How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids

How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids

Picture book
Awhile back the concept of the emotional invisible bucket was
popular. The idea is that we each have one. A full one enhances
happiness and well being while a depleted one makes a person sad and
angry. Acting on this grouchiness further depletes one's bucket and
that of the target while acting from joy and well being adds to the
buckets of the person and everyone he/she/they interacts with.
Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer's How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids
presents this concept in a way relevant to children. Felix has a day
that starts out with everything going wrong from the dog scarfing his
breakfast muffin to the kids on the bus taunting him about his new
backpack. He enters the classroom, bucket nearly dry, thinking mean
thoughts. Then his teacher praises him for a paper and has him share
it with the class. That's only the start of the good things that
happen. He's able to show kindness to others...even eventually his
pesky little sister.
I think this is a wonderful concept to share with kids. It is a
way to show them that they can have some control over their feelings
rather than being overwhelmed. It's also a way to guide them toward
leading more mindful lives.
On a personal note, that is undoubtedly the secret of my popularity.
My default state is joy on steroids. Think Pollyanna or the obnoxious
cheerleader in Grease. (I do have one bad day a month). I'm not
gorgeous, sexy, athletic, or rich. I can be counted on to fill
people's buckets and their happiness to be with me keeps mine full to
overflowing. Call it a precious (as opposed to vicious) cycle.
On this fine spring day a great big shout out goes out to the UMaine
community.
jules hathaway


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