Post It notes and write down all the different ways you can be kind to yourself. Once you have a list, put them into a bag and every day, choose a different way you can be kind to yourself.
- Real-life Kind People, have youth draw and write a story about real people who exhibit kindness to others.
World Kindness Day (November 13)
World Kindness Day is on November 13, 2025, and it’s the perfect occasion to show kids of all ages the importance of being kind to everyone, to ourselves, and to the world. This day is the best time of the year to stop and spend an entire day doing some good actions in the world, such as complimenting strangers, doing random acts of kindness, learning about compassion, and more! When you catch students being kind, reward them with a Kindness Award #NewWaysNovember #KindnessIsFree #SpreadKindnessLikeConfetti #WorldKindnessDay
Mini Kindness Awards - School of Kindness
Week 4: Try Something New: Paint like Jackson Pollock
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a huge canvas of white, and to be able to just throw different colors of paint on it? If you have, then you are a lot like Jackson Pollock! Jackson Pollock was an American artist, known for his unique style of painting which involved spraying, flinging, or dripping paints onto canvas. Watch this short video on Jackson Pollock and how he creates his masterpieces and challenge yourself to create your own Jackson Pollock work of art! https://youtu.be/aSYo-98fO1Y
Week 5: Broaden Your Perspective
Teaching perspective taking skills in elementary school is crucial for the social and emotional development of children. It helps them understand and appreciate different viewpoints, empathize with others, and navigate social interactions effectively. To help youth broaden their perspective try engaging in a read aloud. #NewWaysNovember #PerspectiveTaking #EmpathyBuilding
Here are a few books that you can use to help teach empathy and perspective taking to youth:
- The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig: Focuses on understanding what it's like to feel unseen and how to include others.
- The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld: Illustrates how to be supportive and empathetic, even when you don't have the right words.
- Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller: Explores simple ways to spread kindness when someone is treated unkindly.
- Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña: Encourages seeing the beauty in everyday life through a child's perspective.
- I Am Human by Susan Verde: Teaches self-compassion and how to connect with others.
- I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët: A wordless picture book that shows a simple act of kindness spreading through a community.
What is Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and how can I be part of this?
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Per CASEL, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) reflects the critical role of positive relationships and emotional connections in the learning process and helps students develop a range of skills they need for school and life.
SEL Resources
I Am Poem Template
As the pandemic continues, kids are turning to meditation to manage anxiety
SEL skills include the ability to:
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set and achieve positive goals
- feel and show empathy for others
- establish and maintain positive relationships
- make responsible decisions
- understand and manage emotions
All of these skills are necessary—both for educators and students—to function well in the classroom, in the community, and in college and careers.
Visit the CASEL Interactive SEL Framework to learn more about the CASEL Wheel (above)
Previous Monthly Themes
- October 2025—#OptimisticOctober
- September 2025—#Self-CareSeptember
- August 2025—#AltruisticAugust
- July 2025—#JumpBackUpJuly
- June 2025—#JoyfulJune
- May 2025—#MeaningfulMay
- April 2025—#ActiveApril
- March 2025—#MindfulMarch
- February 2025—#FriendlyFebruary
- December 2024—#DoGoodDecember
- November 2024—#NewWaysNovember
- October 2024—#OptimisticOctober
October 2025—#OptimisticOctober
Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #OptimisticOctober
#OptimisticOctober Quote of the Month:
“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination."
– Jimmy Dean
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #OptimisticOctober
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Optimism isn’t about just seeing the bright side of a situation or donning rose-tinted glasses, optimism is about the hard work of finding new options. When youth are taught how to practice optimism, #OptimisticOctober, they shift into a proactive stance and see that progress is possible. It may just be the underlying skill which allows youth to engage in a growth mindset, with support from a responsible and safe adult. #OptimisticOctober #GrowthMindset
Week 2: Gratitude Journaling
A gratitude journal is a powerful tool that all youth would benefit. When you take time to reflect on what you are grateful for it can help shift your perspective in a positive direction. Gratitude can be found in the smallest things such as birds chirping outside or spending time with family. Whether it’s something new or repeated, what matters is recognizing it. #OptimisticOctober #Gratitude
Week 3: Positive Reflection
One way to incorporate optimism is through positive reflection. It is easy to focus on what went wrong but it is possible to also focus on what went right. Encourage youth to name things that they were grateful for throughout the day and things they are excited about the next day. Another way is taking a nature walk, have youth observe signs of growth, such as plants sprouting or leaves changing color. Then you can discuss how nature shows resilience through changing seasons. #OptimisticOctober #Reflection
Week 4: Lights on Afterschool 2025
Each year, we celebrate afterschool programs nationwide through Lights on Afterschool. Now, more than ever, I encourage every single program to celebrate and sign up for Lights on Afterschool in Afterschool Alliance. We all know the kind of impact afterschool gives us and youth and it is important to acknowledge and spread awareness. #OptimisticOctober #LightsonAfterschool
Week 5: Vision Boards
Vision boards are a fun and creative way to help youth motivate themselves to reach their goals and aspirations. Have youth reflect on what they would like to accomplish in a year, or ten years from now. This can be school, career, or personally focused on what they would like to accomplish. This gives youth an opportunity to think positively about the future they want. #OptimisticOctober #FutureGoals
September 2025—#Self-CareSeptember
Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #Self-CareSeptember
#Self-CareSeptember Quote of the Month:
“Always make decisions that prioritizes your inner peace.”
– Izey Victoria Odiase
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #Self-CareSeptember
Give yourself a bear hug. It is so vital to be kind and prioritize self-care. There are so many times where we often neglect to take care of ourselves and sometimes prioritize the care of others. It is essential to make time for ourselves and discover what brings us peace and happiness. We must not forget that we’re human and like plants we need water to grow. #Self-CareSeptember #NourishYourself
Week 2: Positive Affirmations
Have youth write down positive affirmations that describe themselves such as “I am kind,” “I am strong,” or “I am confident.” Another idea is to have affirmations written down in a centrally visible place and invite youth to repeat them aloud as you say it along with them. There are plenty of videos available that feature positive affirmations including a nursery rhyme positive affirmations song. As a program idea, you could start each week with affirmations and decide as a group which ones to say together or individually. #Self-CareSeptember #ControlYourHappiness
Week 3: Kind Notes
It can often be easier to show kindness to a best friend than to yourself, so imagine how powerful it would be if we treated ourselves with that same compassion. Have youth spend a few minutes to write a kind thoughtful note to themselves. A few examples youth can write about could be identifying what they’re doing well, reminding themselves of why they are amazing, and for you the adult, reflect and journal on what you are doing well and why you are amazing. #Self-CareSeptember #Self-Compassion
Week 4: De-stress Plan
Have youth create a personal plan they can use to help them manage stress and worries. Ask youth what their hobbies are, what makes them smile, have youth to write them down in a plan. Some ideas for a plan could include journaling, playing a sport, or simply being outside. This activity encourages self-awareness by giving youth a chance to reflect on themselves. When they’re not feeling their best, they can refer to their plan and engage in the activities they’ve listed. It is a self-management tool anyone can utilize. #Self-CareSeptember #StressReliever
Week 5: Accomplishments Box
Have youth create an “Accomplishments” box to remind themselves of the things they have done well. This is a great way for youth to reflect on all the things they have done. If students are struggling to come up with examples, help them identify their strengths and think about areas they’d like to improve or focus on. #Self-CareSeptember #Strengths
August 2025—#AltruisticAugust
Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #AltruisticAugust
#AltruisticAugust Quote of the Month:
“Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
– John Wesley
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #AltrusticAugust
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This month is all about giving your time and showing care for those around you. There are selfless acts you can do, such as volunteering at a local animal shelter or holding the door for someone without expecting anything in return. These acts of kindness can be big or small, but each one makes a difference in someone else’s day.
Week 2: Circle of Compliments
The Circle of Compliments is an interactive activity where students will sit in a circle facing one another. One student begins by complimenting the person on their right. The compliment can be based on observations from past interactions or general traits about the person. Once everyone has given and received a compliment, you all can come together as a group to discuss how these affirmations made them feel.
Week 3: Charity Challenge
Have youth break into teams for the Charity Challenge and ask each team to identify a local charity or social issue they would like to address. As a team, have them brainstorm ways they could contribute to the causes such as fundraising, volunteering, or raising awareness. Once each team has chosen a local charity and decided how they will contribute, they will present their plans to the group. After all the presentations, participants can vote on which plan they would like to pursue together.
Week 4: Collaborative Storytelling
Encourage students to story tell together as they sit in a circle and take turns contributing to a story about altruism or cooperation. The story should reflect values such as kindness or fostering connections among characters. This activity also enhances creativity and teamwork skills.
Week 5: Create a Kindness Corner
An ongoing altruistic activity is setting up a bulletin board in a corner of your program space or designating a blank area of wall for a Kindness Corner. Throughout the program year, students can add clippings from newsletters, newspapers, or magazines that highlight stories of altruism in the community or across the country. Additionally, students are encouraged to share their own experiences with altruism or their plans for future experiences with altruism.
July 2025—#JumpBackUpJuly
#JumpBackUpJuly Quote of the Month:
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."
– Albert Einstein
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #JumpBackUpJuly
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Jul%202025.pdf
During the summertime, afterschool programs are different hours, and it may affect daily routines. It is important to talk about how to get back into routines or create a routine. You can utilize this sample schedule to help your students create a morning, afternoon, and evening routine. Routines can include eating, sleeping, and other things that are consistent throughout the day.
Week 2: Summer Journal
A sunshine summer journal is a fun way to track what students have been thinking, learning, and writing for the summer. There is a step-by-step guide in the link above and the supplies needed for the summer journal. There are many ways to utilize the summer journal such as students can draw or write about a favorite thing they did or saw. Another idea is to write simple poems, sticker stories, or even make a weather chart page they see throughout the day.
Week 3: Yet Crown
The Yet Crown activity is where students write a list of 2–3 hard things that they cannot do but want to be able to do. You can utilize the SMART goal method to make sure it is attainable. Then you can have your students decorate their crown with the goals they decided and write the letters YET in the center of the crown. The word ‘yet’ to a sentence is a simple and effective tool for kids when trying to succeed at something new.
Week 4: The Worry Box
As we continue summer programming, it is a good time to reflect on and consider what our students may be feeling. Moreso, focus on what kind of worries students may have. One helpful activity is to encourage students to write down or draw their worries and place them in a Worry Box. This box can be used whenever a student feels overwhelmed. Students can place their worry in the box; this signifies how they can take control of their emotions and situation. It allows them to temporarily “park” their feelings until they are ready to address them — whether by tackling the issue, asking for help, or accepting it and moving on. You can also invite students to decorate their worry box. An alternative activity to consider is the write down, rip up, throw away your stress activity that works best at the beginning of program.
Week 5: Coping Skills
Encourage students to participate in a group coping skill activity and think about what helpful and unhelpful strategies are. There are different ways for people to cope such as physical activities, mindfulness practices, social support, and cognitive techniques. It is important for students to explore and identify what works best for them, whether they are dealing with big life changes, unexpected challenges, and just everyday stress.
June 2025—#JoyfulJune
Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #JoyfulJune
#JoyfulJune Quote of the Month:
“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life ”
– Omar Khayyam
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #JoyfulJune
“A little joy can brighten your day and fill your heart.” As summer approaches it’s the perfect time to reflect on what brings us happiness and what helps us feel better. Joy can be found in anything even in the simplest things – like the sun. The bright sun that rises in the morning sets the stage for a beautiful, joyful day. #JoyfulJune #SimpleJoy
Week 2: Make a Joy List
A joy list is a great way to have kids reflect on what brings them joy whether it’s people, food, things, hobbies, or places. After each student has written down what brings them joy, place it on a poster or cut out the letters of joy and place it anywhere they’d like. Another option is to display their creations in your program space so they can look at them anytime. Here are a couple of templates you can use: My Joy List template and What Brings You Joy? #JoyfulJune #MyJoyList
Week 3: Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
In this nature color scavenger hunt activity, youth will work as a team and find natural items that match each color on a color wheel. As they explore the outdoors, they will have the opportunity to reflect on how nature makes them feel and what they enjoy most about spending time outside. After the scavenger hunt, youth can engage in group discussion, sharing their thoughts on the experience and reflect on their personal connection with nature. #JoyfulJune #ExploreNature
Week 4: Happy Dance
Dancing gives a fun and expressive way to release tension, boost your mood, and embrace positive energy. Have youth get up and do a happy dance. Make sure they shake things off, like, what they have been feeling throughout the day. They can do the same routine or make up their own dance and steps that make them feel happy. #JoyfulJune #HappyDance
Week 5: Glitter Jar
Have youth make their own glitter jar, you will need a jar or bottle, glue, glitter, water, and food coloring (optional). Detailed step-by-step instructions can be found in the hyperlink above. Glitter jars are a fun and creative way to support emotional regulation and mindfulness. They can help with calming down, relaxing, understanding how the brain works, practicing mindful communication, and focus-building. #JoyfulJune #CalmJar
May 2025—#MeaningfulMay
#MeaningfulMay Quote of the Month:
“Don’t count the days, make the days count.”
– Muhammad Ali
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #MeaningfulMay
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We matter every day. But how often do we stop and take the opportunity to “be” in the moment of our daily lives? With easy access to technology, we often find ourselves viewing those moments behind the lens instead of taking the opportunity to “be” in the moment. Take the opportunity this month to “be” in the moment. To “be” intentional with your everyday life. #MeaningfulMay #Intentionality #Beinthemoment
Week 2: Self-Made Awards
In your afterschool program, have students reflect on their personal accomplishments and areas of growth. Have students create a specialized award for themselves. For example, a student may reward themselves with “The Spirit Award,” for showing team spirit and energy throughout the year. Then, give students an opportunity to share their award with their peers, family members, and community members during a special afterschool showcase. #MeaningfulMay #Reflection #CelebrateYourself
Week 3: Make a Smile Pile
Encourage your students to capture moments that make them smile by writing them down and submitting them to the Smile Pile, a bucket students fill with handwritten notes. If students include their name on the note, they can share their positive moment with the program, whereas anonymous slips are kept private. You can set aside a time each week to read and share the notes within your program. #MeaningfulMay #PositiveNotes
Week 4: Sharing Gratitude Stories
One way to reflect on gratitude is by sharing gratitude stories (link of the activity) with a partner in your afterschool program. Ask each student to think about a time they felt grateful. Then each student pairs up with a partner and takes turns sharing their experiences. Once students are in pairs, students decide on who will ask the questions and then who will answer. After the first person has shared their story, they switch roles. Finally, have each student record their feelings in a word web. #MeaningfulMay #StoryTime #Gratitude
Week 5: What motivates you? Inspiring Quotes
Quotes can be a useful way to initiate reflection because there is an ample supply of them, they are often brief yet inspiring, and they can sometimes be interpreted in multiple ways. Post meaningful and inspiring quotes around your area. Have youth to quietly walk round and read each quote. Then, have students reflect and discuss their quote. Some meaning and inspirational quotes are listed below. #MeaningfulMay #Inspiration
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ― Dr. Seuss
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” — Thomas Edison
“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” –Maya Angelou
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” —Albert Einstein
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” —Abraham Lincoln
April 2025—#ActiveApril
#ActiveApril Quote of the Month:
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
– Lao Tzu
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calander #ActiveApril
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Apr%202025.jpg
As we begin this new season, let’s become more active and take a moment outside to enjoy the spring weather. One way to gain some active and interactive free activities is to create a free GoNoodle account where you gain access to many topics including self-expression, teamwork, and more.
Week 2: Move & Groove
Research has shown that there are many benefits to being active, such as improving your mood and getting better sleep. A fun activity to play is “Are you more like.” Have students start in the middle and move left or right based on what they feel more like. Here’s a clip of several examples by GoNoodle, you can also play through during program time. #ActiveApril #MoveToImprove
Week 3: Dance it Out
A great way for youth to explore how emotions are shown and how they feel it in their bodies is through dance and movement. GoNoodle has several different dancing videos including “We Are One” on using different dance moves youth can explore. It has step by step for kids to follow through and can be paused at any moment. #ActiveApril #LetsDance #FeelTheRhythm
Week 4: Mood Walk
A mood walk is when you explore, name, and act out your emotions. For example, walk like you’re happy and get your legs up and smiling face. Then, say “neutral” and say a new emotion every time you would like to switch. You can follow along the Mood Walk by GoNoodle, and then try some different ones as well with your students. #ActiveApril #Emotions #EmotionThroughDance
Week 5: Let’s Unplug
Take students outside and have them sit or lie in a space that’s just theirs. Students are welcome to bring a notebook and pencil to write down their thoughts or feelings. Another idea is to have students find an object and then allow them to build a one-minute story around it. #ActiveApril #OutdoorPlay
All things Earth Day! Invest in Our Planet
Every year on April 22nd, Earth Day brings the world together to celebrate, and it’s the perfect time to educate kids about climate change and how they can work to protect our home with Earth Day activities for kids. #EarthDay #SavethePlanet
https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/earth-day-activities/ https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2025/
March 2025—#MindfulMarch
Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #MindfulMarch
#MindfulMarch Quote of the Month:
“The mind is just like a muscle—the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets and the more it can expand.”
– Idowu Koyenikan4
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #MindfulMarch
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One way to practice mindfulness is to listen to music. Choose a playlist that’s filled with different types of music that can solicit different ranges of emotions. Once you have curated your playlist, play the songs one at a time and ask youth if they think the song is happy or sad. Then you can ask why they chose that specific emotion. To learn more: Feeling the Music Activity Click on the link to access a pre-made playlist . #MindfulMarch #FeelingtheMusic #NamingEmotions
SEL Day: March 3rd is SEL Day
Celebrate SEL Day! There are so many ways to celebrate to make SEL an important part of your program. Here are just a few fun and engaging activities you can do as a whole group. Organize and host a grateful-ness party and encourage everyone to share what they are grateful for; this can be done by writing a gratitude note. Gather all your art supplies and create a group mural to hang in your program space, sing a song, or a new chant for your program. SEL Day should be a day of celebrating all things SEL! Other ideas include having mindfulness activities, and positive affirmations bulletin board. For more ideas check out SEL Day Activities #SELday #Grateful #MindfulnessActivities #PositiveAffirmations #Celebrate
Week 2: Breathing Exercises
Pinwheel Breathing Exercise , Rainbow Breath Exercise, Relax and Breathe Do Nothing for 10 minutes
When youth become overwhelmed or need an opportunity to reset practicing calming breathing techniques can help youth recenter. Here are a few breathing techniques that can be practiced during the program. The breathing techniques shared, can be taught as a whole group activity; by doing so, youth will have the tools to self-regulate when they feel overwhelmed. Being aware of your breathing is a keyway to bring a swift sense of calm, and distance yourself from anxious feelings. This will allow youth to look at a situation objectively rather than act quickly as a reaction to stress. #MindfulMarch #RelaxandBreathe
Week 3: Let’s Play Mindfulness Bingo!
A fun and engaging activity for youth, is Mindfulness Bingo/Mindfulness Bingo (two bingo card ideas). This activity can be a great way for youth reflect on what they are already doing and how they are being mindful throughout the week. The game is simple to create, just fill each card with different mindfulness activities BINGO. #MindfulMarch #MindfulnessBingo
Week 4: Body Scan
The 3 Minutes Body Scan Meditation is a practice youth can use to help them narrow down their focus. As you narrow down your focus you pay closer attention to sensations happening within the body. Alidina states “The body scan trains your mind to be able to move from detailed attention to a wider and more spacious awareness from one moment to the next.” #MindfulMarch #BodyScan #Meditate
Week 5: Yoga
The Edutopia website has 5 Yoga Practices for School-Day Transitions to help with mindfulness. Yoga and mindfulness have been shown to improve both physical and mental health in school-age children (ages 6 to 12). Yoga improves balance, strength, endurance, and aerobic capacity in children. Yoga and mindfulness offer psychological benefits for children as well. A growing body of research has already shown that yoga can improve focus, memory, self-esteem, academic performance, and classroom behavior, and can even reduce anxiety and stress in children. #MindfulMarch #Yoga
February 2025—#FriendlyFebruary
Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #FriendlyFebruary
#FriendlyFebruary Quote of the Month:
“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
– Maya Angelou
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #FriendlyFebruary
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Feb%202025.jpg
Let’s give everyone a chance to spread kindness by shouting out someone in the program. A shout-out is a positive comment given from one peer to another, acknowledging something good they did or overcoming a challenge. This can be done at the beginning or end of your program, allowing youth a chance to give shout-outs. Check out the video from Edutopia on how shout-outs can bolster peer relationships. #FriendlyFebruary #Shoutout #BuildingPeerRelations
Week 2: I Heart Afterschool
There are millions of reasons to love afterschool. Afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire learning, and help working families. Tell the world why you, your students, and your community love your afterschool program! I Heart Afterschool is February 14, and what better time to share how you feel about their afterschool program. Afterschool Alliance has free resources for you to use to share your love for afterschool. #FriendlyFebruary #IHeartAfterschool
A fun and engaging activity for your program to try is a holiday themed Connections game. The connection game is based on the Connections game in the New York Times. Thanks to TCEA for sharing this fun and exciting game that will surely get your brain juices flowing. HOLIDAY THEMED - Connections GAME that can be done in your program, colored in pink, purple, and red. There are 16 words, divided into four categories of four words each, and each group shares a common thread. #FriendlyFebruary #ValentineDay #Connections
Week 3: Create a Friendship Flower Garden (Random Acts of Kindness Day 2/17/25)
First, ask youth to draw a flower with big petals and write a characteristic of a friend on each petal, then color them. Afterward, they can hang up their flowers to create a “friendship garden.” Friendship Activities for Kids – Very Special Tales (Activity #11) #FriendlyFebruary #FriendshipGarden
Week 4: Let’s Dance! (Celebrating Black History)
Learn about the art of stepping. Stepping is a form of dancing in which the body is used to create unique rhythms and sounds. The website Step Afrika! offers videos and information about the history of stepping. Challenge the youth in your program to create a unique step. Have them practice and share it with the whole group. About Us | Step Afrika! #FriendlyFebruary #CelebratingBlackHistory #Dance
Week 5: Pom-Pom Jar Activity
A pom-pom jar is a positive reinforcement strategy that promotes kindness. The process begins with an empty jar. Start by providing examples of acts of kindness, such as saying kind words, sharing, or helping with an activity. As kids perform helpful acts, they can add a pom-pom to the jar and share what they did. Afterward, everyone can acknowledge each act of kindness. Once the pom-pom jar is full, celebrate with a treat or game. #FriendlyFebruary #ActsofKindness
December 2024—#DoGoodDecember
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Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #DoGoodDecember
#DoGoodDecember Quote of the Month:
"How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time."
—Morgan Freeman
The holiday season is the perfect time of year to help your students develop and practice positive habits. Kids are already super excited about the upcoming festivities. Use that enthusiasm to encourage thoughtfulness, empathy, generosity, and more! This December, encourage students to look outward and create true acts of kindness. #DoGoodDecember #ActsofKindness #PositiveHabits
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #DoGoodDecember
Use the holiday season to encourage kindness and empathy through service projects. Spend time in your program and discuss the needs of the school or community and brainstorm ways your program can help to meet those needs. Have youth work together on a service project empower students to put kindness and empathy into practice.
Download the Action for Happiness CalendarWeek 2: 12 Days of Kindness
Boost your holiday spirit, by creating a 12 days of kindness calendar. Working with students, create a list of 12 kind and selfless acts youth can do to bring a smile and joy to others. Once students have created their list, have youth begin working on though their 12 Days of Kindness Calendar. #DoGoodDecember #12DaysofKindness
- Make someone laugh today
- Give someone a compliment
- Make a card for your principal or afterschool specialist
- Pick up litter around the campus
- Start a food/clothing drive
Week 3: Pay It Forward Chain
Start a random act of kindness ‘Pay it Forward’ chain – every time someone does a Random act of kindness, they hand a card to the next student for them to fulfill to keep the acts going. #DoGoodDecember #PositiveHabits #PayItForward
Learn more about this activityWeek 4: Kindness Discussion Cards
The holidays have always been an easy time for us to remember to be extra kind to those around us. Take this time to create and normalize your program space to be a safe space where kindness is the norm, by implementing kindness discussion cards as a part of your daily check-in routine. Here are some suggested questions you can use to end the year with joy and cheer and to begin the new year with joy and cheer!
- How can you show kindness to someone who is being unkind to others?
- What qualities do you want in a friend and why?
- Who did you thank today and why?
- How do you know if someone is upset or sad?
Week 5: Kindness Mural
There are some acts of kindness that are random like opening the door for someone you don’t know or helping an elderly stranger cross the street, but the more we get to know other people, we realize they see and feel differently about what kindness is to them. In this activity, you can invite your students to think about what kindness means to them after watching the Life Vest video and have them write or draw, depending on their age, an example of kindness in your program. Then hang these up and make a mural where students can see and be encouraged to be kind every day. #DoGoodDecember #KindnessMural
November 2024—#NewWaysNovember
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Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #NewWaysNovember
#NewWaysNovember Quote of the Month:
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure,”
—Colin Powell
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #NewWaysNovember
Kids are often more capable than they realize. As we help them discover this, not only will they gain confidence in themselves, but they’ll be more willing to try things that are new and difficult – a skill that will benefit them through adulthood. #NewWaysNovember #GrowthMindset
Election Day (November 5, 2024)
Teaching about the 2024 presidential elections in a nonpartisan manner is essential to maintain an unbiased learning environment. Create a learning environment where students can explore the democratic process without feeling pressured to adopt a particular political stance, ultimately empowering them to become informed and engaged citizens. #NewWaysNovember #VOTE2024 #KindnessIsFree https://assets.readbrightly.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Election-Mad-Libs-A-Letter-From-George.pdf https://assets.readbrightly.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/9780385392099_5261.pdf
Week 2: When I Grow Up…
Youth often have a narrow vision of themselves or the person they might wish to become (e.g., to be liked by others, to have a particular job, or fantasies of an idealized future). Challenge youth to describe themselves 20 years in the future. Using old magazines or images from the internet, have youth create a vision board of their life 20 years in the future. Ask youth to describe the important choices and actions they would need to make today to reach this future self. #NewWaysNovember #FutureisBright #WhenIGrowUp
Week 3: World Kindness Week (November 13-17)
Spread kindness all week-long during World Kindness Week. Each year during the week of November 13, stay positive, spread joy, and make the extra effort to be kind to everyone. #NewWaysNovember #KindnessIsFree #WorldKindnessWeek
To observe World Kindness Week, have youth participate in:
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- Create a respectful poster- what does respect for your program look like.
- Create a self-kindness bag. Using Post It notes and write down all the different ways you can be kind to yourself. Once you have a list, put them into a bag and every day, choose a different way you can be kind to yourself.
- Real-life Kind People, have youth draw and write a story about real people who exhibit kindness to others.
World Kindness Day (November 13)
World Kindness Day is on November 13, 2024, and it’s the perfect occasion to show kids of all ages the importance of being kind to everyone, to ourselves, and to the world. This day is the best time of the year to stop and spend an entire day doing some good actions in the world, such as complimenting strangers, doing random acts of kindness, learning about compassion, and more! #NewWaysNovember #KindnessIsFree #SpreadKindnessLikeConfetti #WorldKindnessDay
https://schoolofkindness.org/world-kindness-day
Week 4: Try Something New: Paint like Jackson Pollock
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a huge canvas of white, and to be able to just throw different colors of paint on it? If you have, then you are a lot like Jackson Pollock! Jackson Pollock was an American artist, known for his unique style of painting which involved spraying, flinging, or dripping paints onto canvas. Watch this short video on Jackson Pollock and how he creates his masterpieces and challenge yourself to create your own Jackson Pollock work of art! https://youtu.be/aSYo-98fO1Y
Week 5: Broaden Your Perspective
Teaching perspective taking skills in elementary school is crucial for the social and emotional development of children. It helps them understand and appreciate different viewpoints, empathize with others, and navigate social interactions effectively. #NewWaysNovember #PerspectiveTaking #EmpathyBuilding
https://americanindian.si.edu/sites/1/files/pdf/education/thanksgiving_poster.pdf
Here are a few activities you can do to help teach perspective taking to the youth in your program:
- Storytelling- grab some books and that explore different perspectives- encourage students to analyze characters’ motives, thoughts and feelings
- Role-playing and drama activities- engage students in role playing and drama activities to help them practice perspective taking, to help youth understand different viewpoints
- Collaborative projects and teamwork- assign collaborative projects that require teamwork, communication and understanding of other viewpoints
October 2024—#OptimisticOctober
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#OptimisticOctober Quote of the Month:
“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
—Michael Jordan, basketball player
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Optimism isn’t about just seeing the bright side of a situation or donning rose-tinted glasses, optimism is about the hard work of finding new options. When youth are taught how to practice optimism, #OptimisticOctober, they shift into a proactive stance and see that progress is possible. It may just be the underlying skill which allows youth to engage in a growth mindset, with support from a responsible and safe adult. #OptimisticOctober #GrowthMindset
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #OptimisticOctober
Optimism involves learning to think positively about the future, even when things go wrong. It’s about looking objectively at a situation and making a conscious decision to focus on the good. #OptimisticOctober #ThinkPositive
Week 2: Growth Mindset- Escape Room Activity
Escape rooms are a great way for youth to become immersed in new and engaging learning. Escape rooms help students develop a growth mindset, by helping them tackle challenging situations that require them to think outside the box. When youth can solve the puzzles, the feel a sense of accomplishment. This encourages them to view challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Work with the youth and create an escape room or find free escape rooms online. #GrowthMindset #Optimistic October #CreateATasteForLearning
Week 3: Bring Back the Best
Negative thinking may drive a child to believe that bad times never end. As educators, we can motivate them to recall past experiences, which made them sad initially, but they could later overcome it. Asking questions such as ‘How did you feel when you got a better outcome than you had expected?’ can help them introspect and find hope from within. Here is a fun activity you can do with your students to help them recall their best week ever! #ThinkPositive #BestDayEver #OptimisticOctober
Week 4: Lights On Afterschool 2024
Highlight the great work your program is doing around youth voice and leadership. Talk with the youth in your program and garner ideas and ways in which they would like to engage local policymakers and share their ideas and express their views on the afterschool program in their area. #Optimistic October #LightsOnAfterschool
Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #Self-CareSeptember
#Self-CareSeptember Quote of the Month:
"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure."
—Oprah Winfrey
Self-Care the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health. There are many reasons that self-care is important. Research shows that self-care helps to keep you healthy, helps you recharge and helps to improve your overall well-being. #Self-CareSeptember #SelfcareIsNotSelfish #ActionforHappiness
Week 2: Get Silly
When youth are having a tough time or cycling through big emotions, ask silly questions to help them reset. Asking a concrete question, they know the answer to helps re-route their thinking. Ask questions like: What color is the sky? What did you have for breakfast? Where is your shoe? Even if they answer incorrectly, you're helping their brain and body calm down and get back into the zone. Encourage youth that when they have big feelings, they can pay attention to the room around them and name five things they see to "reset" their brains. #Self-CareSeptember #SelfcareIsNotSelfish #NameYourEmotions
Week 3: Active Exercise and Healthy Snacks
Activities like yoga, meditation, walks and outdoor games can all promote movement and physical well-being, while also focusing on mindfulness and reflection. Follow a YouTube video for yoga or meditation—or make up your own! Try out Sanford Fit for free mindfulness activity cards. Nourishing our bodies and making sure we have the fuel we need to get through the day is a vital part of self-care for kids. If your child is feeling a little "hangry," encourage them to recognize and name this sensation, and then suggest a nutritious nibble. #Self-CareSeptember #SelfcareIsNotSelfish #GetActive #EatHealthy
Week 4: Mindful Craft Projects
Providing students the chance to get hands-on with art we provide them with a fun and concrete experience that they can use to self-regulate during times of escalation. It provides a tangible coping strategy that students can use at home, at their desks, or any other time they need to calm down. Here are some simple and mindful art activities your students can do, with little to no preparation from you. #Self-CareSeptember #SelfcareIsNotSelfish #JustBreathe
- Draw Your Breath
Each student gets a piece of paper and a marker or pen. With the marker in the middle of the paper, students breathe in and breathe out drawing lines for each breath. During this whole activity, students will not raise their pen from the piece of paper. When you breathe in, you draw a line in any direction. Keep the pen on the paper and when you breathe out, you draw another line. Students keep doing this as they breathe in and out making their own lines, shapes, and creative artwork. After about 30 breath cycles, students use colors to color in different shapes. Students can be creative by coloring in the shapes, drawing little pictures or patterns in each shape, etc. - Drip Painting
Show your students a few examples of different abstract art, such as Jackson Pollock's drip paintings. Drip painting can be a fun and accessible painting technique for kids to explore different colors and moods simply through dripping paint on their papers. Be creative and have fun!
- Breathing Beads
With some yarn and beads, students can make their own unique breathing beads. After students make their own creation, practice some mindfulness by taking a deep breath for every bead.
Week 5: Positive Affirmations
Kids and young adults can use a positive affirmation list by reading the words to themselves or out loud, discussing how they might help, and identifying which phrases would work best. Help students create a positive affirmation list. This activity can be done as a whole class activity, or students can create an individual list. #Self-CareSeptember #SelfcareIsNotSelfish #ControlYourHappiness
Here are a few positive affirmations to get you started:
- There is no one better to be than myself.
- I am enough.
- I get better every single day.
- I am an amazing person.
- I can work through my problems.
Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #AltruisticAugust
#AltrusiticAugust Quote of the Month:
"Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness. "
—Seneca
Altruism plays a vital role in creating harmonious relationships and building a caring community. Altruism encourages children to consider the impact of their actions on others, promoting fairness, cooperation, and a sense of responsibility. #TeachingEmpathy #AltruisticAugust #SEL
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #AltruristicAugust
Altruism is the unselfish concern for other people—doing things simply out of a desire to help, not because you feel obligated to out of duty, loyalty, or religious reasons. It involves acting out of concern for the well-being of other people. #AltruisticAugust #SEL #Empathy https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Aug%202024.jpg
Week 2: Notes of Appreciation
Give each student in your program sticky notes and ample opportunity to write positive messages addressed to one of their teachers and/or peers. Locate an empty wall in your program and have students place their notes of appreciation on the wall. Read out the notes and watch the faces of students and staff light up. #AltruisticAugust #SEL #Empathy #StudentConnection
Week 3: Role Playing-Compassion
Have students create a role-play where they show compassion. For example, what would compassion look like if: A friend is confused by what the teacher said? Someone in your afterschool program is sad because their mother is in the hospital? Your sister is crying because she didn’t make the basketball team? A new student is feeling lonely and left out? Have students perform their role-plays for the class. #AltruisticAugust #SEL #Empathy #Compassion
Week 4: “Feelings Charade”
In Feelings Charades, students will have a chance to demonstrate one emotion. The rest of the class will guess what the emotion is. The person who is doing the charade cannot speak – they must use facial expressions or body language to get classmates to guess the emotion. Write down different feelings/emotions on slips of paper. Place them in a bowl and take turns pulling them and acting them out. Once the correct feeling/ emotion is chosen the person that guessed correctly gets a turn. #AltruisticAugust #SEL #Empathy #ItsOkayToFeel #FeelAllTheFeeling
Week 5: Fixing the Community
Do your students feel like they are part of their community? Many students feel they are, but they might become more compassionate people if they’re part of their town’s community. Even the best communities have homes and businesses that need repair work. Think about what projects your students can do to help “fix” their community or school. #AltruisticAugust #SEL #Empathy #GiveBack #MyCommunity
Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #MeaningfulMay
#SEL Day 2024: https://selday.org/
#MeaningfulMay Quote of the Month:
"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."
—William James
We matter every day. But how often do we stop and take the opportunity to “be” in the moment of our daily lives? With easy access to technology, we often find ourselves viewing those moments behind the lens instead of taking the opportunity to “be” in the moment. Take the opportunity this month to “be” in the moment. To “be” intentional with your everyday life. #MeaningfulMay #Intentionality #Beinthemoment
#SELday 2024: https://selday.org/
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #MeaningfulMay
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/May%202024.jpg
Week 2: What matters most activity
There are so many things that make you unique. Your skills, interest and values are all a part of what makes YOU. In this exercise, take a moment to reflect on what matters most to you. #MeaningfulMay #MakeEverydayCount Reflection question to ask: 1. Are there any overlapping themes? What do your answers have in common? 2. Based on the overlapping themes you identified, what three things might you say matter most to you? 3. As you move forward, what are some steps you could take to focus on the thing that matters most to you? How might the adults in your life help you too?
Week 3: Year in Reflection - Thank you notes
Writing thank you notes creates a positive environment in which youth feel grateful for all they have accomplished and are able to acknowledge the people who helped them. Provide youth with blank paper or thank you cards and help them create thank you notes. Youth can write notes to their teachers, after-school staff, friends, and family. #MeaningfulMay #Gratitude
Week 4: Affirmation Box
Using positive affirmation activities for youth is powerful for building self-esteem, self-talk, and growth mindset. It’s important to practice positive self-talk with our students to help them grow in awareness, build self-esteem, and possibly even rewire their brains to break a habit of negative thoughts. #Meaningful May #TakeAMoment
Week 5: What motivates you? Inspiring Quotes
All Things Earth Day! Invest in Our Planet
Quotes can be a useful way to initiate reflection because there is an ample supply of them, they are often brief yet inspiring, and they can sometimes be interpreted in multiple ways. Post meaningful and inspiring quotes around your area. Have youth to quietly walk round and read each quote. Then, have students reflect and discuss their quote. Some meaning and inspirational quotes are listed below. #MeaningfulMay #Inspiration
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ― Dr. Seuss
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” — Thomas Edison
“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” –Maya Angelou
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” —Albert Einstein
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” —Abraham Lincoln
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Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #ActiveApril
#SEL Day 2024: https://selday.org/
#ActiveApril Quote of the Month:
"Do something today that your future self will thank you for."
—Sean Patrick Flanery
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SEL can help youth build awareness for how #physical health impacts us, learning how to navigate #failures and #successes, work on a team with peers, and learning how to recognize emotions in our bodies. #ActiveApril #GetMoving
#SELday 2024: https://selday.org/
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #ActiveApril
Apr 2024.jpg (3508×2480) (actionforhappiness.org)
Week 2: Namaste
Yoga is an ancient practice from India, dating back more than 3,000 years. For young children, yoga is more than just a physical activity. A regular yoga practice can help children develop skills that will help them through adolescence and later in life. As children get older, their emotional and physical abilities and needs change. Yoga can be beneficial for teenagers in a variety of ways to help them mentally, emotionally, and physically. #ActiveApril #Namaste
Week 3: You Are What You Eat! QR Stations Digital Activity
Learn more about MyPlate and why it is a useful guideline for nutrition with these class activities. This activity includes QR stations (students love using their phones!), activity sheets, notes activity, video, information sheets, and more! #ActiveApril #HealthyHabits
https://www.familyconsumersciences.com/2019/01/myplate-stations-activities/
Week 4: Get Up! Get Out! Get Fit! Fitness Games for Kids
Getting youth engaged in physical activity is essential for a healthier future. Exercise improves school performance and makes kids less likely to develop depression. Kids who exercise regularly are also better able to handle physical and emotional challenges — from running to catching a bus to studying for a test. #ActiveApril #GetMoving
https://www.acefitness.org/resources/pros/expert-articles/5648/fitness-games-for-kids/
All Things Earth Day! Invest in Our Planet
Every year on April 22nd, Earth Day brings the world together to celebrate, and it’s the perfect time to educate kids about climate change and how they can work to protect our home with Earth Day activities for kids. #EarthDay #SavethePlanet
https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/earth-day-activities/ https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2024/
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Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #MindfulMarch
#SEL Day 2024: https://selday.org/
#MindfulMarch Quote of the Month:
"If we are not fully ourselves, truly in the present moment, we miss everything."
—Thich Nhat Hanh
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With the spring season upon us, we should take this time and reawaken ourselves to #PracticingMindfulness. At the core of mindfulness is to be present at the moment in our day-to-day life. A Zen proverb says” when you walk, just walk and when you run, just run”. Listed are suggestions and resources for you and your students to use to be #ActivelyPresent and to practice mindfulness this March. #MindfulMarch #PracticingMindfulness #BePresent
#SELday 2024 March 8, 2024
SEL Day is a global, grassroots campaign for social-emotional learning to support children’s academic recovery, mental health, and well-being. #SELday, #MindfulMarch
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #MindfulMarch
Mar 2024.jpg (3508×2480) (actionforhappiness.org)
Week 2: Mindfulness Coloring Pages
Mindful coloring asks us to focus on how we choose and apply color in a design, to bring our awareness to the present moment. #MindfulMarch #Mandalas
Week 3: Breathing Exercises
Relax and Breathe: Do Nothing for 10 Minutes Video https://youtu.be/aXItOY0sLRY
Being aware of your breath is a key way to bring a swift sense of calm, and distance yourself from anxious feelings, so you can look at a situation objectively rather than act quickly as a reaction to stress. #MindfulMarch #RelaxandBreathe
Week 4: Sensory notetaking
You can practice mindfulness even when you’re not in motion—many yogis sit perfectly still in meditation. In this activity, engage all five senses, taking note of what you experience.
Taste: Place a small piece of chocolate on your tongue. Let it melt slowly, instead of chewing it. Observe the taste and texture. Do you get more of a sweet sensation in certain areas of your mouth? How does your body react to sugar? To sour or bitter tastes.
Smell: Choose something with a high degree of natural aromas, such as an orange or a flower. Inhale deeply. How do the molecules make your mind feel when they reach your brain? What physical sensations arise, and do you have an emotional reaction? Scents can trigger memories and the feelings you associate with them.
Sight: Pick a random object in the room to focus on for 20 to 30 seconds. Observe the color and texture. Are there any tiny, unique aspects you’ve never noticed before?
Sound: Put on a favorite song or tune into some relaxing Solfeggio frequency music. What emotions arise when you hear it? Does your body physically react to the vibrations?
Touch: Close your eyes, place objects with a variety of textures into brown paper bags. Observe by feeling only. How does the material feel under your fingertips? Experiment with more than just fabric—for example, damp spaghetti noodles have an interesting feel. #MindfulMarch #BePresent
Week 5: Yoga
https://www.emedihealth.com/wellness/yoga-meditation/yoga-poses-for-kids
Yoga and mindfulness have been shown to improve both physical and mental health in school-age children (ages 6 to 12). Yoga improves balance, strength, endurance, and aerobic capacity in children. Yoga and mindfulness offer psychological benefits for children as well. A growing body of research has already shown that yoga can improve focus, memory, self-esteem, academic performance, and classroom behavior, and can even reduce anxiety and stress in children. #MindfulMonday #Yoga
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Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #HappierJanuary
#SEL Day 2024: https://selday.org/
#HappierJanuary Quote of the Month:
" Be the change you wish to see in the world. "
— Mahatma Gandhi
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Starting a new year is refreshing and exciting-awaiting the possibilities of what the new year can bring. How can you make 2024 matter in terms of your well-being and the well-being of others, by embracing a Happier January. #YouMatter2024 #HappierJanuary
Activity to Honor Dr. King
To honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King, can participate in a fun activity called “Burst Stereotype Balloons. This activity can be used with grades 3-12, and students can “burst” stereotypes that unfairly label individuals or groups. #YouMatter2024 #HappierJanuary #KeepTheLegacyAlive
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #HappierJanuary
Create new opportunities to treat yourself and others well by learning a new skill or brushing up on an old skill. Why, because you matter! #YouMatter2024 #HappierJanuary
Jan 2024.jpg (3508×2480) (actionforhappiness.org)
Week 2: Aim high and set specific goals!
There is no better time to begin looking at ways to show treat yourself better than the new year! Model for youth how to aim high and set specific goals, by making list of 24 things they want to accomplish during the year. Let youth have fun with their list, #24for24. Here are some suggestions to get them started. #YouMatter #HappierJanuary #24for24
- Learn 24 new words
- Give up technology for 24 hours
- Try 2 to 4 new foods
- Try a new exercise
- Practice positive affirmations for others
Week 3: Tell Me Something Good
To help continue to promote a caring and positive afterschool program, take some time, and incorporate Tell Me Something Good. During this time, youth can share any positive aspect of their life from school, friends, or family. Taking time for the class to get to know each other promotes a positive environment, builds confidence, and creates a sense of community within the program. #YouMatter #HappierJanuary #TellMeSomethingGood
Week 4: Vision Board
What do you want to accomplish this year? How do you see yourself growing this year? How do you see yourself mattering in 2024? To help youth in creating their own vision board-get them energized and clear about their goals and what they want to achieve this year. Create the board, using old magazines, postcards and even paint swatches. Be purposeful in helping youth be intentional about their visions and how they can accomplish them. #YouMatter2024 #HappierJanuary #VisionBoard
media.centervention.com/pdf/Vision-Board-older-worksheet-interactive.pdf
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Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #DoGoodDecember
#SEL Day 2023: https://selday.org/
#DoGoodDecember Quote of the Month:
" How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time. "
— Morgan Freeman
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The holiday season is the perfect time of year to help your students develop and practice positive habits. Kids are already super excited about the upcoming festivities. Use that enthusiasm to encourage thoughtfulness, empathy, generosity, and more! This December, encourage students to look outward and create true acts of kindness. #DoGoodDecember #ActsofKindness #PositiveHabits
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #DoGoodDecember
Use the holiday season to encourage kindness and empathy through service projects. Spend time in your program and talk about the needs of the school or the people in your community, then brainstorm ways to meet those needs. Have youth work together on a service project, to help empower your students to put kindness and empathy into practice. https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Dec%202023.jpg #DoGoodDecember #ServiceProjects #KindnessandEmpathy
Week 2: 12 Days of Kindness
Boost your holiday spirit, by creating a 12 days of kindness calendar. Working with students, create a list of 12 kind and selfless acts youth can do to bring a smile and joy to others. Once students have created their list, have youth begin working on their 12 Days of Kindness Calendar. #DoGoodDecember #12daysofkindness Here are some suggestions to get you started:
- Make a gift for your teacher or a friend
- Make someone laugh today
- Give someone a compliment
- Give out candy canes
- Make a card for your principal or afterschool specialist
- Pickup litter around the campus
- Start a food/clothing drive
Week 3: Kindness Mural
There are some acts of kindness that are random, like opening the door for someone you don’t know or helping an elderly stranger cross the street, but the more we get to know other people, we realize they see and feel differently about what kindness is to them. In this activity, you can invite your students to think about what kindness means to them after watching the Life Vest video and have them write or draw, depending on their age, an example of kindness in your program. Then hang these up and make a mural where students can see and be encouraged to be kind every day. #DoGoodDecember #KindnessMural
Week 4: New Phases, New Language, New You!
Create a kindness jar for your program. When students make and receive random acts of kindness, the body release high doses of “feel good” hormones, and what better way to help students capture than leaving kindness notes to friends and staff. Teach kids how to write positive notes of gratitude to friends and family. Encourage kids to be specific in their praise, to show the recipient they were seen and heard. Random-Act-of-Kindness-Printable-Notes-2.jpg (1000×1294) (woojr.com) #DoGoodDecember #KindnessFeelsGood #KindnessCounts
Week 5: Try Something New: Paint like Jackson Pollack
The holidays have always been an easy time for us to remember to be extra kind to those around us. Take this time to create and normalize your program space to be a safe space where kindness is the norm, by implementing kindness discussion cards as part of your daily check-in routine. Here are some suggested questions you can use to end the year with joy and cheer and to begin the new year with joy and cheer! #DoGoodDecember #LetsTalkAboutKindness #KindnessAllYear
- How can you show kindness to someone who is being unkind to others?
- What qualities do you want in a friend and why?
- Who did you thank today and why?
- How do you know if someone is upset or sad?
- What is more important to you and why-being popular, getting A’s or caring about others?
- If you were a superhero, who would you help and why?
- When someone does something nice for you, how does it make you feel? How do you think it makes them feel?
- When was the last time you said sorry, and what was it about?
- What do you want your friends to think about you the most and why: a) you are really smart. B) you’re a lot of fun to be around, or c) you’re a great friend.
Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #NewWaysNovember
#SEL Day 2023: https://selday.org/
#NewWaysNovember Quote of the Month:
"The hallmark of successful people is that they are always stretching themselves and trying new things. "
— Carol S. Dweck
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #NewWaysNovember
New experiences can be scary! However, creating a supportive environment can help youth build confidence and get out of their comfort zone to explore and experience new things.
Nov 2023.jpg (3508×2480) (actionforhappiness.org)
Week 2: Who Do You Want to Be Vision Board
Youth often have a narrow vision of themselves or the person they might wish to become (e.g., to be liked by others, to have a particular job, or fantasies of an idealized future).
Challenge youth to describe themselves 20 years in the future. Using old magazines or images from the internet, have youth to create a vision board of their life 20 years in the future. Ask youth to describe the important choices and actions they would need to make today to reach this future self.
Week 3: World Kindness Week (November 13-17)
Spread kindness all week-long during World Kindness Week, held during the week of World Kindness Day. World Kindness Day falls on November 13th each year. To observe World Kindness Week, have youth participate in:
- Write notes of kindness on small pieces of paper and stick them in random library books
- Give notes of appreciation to family members, teachers, afterschool, and school staff
- Encourage others to be kind
- Open the door open for someone
(World Kindness Day is November 13, 2023)
World Kindness Day is on November 13, 2023, and it’s the perfect occasion to show kids of all ages the importance of being kind to everyone, to ourselves, and to the world. This day is the best time of the year to stop and spend an entire day doing some good actions in the world, such as complimenting strangers, doing random acts of kindness, learning about compassion, and more!
https://schoolofkindness.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/World-Kindness-Day-Pack-2023.pdf
Week 4: New Phases, New Language, New You!
Learning a new language is challenging, but it’s one of the most rewarding things you will ever do. Learn how to say, “Thank You”, in ten different languages. Signup for a free account with duolingo and showcase your new language skills with your friends and family! When learning a new language, just remember to be patient.
Week 5: Try Something New: Paint like Jackson Pollack
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a huge canvas of white, and to be able to just throw different colors of paint on it? If you have, then you are a lot like Jackson Pollock! Jackson Pollock was an American artist, known for his unique style of painting which involved spraying, flinging, or dripping paints onto canvas. Watch this short video on Jackson Pollock and how he creates his masterpieces and challenge yourself to create your own Jackson Pollock work of art! https://youtu.be/aSYo-98fO1Y
Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #OptimisticOctober
#SEL Day 2023: https://selday.org/
#OptimisticOctober Quote of the Month:
"Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. "
— Nelson Mandela
Optimism isn’t about just seeing the bright side of a situation or donning rose-tinted glasses, optimism is about the hard work of finding new options. When youth are taught how to practice optimism, #OptimisticOctober, they shift into a proactive stance and see that progress is possible. It may just be the underlying skill which allows youth to engage in a growth mindset, with support from a responsible and safe adult. #OptimisticOctober #GrowthMindset
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #OptimisticOctober
Optimism involves learning to think positively about the future, even when things go wrong. It’s about looking objectively at a situation and making a conscious decision to focus on the good.
Oct 2023.jpg (3508×2480) (actionforhappiness.org)
Week 2: Bring Back the Best Week Activity
Negative thinking may drive a child to believe that bad times never end. As educators, we can motivate them to recall past experiences, which made them sad initially, but they could later overcome it. Asking questions such as ‘How did you feel when you got a better outcome than you had expected?’ can help them introspect and find hope from within. Here is a fun activity you can do with your students to help them recall their best week ever!
1. What happened during that week to make it so enjoyable?
2. Who was part of that great week?
3. How did it feel when things were going well?
4. What did you do (or not do) to make sure things stay positive?
Week 3: Lights On Afterschool 2023 Youth Voice and Leadership
Giving young people a voice in school or a program empowers them and makes them feel like they belong, they are valued, and their contributions matter. These competency feelings also help youth fully engage and develop team building and leadership skills. #OpimisticOctober #YouthVoice
Highlight the great work your program is doing around youth voice and leadership. Talk with the youth in your program and garner ideas and ways in which they would like to engage local policymakers and share their ideas and express their views on the afterschool program in their area.
Week 4: Optimistic Thinking-Growth Mindset
Someone with a growth mindset views intelligence, abilities, and talents as learnable and capable of improvement through effort. On the other hand, someone with a fixed mindset views those same traits as inherently stable and unchangeable over time.
Briefly discuss with students the difference in a growth and fixed mindset. Share a (1- minute https://youtu.be/inNMktqIkh0) video of Yoda helping Luke to understand the power of mindset. After sharing the video, ask students the following questions:
1. What kind of mindset did Luke have? How do you know?
2. What kind of mindset does Yoda have? How do you know?
3. What is Luke’s reaction when he realizes that what he thought was impossible was possible?
Have students work in groups and create a poster of what a growth mindset looks like vs. a fixed mindset. Be sure and sure your students’ posters!
Week 5: Which Quote Describes You
Being optimistic can make you happier, healthier, and more successful in all that you do. It can help you overcome problems. It can keep you focused on your goals. It can make you less stressed. It can help you have more fun. It helps you to learn more from any situation. It can make you more enjoyable to be around. #OptimisticOctober #PositiveThinking
Have youth choose from the quotes listed below and have them share out the quote they choose and why it describes them.
Quotes for Kids About Optimism and Positive Thinking
· “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
· “Even the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise.” Victor Hugo
· “Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” Roy T. Bennett
· “They can because they think they can.” Virgil
· “Every problem has a gift for you in its hands.” Richard Bach
· “Don’t let your failures define you—let them teach you.” Barack Obama
· “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill
· “One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.” Lucille Ball
· “You’ll never find a rainbow if you’re looking down” Charlie Chaplin
· “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorns have roses.” Alphonse Karr
· “Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars and see yourself running with them.” Marcus Aurelius
· “You are doing your best only when you are trying to improve what you are doing.” Mae West
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Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #Self-CareSeptember
#SEL Day 2023: https://selday.org/
As you begin a new program year filled curiosity and excitement, pause, and take a minute and remember, an empty tank will take you NOWHERE. Take time to refuel, and practice #Self-CareSeptember.
#Self-CareSeptember Quote of the Month:
"Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love. "
— Brené Brown
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Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #Self-CareSeptember
Self-Care the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health. There are many reasons that self-care is important. Research shows that self-care helps to keep you healthy, helps you recharge and helps to improve your overall well-being.
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Sep%202023.jpg
Week 2: Mindful Active Exercise
Activities like yoga, meditation, walks and outdoor games can all promote movement and physical well-being, while also focusing on mindfulness and reflection. Follow a YouTube video for yoga or meditation—or make up your own! Try out GoNoodle for free. Just log-on to https://app.gonoodle.com/login?source=GNlogin for a free educator or parent account. GoNoodle has free age/developmental yoga videos that are easy to follow. Also, you can try out Sanford Fit https://fit.sanfordhealth.org/ for free mindfulness activity cards.
Week 3: Journaling
Journaling is a very effective way to release stress and express emotions. The habit of journaling allows for mindful moments and self-reflection. Teach youth how to journal with short, thought-provoking prompts. Use loose-leaf paper and dedicate a folder to the journal entries or ask your students to bring a journal from home. Once they get into the habit of writing, use mindful prompts to encourage reflection. You can also put on music and journal alongside them to encourage them! Make sure they know that their journals are a private space for them to write about their feelings.
Here are some mindful journaling prompts to help get them started:
What’s an activity that makes you feel happy? How often do you get to do this activity?
Write about a time when you felt sad. What made you feel better?
What are your favorite things about yourself? Why?
What’s something you like to do but don’t have a lot of time for? How can you make time for it?
Think of a person, character, show, or movie that makes you laugh.
What about it makes you smile or laugh? How does it make you feel?
What are three things, big or small, that you’re thankful for in your life?
When you have a bad day, what are some things that make it better?
Week 4: Mindful Hands-on Craft Projects
Arts and crafts, especially painting, molding, or coloring, are great opportunities for relaxation, stress release, and expression through art. Put on relaxing music in the background and spend time creating art! Download and print free coloring pages for kids.
Week 5: Positive Affirmations List
Kids and young adults can use a positive affirmation list by reading the words to themselves or out loud, discussing how they might help, and identifying which phrases would work best. Help students create a positive affirmation list. This activity can be done as a whole class activity or students can create an individual list.
Here are a few positive affirmations to get you started:
There is no one better to be than myself.
I am enough.
I get better every single day.
I am an amazing person.
I can work through my problems.
Today I am a leader.
I forgive myself for my mistakes.
My challenges help me grow.
I am perfect just the way I am.
My mistakes help me learn and grow.
Today is going to be a great day.
I have courage and confidence.
I can control my own happiness.
I have people who love and respect me.
I stand up for what I believe in.
I believe in my goals and dreams.
It’s okay not to know everything.
Today I choose to think positive.
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Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #MeaningfulMay
#SEL Day 2023: https://selday.org/
#MeaningfulMay Quote of the Month:
"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. "
— William James
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Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #MeaningfulMay
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/calendar_download/images/May%202023_0.jpg
Week 2: What matters most activity
There are so many things that make you unique. Your skills, interest and values are all a part of what makes YOU. In this exercise, take a moment to reflect on what matters most to you. Reflection question to ask: 1. Are there any overlapping themes? What do your answers have in common? 2. Based on the overlapping themes you identified, what three things might you say matter most to you? 3. As you move forward, what are some steps you could take to focus on the thing that matters most to you? How might the adults in your life help you too?
Week 3: Year in Reflection - Thank you notes
Writing thank you notes creates a positive environment in which youth feel grateful for all they have accomplished and are able to acknowledge the people who helped them. Provide youth with blank paper or thank you cards and help them create thank you notes. Youth can write notes to their teachers, after-school staff, friends, and family.
Week 4: Affirmation Box
Using positive affirmation activities for youth is powerful for building self-esteem, self-talk, and growth mindset. It’s important to practice positive self-talk with our students to help them grow in awareness, build self-esteem, and possibly even rewire their brains to break a habit of negative thoughts.
Week 5: What motivates you? Inspiring Quotes
Quotes can be a useful way to initiate reflection because there is an ample supply of them, they are often brief yet inspiring, and they can sometimes be interpreted in multiple ways. Post meaningful and inspiring quotes around your area. Have youth to quietly walk round and read each quote. Then, have students reflect and discuss their quote. Some meaning and inspirational quotes are listed below.
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ― Dr. Seuss
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” — Thomas Edison
“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” –Maya Angelou
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” —Albert Einstein
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” —Abraham Lincoln
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Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #ActiveApril
#SEL Day 2023: https://selday.org/
#ActiveApril Quote of the Month:
"Do something today that your future self will thank you for. "
— Sean Patrick Flanery
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Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #ActiveApril
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Apr%202023.jpg
Week 2: You are What You Eat! QR Stations Digital Activity
Learn more about MyPlate and why it is a useful guideline for nutrition with these class activities. This activity includes QR stations (students love using their phones!), activity sheets, notes activity, video, information sheets, and more!
https://www.familyconsumersciences.com/2019/01/myplate-stations-activities/
Week 3: Namaste
Yoga is an ancient practice from India, dating back more than 3,000 years. For young children, yoga is more than just a physical activity. A regular yoga practice can help children develop skills that will help them through adolescence and later in life. As children get older, their emotional and physical abilities and needs change. Yoga can be beneficial for teenagers in a variety of ways to help them mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Kids Yoga Poses | Yoga Poses for Children | Namaste KidKids Yoga Poses | Yoga Poses for Children | Namaste Kid
Week 4: Get Up! Get Out! Get Fit! Fitness Games for Kids
Getting youth engaged in physical activity is essential for a healthier future. Exercise improves school performance and makes kids less likely to develop depression. Kids who exercise regularly are also better able to handle physical and emotional challenges — from running to catch a bus to studying for a test.
https://www.acefitness.org/resources/pros/expert-articles/5648/fitness-games-for-kids/
All Things Earth Day! Invest in Our Planet
Every year on April 22nd, Earth Day brings the world together to celebrate, and it’s the perfect time to educate kids about climate change and how they can work to protect our home with Earth Day activities for kids.
https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/earth-day-activities/
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Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #MindfulMarch
#SEL Day 2023: https://selday.org/
Join the movement to support social emotional learning. National SEL week is from March 6-10, and SEL Day is March 10th
#MindfulMarch Quote of the Month:
"The best way to take care of the future is to take care of the present moment. "
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #MindfulMarch
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Mar%202023.jpg
Week 2: Face the Music:
https://sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/music-challenhttps://sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/music-challenge-sel?utm_source=MDR-ge-sel?utm_source=MDR-
As many agree, music is the language of the soul. Challenge students to find songs that inspire positive coping skills, gratitude, accountability, conflict resolution, relationship building, self-efficacy, resiliency, and self-motivation to boost these essential skills through SEL activities.
Week 3: Create a Peace Place:
http://operationrespect.org/theme-1-expressing-feelings/lesson-5-peace-place/
Self-calming strategies are the meat and potatoes of emotional intelligence. Explore these peace-inducing moves and create a place for students to go to when emotions become just too much to manage.
Week 4: These Shoes Were Made for Walkin’
http://operationrespect.org/theme-3-resolving-conflict-creatively/lesson-2-walk-in-anothers-shoes/
Empathy is a muscle that needs tending in order for it to aid in social and emotional growth. One way to build empathy is to metaphorically stand in the shoes of others and imagine what they must be thinking and feeling. This experience brings together a little bit of theater and a whole lot of perspective building.
Week 5: Just Breathe
https://rethinkkit.org/pages/take-five
A free, always available, ever-reliable resource to every human is their breath. Knowing ways to harness the breath is extremely helpful for self-management and building resilience. It may sound simple, and it is, but it is one of the most powerful tools we can teach students how to use.
SEL Week Activities
March 10 - International SEL Day
Celebrate Internal SEL Day all week long, with fun and engaging activities, based on the core competency of CASEL. Resources for activities (K-12) listed below can be downloaded at:
https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/social-emotional-learning-activities/
Monday, March 6th
· Self-Awareness- have students draw a heart. Inside the heart, have students write down what they can do to make themselves happy.
Tuesday, March 7th
· Self- Management- using a word web, have students to brainstorm ways they can calm down when they get angry.
Wednesday, March 8th
· Social Awareness- have students imagine being someone else to try and understand how and why they may feel a certain way. Write the emotion the person is feeling. Write why the person is feeling that way.
Thursday, March 9th
· Relationship Skills- have students play relationship BINGO. Ask students to check off how they are building their relationship skills.
Friday, March 10th - International SEL DAY
· Responsible Decision-Making- have students reflect on what it means to make good choices, help students connect making good choices with responsible decision-making opportunities.
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Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #FriendlyFebruary
#SEL Day 2023: https://selday.org/
Join the movement to support social-emotional learning
#FriendlyFebruary Quote of the Month:
"The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer someone else up. "
— Mark Twain
February Calendar
Action for Happiness Calendar #FriendlyFebruary. Connect with others and spread kindness.
Week 1: How to Make Friends
Use this resource from plantlovegrow.com to help youth step out of their comfort zone and make new friends. Share with youth, practical tips on how to start a conversation around friendships. Have youth practice asking questions to get to know each other.
895fd9_9c910651c3834ef6bde3e9aa9bc9ce0f.pdf (plantlovegrow.com)Week 2: "Helping Hand" STEM Activity
Create your very own “Robotic” Helping hand using straws everyday materials.
https://www.ymcadallas.org/sites/default/files/2020-04/DIY%20Robot%20Hand%20STEAM%20Activity.pdf
Week 3: Kindness Chain Challenge (Random Acts of Kindness Day 2/17/23)
Take one-part math and one-part kindness equals one great activity for one great activity to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day, February 17.
https://girlstart.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Kindness-Chain-Challenge.pdf
Week 4: Let’s Dance! (Celebrating Black History)
Learn about the art of stepping. Stepping is a form of dancing in which the body itself is used to create unique rhythms and sounds. The website Step Afrika! Has videos and information about the history of stepping. Challenge the youth in your program, to create a unique step. Have them practice and share with the whole group. About Us | Step Afrika!
Week 5: Caring Messages
Create your own sidewalk chalk and write messages of encouragement to your friends to show you how much you care.
https://girlstart.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Sidewalk-Chalk-Paint.pdf
Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #HappierJanuary
#SEL Day 2023: https://selday.org/
Join the movement to support social-emotional learning
#HappierJanuary Quote of the Month:
"Self-awareness gives you the capacity to learn from your mistakes as well as your successes. It enables you to keep growing. "
— Lawrence Bossidy
January Calendar
Action for Happiness Calendar #HappierJanuary. Connect with others and spread kindness.
Activity to Honor Dr. King
To honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King, can participate in a fun activity called “Burst Stereotype Balloons. This activity can be used with grades 3-12, and students can “burst” stereotypes that unfairly label individuals or groups.
https://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/03/lp294-01.shtml
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #HappierJanuary
Create opportunities to create a happier January. New year, new you!
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Jan%202023.jpg
Week 2: Devereux Adult Resilience Survey
Fill your “pitcher”, so you can fill the “pitcher” of the students you serve, by fine tuning your resilience.
https://centerforresilientchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/DARS-Full-Version.pdf
Week 3: Developing Good Habits
Begin the new year with a fresh outlook, by creating opportunities to grow and learn by setting SMART goals.
https://www.developgoodhabits.com/smart-goals-students/
Week 4: Vision Board
Help youth become successful and committed to new opportunities, by helping them create a vision board.
https://www.centervention.com/vision-board-ideas-for-students-in-elementary-and-middle-school/
https://media.centervention.com/pdf/Vision-Board-younger-worksheet-interactive2.pdf (for younger students)
https://media.centervention.com/pdf/Vision-Board-older-worksheet-interactive.pdf (for older youth)
#DoGoodDecember Quote of the Month:
"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention."
- Kahlil Gibran
December Calendar
Action for Happiness Calendar #DoGoodDecember. Connect with others and spread kindness.
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #DoGoodDecember
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Dec%202022.jpg
Encourage small random acts of kindness.
Week 2: Kindness Tree
Create a tree and have students make leaves or hearts with random acts of kindness or good deeds. https://houstonpbs.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/arct14.pre.arttree/a-kindness-tree/
Week 3: Kindness Notes
Teach kids how to write positive notes of gratitude to friends and family. Encourage kids to be specific in their praise, to show the recipient they were seen and heard.
https://www.woojr.com/random-act-of-kindness-printable-notes/csj-coloring-template-14/
Week 4: The Kindness Game Activity
Teach kids how to write positive notes of gratitude to friends and family. Encourage kids to be specific in their praise, to show the recipient they were seen and heard.
https://www.woojr.com/random-act-of-kindness-printable-notes/csj-coloring-template-14/
Week 5: Plan a Year of Kindness
Help kids plan goals around how they can create kindness moments all year long. Have kids brainstorm and plan on how they can show kindness throughout the year.
November Calendar
Action for Happiness Calendar #NewWaysNovember. Connect with others and spread kindness.
Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #NewWaysNovember
New experiences can be scary! Creating a supportive environment can help youth build confidence and to get out of their comfort zone and try new things.
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Nov%202022.jpg
Week 2: World Kindness Day (Week), November7 - 13, 2022
World Kindness Day is a holiday devoted to promoting kindness throughout the world, understanding the positive potential of large and small acts of kindness, and unifying as human beings. To promote World Kindness Day (Week) set up a Thank You Note Station at your school. Studies show that practicing gratitude increases positive emotions and happiness. In a high-traffic location at your school, set up a basket filled with blank cards and envelopes for students to write thank you notes to those who deserve appreciation. Have your student leaders get it started by writing a few samples to display next to it, as well as write and deliver some of their own cards to schoolmates.
Week 3: New Phrases, New Languages, New You!
Learning a new language is challenging, but it’s one of the most rewarding things you will ever do. Learn how to say, “Thank You”, in ten different languages. Signup for a free account with duolingo and showcase your new language skills with your friends and family! When learning a new language, just remember to be patient. https://www.duolingo.com/
Week 4: Try Something New: Paint like Jackson Pollock
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a huge canvas of white, and to be able to just throw different colors of paint on it? If you have, then you are a lot like Jackson Pollock! Jackson Pollock was an American artist, known for his unique style of painting which involved spraying, flinging, or dripping paints onto canvas. Watch this short video on Jackson Pollock and how he creates his masterpieces and challenge yourself to create your own Jackson Pollock work of art! https://youtu.be/aSYo-98fO1Y
#OptimisticOctober Quote of the Month:
"Choose to be optimistic. It feels better."
- Dalai Lama
October Calendar
Action for Happiness Calendar #OptimisticOctober. Connect with others and spread kindness.
Week #1: Action Calendar
Optimism involves learning to think positively about the future, even when things go wrong. It’s about looking objectively at a situation and making a conscious decision to focus on the good.
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/calendar_download/images/Oct%202022.jpg
Week #2: Bring Back the Best Week Activity
Negative thinking may drive a child to believe that bad times never end. As educators, we can motivate them to recall past experiences, which made them sad initially, but they could later overcome it. Asking questions such as ‘How did you feel when you got a better outcome than you had expected?’ can help them introspect and find hope from within. Here is a fun activity you can do with your students to help them recall their best week ever!
- What happened during that week to make it so enjoyable?
- Who was part of that great week?
- How did it feel when things were going really well?
- What did you do (or not do) to make sure things stay positive?
Week #3: Lights On Afterschool 2022 - Our Future is So Bright!
Take part in the 50by250 campaign to increase youth participation levels to 50% by the 250th birthday of the United States on July 4th, 2026.
Week #4: Optimistic Thinking-Growth Mindset
Someone with a growth mindset views intelligence, abilities, and talents as learnable and capable of improvement through effort. On the other hand, someone with a fixed mindset views those same traits as inherently stable and unchangeable over time. Briefly discuss with students the difference in a growth and fixed mindset. Share a (1- minute https://youtu.be/inNMktqIkh0) video of Yoda helping Luke to understand the power of mindset. After sharing the video, ask students the following questions:
- What kind of mindset did Luke have? How do you know?
- What kind of mindset does Yoda have? How do you know?
- What is Luke’s reaction when he realizes that what he thought was impossible was possible?
Have students work in groups and create a poster of what a growth mindset looks like vs. a fixed mindset. Be sure and sure your students’ posters!
#Self-CareSeptember Quote of the Month:
"Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love."
- Brené Brown
September Calendar
Action for Happiness Calendar #Self-CareSeptember. Connect with others and spread kindness.
Week #1: Action Calendar
Self-Care the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health. There are many reasons that self-care is important. Research shows that self-care helps to keep you healthy, helps you recharge and helps to improve your overall well-being.
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Sept%202022.jpg
Week #2: Mindful Active Exercise
Activities like yoga, meditation, walks and outdoor games can all promote movement and physical well-being, while also focusing on mindfulness and reflection. Follow a YouTube video for yoga or meditation—or make up your own! Try out GoNoodle for free. Just log-on to https://app.gonoodle.com/login?source=GNlogin for a free educator or parent account. GoNoodle has free age/developmental yoga videos that are easy to follow. Also, you can try out Sanford Fit https://fit.sanfordhealth.org/ for free mindfulness activity cards.
Week #3: Journaling
Journaling is a very effective way to release stress and express emotions. The habit of journaling allows for mindful moments and self-reflection. Teach youth how to journal with short, thought-provoking prompts. Use loose-leaf paper and dedicate a folder to the journal entries or ask your students to bring a journal from home. Once they get into the habit of writing, use mindful prompts to encourage reflection. You can also put on music and journal alongside them to encourage them! Make sure they know that their journals are a private space for them to write about their feelings.
Here are some mindful journaling prompts to help get them started:
What’s an activity that makes you feel happy? How often do you get to do this activity?
Write about a time when you felt sad. What made you feel better?
What are your favorite things about yourself? Why?
What’s something you like to do but don’t have a lot of time for? How can you make time for it?
Think of a person, character, show, or movie that makes you laugh.
What about it makes you smile or laugh? How does it make you feel?
What are three things, big or small, that you’re thankful for in your life?
When you have a bad day, what are some things that make it better?
Week #4: Mindful Hands-On Craft Projects
Arts and crafts, especially painting, molding, or coloring, are great opportunities for relaxation, stress release, and expression through art. Put on relaxing music in the background and spend time creating art! Download and print free coloring pages for kids.
https://kumarahyoga.com/10-awesome-mindfulness-crafts-for-kids-of-all-ages/
Week #5: Positive Affirmation List
Kids and young adults can use a positive affirmation list by reading the words to themselves or out loud, discussing how they might help, and identifying which phrases would work best. Help students create a positive affirmation list. This activity can be done as a whole class activity or students can create an individual list.
Here are a few positive affirmations to get you started:
There is no one better to be than myself.
I am enough.
I get better every single day.
I am an amazing person.
I can work through my problems.
Today I am a leader.
I forgive myself for my mistakes.
My challenges help me grow.
I am perfect just the way I am.
My mistakes help me learn and grow.
Today is going to be a great day.
I have courage and confidence.
I can control my own happiness.
I have people who love and respect me.
I stand up for what I believe in.
I believe in my goals and dreams.
It’s okay not to know everything.
Today I choose to think positive.
#AltruisticAugust Quote of the Month:
"Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness."
- Seneca
August Calendar
Action for Happiness Calendar #AltruisticAugust. Connect with others and spread kindness.
Week #1: Action Calendar
Altruism is the unselfish concern for other people—doing things simply out of a desire to help, not because you feel obligated to out of duty, loyalty, or religious reasons. It involves acting out of concern for the well-being of other people.
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/calendar_download/images/Aug%202022_0.jpg
Week #2: Notes of Appreciation
Give each student in your program sticky notes and ample opportunity to write positive messages addressed to one of their teachers and/or peers. Locate an empty wall in your program and have students place their notes of appreciation on the wall. Read out the notes and watch the faces of students and staff light up.
Week #3: Role Playing-Compassion
Have students create a role-play where they show compassion. For example, what would compassion look like if: A friend is confused by what the teacher said? Someone in your afterschool program is sad because their mother is in the hospital? Your sister is crying because she didn’t make the basketball team? A new student is feeling lonely and left out? Have students perform their role-plays for the class.
Week #4: Feelings Charade
In Feelings Charades, students will have a chance to demonstrate one emotion. The rest of the class will guess what the emotion is. The person who is doing the charade cannot speak – they must use facial expressions or body language to get classmates to guess the emotion. Write down different feelings/emotions on slips of paper. Place them in a bowl and take turns pulling them and acting them out. Once the correct feeling/ emotion is chosen the person that guessed correctly gets a turn.
Week #5: Fixing the Community
Do your students feel like they are part of their community? Many students feel they are, but they might become more compassionate people if they’re part of their town’s community. Even the best communities have homes and businesses that need repair work. Think about what projects your students can do to help “fix” their community or school.
#JumpBackUpJuly Quote of the Month:
"Don't judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again."
- Nelson Mandela
July Calendar #JumpBackUpJuly
Action for Happiness Calendar #JumpBackUpJuly. Connect with others and spread kindness.
Week #1: Action Calendar
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/calendar_download/images/Jul%202022.jpg
Week #2: Using fun games to build resilience
It’s impossible to know exactly what trials and challenges life will throw your way, but there are steps you can take to equip kids with the skills they need to overcome those hurdles. Here are a few activities that not only help with building resilience in children, but they will provide kids an afternoon of fun, too! Facing adversity can create some difficult moments for kids, but if they’re prepared, they will come out on the other side much stronger.
- Build a trust walk: Building trust in others and developing a support system is an important step in overcoming adversity. Set up a trust walk/obstacle course to teach the kids about being brave and earning trust. Have students partner up and led each other through a simple obstacle course while blindfolded. The blindfolded students are forced to rely on the advice and support of their partner to complete the course. Afterwards, talk about how they felt while completing the course.
- Form a compliment circle: It might not seem obvious, but practicing kindness is an important part of building resilience in children. This is a fun game; the only thing is you need at least six kids to play. Have the kids sit in a circle with their legs stretched out in front of them. Pick one child to go first. He or she will pick someone else in the circle to give a compliment to. Once you’ve received a compliment, you pull your legs in (crisscross applesauce style) so everyone knows you’ve received one already. Keep going around the circle until everyone has received praise. The real trick to the game is getting kids to give compliments on something other than visual traits. Try to have them avoid things that have to do with looks so the compliments are more meaningful. This is harder for younger kids and takes some practice.
- Musical Chairs: This is an oldie, but a goodie, because one of the hardest lessons to learn when you’re trying to build resiliency is that you don’t always win—and that’s OK. Start the game by having the same number of chairs as players, so that everyone has a seat the first round. Then round by round, remove a chair each time so there’s always one child out when the music stops. Kids will experience emotions connected to being the odd one out and learn how to cope with those feelings. Talk about it at the end of the game, so kids get a chance to express what they’re internalizing.
Week #3: The resilience tree exercise
To use the analogy of a tree, resilience comes from having strong, wide roots that reach deep down into the ground in order to prevent the tree from being toppled over by storms or high winds and allow it to right itself even when knocked off balance. When we are resilient, our roots reach downwards - into ourselves - and outwards, towards community and connection, so that we feel safe, grounded, and nourished, and can then blossom.
https://spacetobreatheuk.com/resilience-tree
Week #4: Letting go of the small stuff
Humans have somewhere between 12,000 and 70,000 thoughts per day. Some are helpful, some are pleasant, some are insignificant, and others can linger in our minds and get in the way of what we’re doing. There are no one-size fits all when it comes to helping children manage nagging unhelpful thoughts. Some kids really connect with the idea of being a “thought detective” and analyzing their thoughts by coming up with evidence that can ultimately challenge and change the way they think about things.
- Write down their thought and let them go on a balloon: Ask students to think about a nagging thought that has been on their mind. To help demonstrate, come up with some examples of your own. A common anxiety-provoking thought may start with “what if…” Give each student a balloon. Have students blow up their balloon as big as they can. Give students a permanent marker and have students to write down their thoughts on the balloon. If they don’t like writing or are too young to write, they can draw a picture, or you can help. Then…let the balloon go. This is a great opportunity to have a conversation with the students about how letting go of the thought made them feel. What was it like to watch it fly away?
- In or out of my control: Students begin by tracing their hands onto the paper. On the inside of the hand, write, “In my control.” On the outside of the hand outline, write, “Out of my control.” Now, students will write or draw the things that are in their control on the inside of the hand. They could write things like: my behavior, my thoughts, the words I choose to say, the words I choose to keep to myself, the way I react to others, etc. On the outside of the hand, students will write things that are not in their control. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxacynVqWd8&t=15s
Week #5: Building emotional resilience
Emotional resilience, a person’s ability to “bounce back” after setbacks, to learn from past failures and be willing to try again, is vital to students’ long-term success. We know that this is especially challenging for students dealing with trauma, but it’s important to realize that all students can benefit from spending time developing this skill. The good news is, emotional resilience can be taught, practiced, and reinforced. In fact, emotional resilience activities for kids often fit perfectly into lessons about reading, writing, speaking, and listening, making them perfect mini-lessons in most classrooms.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/4-step-process-building-student-resilience
#JoyfulJune Quote of the Month:
"Every day may not be good, but there is good in every day."
- Alice Morse Earle
June Calendar #JoyfulJune
Action for Happiness Calendar #JoyfulJune. Connect with others and spread kindness.
Week #1: Action Calendar
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Jun%202022.jpg
Week #2: Everyone is Important
https://fit.sanfordhealth.org/
Build a strong community by allowing students to see the program as a safe, caring environment and provides support as we navigate the unknown. Guide students though a guided meditation, to help refocus and center ourselves. This can help set the tone, for a calm and safe place. GoNoodle Flow, have free online guided meditation videos to lead the practice. https://www.gonoodle.com/tags/WwJzlw/flow?tab=videos
Week #3: Colors and Joy
This activity, allows students to express joyful emotions using color. Using pictures from artist Edward Hopper, have students to look at the pictures and describe the mood and feelings of the pictures, and which colors guide them in their thinking. Ask, “How does the following color make you feel?” (Yellow, green, pink, blue, gray, black) Using magazine pictures, have students create a collage of colors that show joy, happiness, sadness, and sorrow. You can find more works of art by Edward Hopper https://www.edwardhopper.net/
Week #4: Joy and Movement
This activity allows students to listen to music that they find joyful. Invite students to share what kind of music they enjoy listening to, and what kind of music makes them feel joyful. Play joyful music for students and have them to dissect what about the music makes them feel joyful.
Ask, “What is happening to your body, as you hear joyful music?” Now play music, with a slower beat.
Ask, “What is happening to your body, with slower music?” “How does slower movement and speed make you feel compared to faster movement?
Ask, “How does the music you listen to usually make you feel?” “Why do you think it makes you feel that way?” “Is it because of the words or the music?” “If the words to a sad song were put with joyful music, how would you feel?”
Here is a list of music titles you can use for this activity:
- “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” Rodgers & Hammerstein: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5APc0z49wg
- “Ode to Joy” Beethoven: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uooe16ILaPo
- “La Bamba” Ritchie Valens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSKJQ18ZoIA
- “Johann Pachelbel-Cannon in D,” percussion rhythms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OUkOmdAbXU
- “Blue” LeAnn Rimes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GozdIQx1Wowand
- “Don’t Worry Be Happy” Bobby McFerrin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU
#MeaningfulMay Quote of the Month:
"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."
- William James
May Calendar #Meaningful May
Action for Happiness Calendar #MeaningfulMay. Connect with others and spread kindness.
Week #1: Action Calendar
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/May%202022.jpg
Week #2: Journal Prompts/Discussions for all Ages
https://fit.sanfordhealth.org/
This activity is a great way to practice and normalize kids sharing ideas with their peers.
Everyday for one week, choose one of the following prompts to share with kids. The prompts can be used as a writing activity, or as open discussion.
- Choose a spring flower that symbolizes your personality and explain why you chose it.
- What is a dessert that reminds you of spring, what memories are attached to it?
- If spring didn’t exist anymore, and you had to repeat a different season, which one would you choose and why?
- If you graduated college today, which career would you pursue?
- If you could move to a new town and have a fresh start, would you? Why or why not?
- Would you rather spend 2 hours in a car, plane, or boat, and why?
- Imagine you can only use two ingredients to bake a cake. Which ingredients would you choose?
- National Chocolate Chip Day is May 15th! Name something that doesn’t usually have chocolate chips in it, but should?
Week #3: Positive Thinking Affirmations
Positive thinking is a powerful tool that can improve your health, help you manage stress, overcome challenges, and make better choices. The idea is that by changing your thinking, you can control your emotions and your actions. Positive thinking skills often start with positive self-talk, which means using the voice in your head to say positive thoughts about yourself or a situation. (Examples: “There is no one better to be than myself.” “I am enough.” “Today, I choose to be confident.”) Have students list 10 positive thoughts and affirmations they can say about themselves.
Week #4: A Letter to Yourself
In this activity, each student will write a letter to his or her futures self, detailing what every they wish. This can be details of their life now, a poem, or their future goals.
Week #5: Breath Counting- Mindfulness Practice for Tweens and Teens
https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/mindful_breathing
Students learn to focus on their breathing patterns by counting each breath to manage stress, anxiety, or to start the day with focus.
#ActiveApril Quote of the Month:
"Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live."
- Jim Rohn
April Calendar #ActiveApril
Action for Happiness Calendar #ActiveApril. Connect with others and spread kindness.
Week #1: Action Calendar
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Apr%202022.jpg
Let’s get physical outdoors by exploring a new sport or continuing your favorite form of exercise. By being physically active, students learn how to focus, regulate their emotions, and practice goal setting. Checkout the latest Action for Happiness calendar for ideas to get kids moving! #ActiveApril
Week #2: Sanford Health fitBoost Cards
https://fit.sanfordhealth.org/
Stretch and discuss physical activity. Help kids get fit and recharge their energy. Help kids learn about the connection between energy level and the desire to move. Use the FREE printable Sanford Fit cards, to engage youth in fun movements to support a healthy body. Signup for FREE.
Week #3: Earth Day Activities
https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/earth-day-activities-for-kids/
Every year on April 22nd, Earth Day brings the world together to celebrate, and it’s the perfect time to educate kids about climate change and how they can work to protect our home with Earth Day activities for kids.
Week #4: Discover Yoga
https://www.namastekid.com/tool-type/kids-yoga-poses/
Engage youth in discovering yoga. Youth can practice mindful breathing, as well as meditation. Learning yoga can help youth to energize their bodies and focus their minds while stretching and strengthening their muscles. Checkout the full free library of yoga poses for kids at Kids Yoga Poses.
#MindfulMarch Quote of the Month:
"If we are not fully ourselves, truly in the present moment, we miss everything."
- Thich Nhat Hanh
March Calendar #MindfulMarch
Action for Happiness Calendar #MindfulMarch. Connect with others and spread kindness.
Week #1: Action Calendar
https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Mar%202022.jpg
Week #2: Mindfulness Coloring Pages
https://truthbetoldquotes.com/activities-teaching-resources/quotes-to-color.html
Mindful coloring asks us to focus on how we choose and apply color in a design, to bring our awareness to the present moment.
Week #3: Breathing Exercises
Relax and Breathe: Do Nothing for 10 Minutes Video https://youtu.be/aXItOY0sLRY
Being aware of your breath is a keyway to bring a swift sense of calm, and distance yourself from anxious feelings, so you can look at a situation objectively rather than act quickly as a reaction to stress.
Week #4: Sensory Notetaking
You can practice mindfulness even when you’re not in motion—many yogis sit perfectly still in meditation. In this activity, though, you engage all five senses, taking note of what you experience.
Taste: Place a small piece of chocolate on your tongue. Let it melt slowly, instead of chewing it. Observe the taste and texture. Do you get more of a sweet sensation in certain areas of your mouth? How does your body react to the sugar?
Smell: Choose something with a high degree of natural aromas, such as an orange or a flower. Inhale deeply. How do the molecules make your mind feel when they reach your brain? What physical sensations arise, and do you have an emotional reaction? Scents can trigger memories and the feelings you associate with them.
Sight: Pick a random object in the room to focus on for 20 to 30 seconds. Observe the color and texture. Are there any tiny, unique aspects you’ve never noticed before?
Sound: Put on a favorite song or tune into some relaxing Solfeggio frequency music. What emotions arise when you hear it? Does your body physically react to the vibrations?
Touch: Close your eyes. Alternatively, place objects with a variety of textures into brown paper bags. Observe by feeling only. How does the material feel under your fingertips? Experiment with more than just fabric—for example, damp spaghetti noodles have an interesting feel.
Week #5: Yoga
https://www.emedihealth.com/wellness/yoga-meditation/yoga-poses-for-kids
Yoga and mindfulness have been shown to improve both physical and mental health in school-age children (ages 6 to 12). Yoga improves balance, strength, endurance, and aerobic capacity in children. Yoga and mindfulness offer psychological benefits for children as well. A growing body of research has already shown that yoga can improve focus, memory, self-esteem, academic performance, and classroom behavior, and can even reduce anxiety and stress in children.
#FriendlyFebruary Quote of the Month:
"The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer someone else up"
- Mark Twain
February Calendar #FriendlyFebruary
Action for Happiness Calendar #FriendlyFebruary
Connect with others and spread kindness.
Week #1: https://www.actionforhappiness.org/media/1086456/feb_2022.jpg
Week #2: Warm Fuzzies activity
Give each student a paper bag and have them write their names on the bags. Then, provide them with colorful pom poms, glue, and markers so they can decorate their bags with “warm fuzzies.” Then, set the bags around the room. Have students write one nice thing about each of their classmates on Kindness Cards or slips of paper and drop them in the corresponding bags. When finished, each student should have a bag filled with “warm fuzzies.”
Week #3: Who do we appreciate?
Ask students to think about the people who work in their school and afterschool program. What do they appreciate about these people? Have students write letters of appreciation to these workers, thanking them for all they do and the difference they make in the school or after-school program. Hand-deliver the letters.
Week #4: Don't forget yourself!
Ask students to notice any negative self-talk they might do that makes them feel not so good about themselves. Give them sticky notes and markers and have them write a positive affirmation to combat each negative thought. For example, “I’m not smart enough” can become “I am always learning new things!” Then, instruct them to post the sticky notes in places where they are likely to see them every day, such as the bathroom mirror — and whenever the negative thought creeps in, replace it with the positive one!
#HappierJanuary Action for Happiness Calendar
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Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #HappierJanuary
#HappierJanuary Quote of the Month:
"Self- awareness gives you the capacity to learn from your mistakes
as well as your successes. It enables you to keep growing."
- Lawrence Bossidy
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January Calendar #HappierJanuary
Create opportunities to create a happier January. New year, new you!
Week #1: https://www.actionforhappiness.org/media/1077195/jan_2022.jpg
Week #2: Devereux Adult Resilience Survey
Fill your “pitcher”, so you can fill the “pitcher” of the students you serve, by fine tuning your resilience.
https://centerforresilientchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/DARS-Full-Version.pdf
Week #3: Developing Good Habits
Begin the new year with a fresh outlook, by creating opportunities to grow and learn by setting SMART goals.
https://www.developgoodhabits.com/smart-goals-students/
Week #4: Vision Board
Help youth become successful and committed to new opportunities, by helping them create a vision board.
https://www.centervention.com/vision-board-ideas-for-students-in-elementary-and-middle-school/
#HappierJanuary Action for Happiness Calendar
Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students!
This month is #DecemberKindness and Action for Happiness is reminding us that even the smallest acts of kindness can really turn a day around or make a frown turn to a smile. Kindness is contagious and with 2021 coming to an end, finish the year strong and do something kind for someone. Time and attention doesn't cost money and those who are close to you will appreciate the moments you spend with them.
#DecemberKindness Quote of the Month:
"No act of kindess,
no matter how small,
is ever wasted."
- Aesop
Week #1: Action for Happiness Calendar
Week #2: Kindness Tree
Create a tree and have kids make leaves or hearts and on them, then write random acts of kindness or good deeds on those leaves or hearts. View the Houston PBS page for more information and ideas for the tree.
Week #3: Kindness Bingo
Download, print, and use these 30 different BINGO cards that list small and large acts of kindness that students may have done in 2021. Cards can be laminated for durability and safety and be wiped down after each use. Ensure to print a second set in order to draw blocks out of a hat or call randomly. Upon getting a BINGO, have the kid share how they felt after the acts of kindness.
Week #4: Kindness Notes
Teach kids how to write positive notes of gratitude to friends and family. Encourage kids to be specific in their praise, to show the recipient they were seen and heard. For inspirational ideas or examples of what to write, view the Woo! Kids Activities page.
Week #5: Plan A Year of Kindness
Help kids plan goals around how they can create kindness moments all year long. Have kids brainstorm then plan how they can show kindness throughout the year. Examples of small acts of kindness for all ages are:
- Give someone a thoughtful gift (it does not have to be expensive)
- Hold the door open for someone
- Write someone a thank you note
- Send someone an email just to say hello
- Call a friend or family member for no reason other than to chat
- Pay the toll for the driver behind you
- Pay for someone’s groceries at the grocery store
- Buy someone a cup of coffee
- Let someone cut in in traffic
- Help a driver in need fix a flat tire or in some other way
For more ideas, view the Skilled at Life page.
This month is #NewWaysNovember and Action for Happiness is encouraging all of us to learn or try something new. Learning and trying a new activity can be wonderful for our well-being. Keeping our brains active with new and challenging activities can help us get to know ourselves better, challenge our own limits on what we can do, and helps us to create a positive mindset for limitless possibilities.
#NewWaysNovember Quote of the Month:
"Just try new things. Don't be afraid,
step out of your comfort zone and soar."
- Michelle Obama
Week 1: Action for happiness calendar
Some of the most powerful teaching happens during causal interactions with the youth we serve. Listed below are some simple phrases and questions that can help make the most of everyday teaching moments
Phrase to Use:
- It’s okay to not know how to do something.
- Not everything works out the way we think it will, and that’s fine.
- All I want is for you to try.
- You don’t have to get it the first time.
- Being nervous means you’re challenging yourself. Good job.
- Everyone has to learn, even the experts.
- It’s okay to take breaks.
- I believe in you.
Phrase to Ask:
- I see your picture isn’t turning out the way you wanted it to. How can you use it to make something new?
- Oops, that didn’t go as planned. What can we do instead?
- What don’t you like about …?
- What would you say to your friend if they felt this way about …?
- What are you afraid will happen if you try …? What makes you feel that would happen? What is more likely to happen?
- What if I try it with you?
Week #2:
Create a “I Can” Can. The next time kids become stressed, or worried about at task they won’t be able to accomplish a task, remind them of all the things they can do, by having them list those things in their “I Can” can. This help to encourage and motivate youth.
Week #3:
World Kindness Day is November 13, 2021. World Kindness Day is a day observed annually, to celebrate kind people and acts of kindness. The main aim of the day is to promote kindness in all forms, to unite people globally. View the activities for World Kindness Day. Don't forget to head over to Inspire Kindness to check out how you can spread kindness by creating a painted rock.
Week #4:
Try something new - Kids are good at convincing themselves that choosing not to try something new or challenging is okay. And in truth, it is. It’s okay to say no and it’s good for kids to have a chance to feel autonomy over their choices. But what if the people who are afraid to try something new are your parents. Follow a zombie kid, who must try and convince his parents to try something new. Scroll below to the YouTube video embed and Listen to Zombies Don’t Eat Veggies by, Megan and Jorge Lacera at Storyline Online brought to you by SAG-AFTRA Foundation. The book is available in English and Spanish. View the YouTube video.
This month is #OptimisticOctober and Action for Happiness reminds us to make goals achievable and ensure you have a few short term and long term goals. Give yourself the opportunity to shine by achieve something - even if it is something really small. Give yourself the credit and celebrate it!
#OptimisticOctober Quote of the Month:
"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.
Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”
- Helen Keller
Week 1: Action for happiness calendar
Use one prompt each day to help youth learn how to self- reflect.
Self-awareness - WHAT AM I MOST OPTIMISTIC ABOUT?
Self-management - MIGHT TAKING A MINDFUL BREATH HELP ME TO RELAX AND BE MORE HOPEFUL?
Social awareness - HOW MIGHT KNOWING THAT I’M A PART OF LARGER COMMUNITY HELP ME TO HOPEFUL?
Relationship skills - WHO ELSE CAN HELP ME TO THINK THIS THROUGH?
Responsible decision making - HOW MIGHT KNOWING THAT MY HAPPINESS AFFECTS OTHERS BE HELPFUL?
Week 2: 531
This activity allows youth to practice optimistic thinking. This activity will use used over three days.
If youth feel comfortable, have youth close their eyes, and place both feet flat on he floor and have them inhale deeply and hold for 4 seconds. Repeat this 3 times before beginning the activity.
Day 1 - Youth reflect and jot down 5 things that makes them FEEL happy.
Day 2 - Youth will reflect and jot down 3 things they are grateful for.
Day 3 - Youth will reflect and jot down 1 realistic optimistic goal.
Week 3: Famous Failures Activity - This can be an activity or interactive bulletin board
Whether you have a tendency to give up before you start or just give up … don’t. Some of most successful people are the best inspiration when it comes to overcoming fear of failure and overcoming discouragement because of failure.
Show students the photo. Discuss the failure. Why do we know them?
Week 4: Growth Mindset
Having a growth mindset, allows students to believe that intelligence and abilities can improve with effort and the right strategies. Having a growth mindset helps students to be self-aware of their emotions, as well as being able to self-manage themselves in a crisis.
With students complete the growth mindset activity by Understood.
Then guide students into completing a growth mindset action plan.
Visit the main pages for more information about #OptimisticOctober and Action for Happiness.
Self-Care September at Action for Happiness
Week of Sept. 6-10 Self-Care Plan
Help students to create their own self-care plan. Created by Social Work Teach, this simple self-care plan allows students to identify their needs for mental, physical and spiritual self and name those who can help them achieve their goals.
Week of Sept. 13-17 Self-Compassionate Letters
(This activity is appropriate for high school students/adults) Help students to write self- compassionate letters to themselves. Stop beating yourself up for flaws and mistakes. Write a letter of compassion to yourself and focus on your positive attributes.
Week of Sept. 20-24 Monster Meditation
Engage in meditation using I-Sense, connecting your five senses to meditation. Practice Meditation with Cookie Monster and use your five senses to connect to the present.
Week of Sept. 27-30 Emotion Cards
Use the emotion cards to help students connect with their feelings. Randomly select an emotion card and ask students when would that emotion be appropriate and why? Another use of the cards can be used to have students act out the emotions on the cards, and have other students guess what the emotion is. (think Charades)
