Another great idea around the theme of kindness, giving, and gratitude!

"Choose from a list of things that kids can either participate in or do independently. Some of them are geared towards school and daycare, while others are geared towards home, and some of them are as simple as smiling at others, while some — like donating to those in need — are a little more involved."

http://www.cbc.ca/parents/play/view/acts-of-kindness-advent-calendar

The holidays are a great time to talk about gratitude! Research is showing us that there are immense benefits to incorporating gratitude exercises into our daily lives. Here are some simple ways to help kids understand and practice gratitude (from the Play Therapy Institute of Colorado: Home of Synergetic Play Therapy).

https://playtherapycolorado.com/gratitude-activities-child/

Happy World Kindness Day! 💕

Empathy is one of my favourite topics.

How can we cultivate empathy in children? Many social-emotional learning programs focus on teaching kids to demonstrate empathy through behaviours and skills. But can true empathy be taught?
Research from Harvard University suggests that we need to go beyond skill-building; it is essential to nurture compassion and help kids see the value of perspective-taking. Check out the link below for 5 helpful tips to cultivate empathy.

"Empathy begins with the capacity to take another perspective, to walk in another’s shoes. But it is not just that capacity. Salespeople, politicians, actors and marketers are often very skilled at taking other perspectives but they may not care about others. Con men and torturers take other perspectives so they can exploit people’s weaknesses. Empathy includes valuing other perspectives and people. It’s about perspective-taking and compassion."

https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/parenting-resources-raising-caring-ethical-children/cultivating-empathy

A simple tool for explaining consent to kids and adults! From one of my favourite illustrators, Elise Gravel - English (available in French at Elise Gravel - français).

A home can be a busy place! Sometimes kids (and adults) need a small oasis where they can go during a difficult moment to relax and take a break. Check out these suggestions for creating a "calm-down space" in your home!

http://www.cbc.ca/parents/learning/view/how-to-create-a-calm-down-space-for-your-kids