Activities for Kids

Children learn best through play, storytelling, singing, metaphors, and hands-on experiences. So why not use these activities to teach kids the most important life skills of compassion, kindness, and communication with others?

The activities below are aimed at helping kids develop a deeper understanding of positive character traits and patterns that will help them grow as individuals as well as get along better with others. Example learning objectives include:

~ How to communicate with respect

~ Being truthful

~ Feeling empathy for others

~ Finding ways to be generous

~ Practicing friendliness

Browse the articles:

Prevent Morning Hassles with the Bus Stop Game

Our kids fight often however I have never had to get fighting kids in the car. I realised the “Bus Stop Game” that we have been using for over a year actively prevents this. I had never thought of it as a parenting tool before taking the last Positive Discipline class. When we are getting… {read more}

5 Cooperative Trampoline Games

We had a Vuly trampoline when the kids were younger, before we left on our year-long trip around Australia, and absolutely loved it. Look at those two boys having such a great time! They look so little nearly six years ago, I can hardly believe it! When we were recently offered a Vuly Ultra Trampoline… {read more}

Free Printables to Create a Calm Down Kit for Parents

This post shares tools to create your own calm down kit. Today I’m presenting a workshop at the Positive Discipline Conference in Seattle, USA (12 July, 2019) on helping parents create calm down kits. Here are the free printables I’m sharing in case you want to use them at home as well. Click on the… {read more}

5 Videos of Effective Calm Down Techniques for Kids

Learning calm down techniques is a useful tool no matter your age. Check out these five videos to learn different ways to calm the mind: The Mind Jar Exercise by FableFy This video shares an analogy for children to understand how thoughts can take over your mind, and reminds them to breathe “till the… {read more}

10 Awesome Kindness Quotes for Kids to Learn by Heart

I have always loved collecting inspirational quotes. I like to put them up around my house, read them in articles, write them in cards, use them in presentations, and the list goes on. Kindness is one of the foundational qualities I want to help my children develop. From being kind to the insects in the… {read more}

5 Activities to Help Children Develop Emotional Control

Recently in our house we have been working on becoming aware of our emotions and choosing to handle them in a positive manner. It’s a lifelong journey, to say the least… and I have to admit that I am getting as much out of exploring these subjects as my kids. But little by little the… {read more}

DIY Lift-the-Flap Manners Book for Toddlers

Over the years our family has made a lot of booklets and crafts to learn about various character traits. This was one of my oldest son’s favourites when he was around 2 years old. I made this “Learning about Gentleness” book because, like many parents of toddlers, I was finding myself talking a lot about… {read more}

Storybooks that Build Character + Printable Activity Pages

Storytelling is a part of human nature. It is a way of communication and of sharing what is important to us. Ever since the beginning of time, communities and cultures around the world have told stories to explain human life, relationships, the unknown, and to pass on their own history. Storybooks can provide not only… {read more}

Positive Self-Talk Journal Free Printable

If you are looking for a way to encourage positive self-talk at home or school, check out this simple yet effective journal activity. The journal was made for children ages 7-11 years old in mind, however with some adult help even younger children could use it as well. I actually really enjoyed filling in the… {read more}

“The Gems Within” Virtue Sensory Bin {Free Printables}

A few years ago Elaheh Bos and I published a book called Mason’s Greatest Gems which shares the story of a little boy who learns to use gems as an analogy for the virtues within us. Although Elaheh and I put together a printable activity pack to go with the book (you can find it here),… {read more}

Growth Mindset Yoga Free Printable

This is a guest post by Giselle Shardlow of Kids Yoga Stories. How to Build a Growth Mindset through Yoga Poses for Kids “I can’t read like her, Momma,” my daughter told me. I was visiting her first grade classroom during a special family reading event. My daughter pointed out the children around us who were… {read more}

10 Simple Activities to Teach Gratitude

I believe gratitude can bring joy to life in nearly every situation. Here are some simple ways to add the study of this important value into your family time any time of the year. 1. Share what you are grateful for over candlelight at dinner. Dinner is a great time to encourage gratitude/sharing about things… {read more}

Teach Kids Event Planning Skills {Free Printable}

Use this free printable worksheet to teach kids event planning skills; it will build character as well as capacity. Imagine being a child and being given the opportunity to plan an event and carry it out basically by yourself. How would that make you feel? Empowering kids with skills such as event planning not only… {read more}

10 Activities to Help Children Develop a Positive Attitude

“You are what you think.” This saying has become extremely important to me since becoming a parent as I have realized the huge impact I have on shaping my children’s perspectives on their own selves, and life in general. The words I say to them, the confidence I help them develop, and the opportunities I… {read more}

Teach Kids Gaming Etiquette {Free Printable}

Summary: In this post, learn about the life skills you can encourage your kids to practice while they are gaming plus download a free printable to teach kids gaming etiquette. A couple months ago, Xbox Australia gifted our family with a console and a few games to test out. My boys were so crazy excited… {read more}

Simple Activities To Help Toddlers Develop Mindfulness

Today I’m excited to welcome Jennifer Landis of Mindfulness Mama to share some tips about how to help toddlers develop mindfulnes. Enjoy!! — Chelsea Learning to be mindful is a great way to help you deal with the stresses in your life, but it’s not normally the kind of thing you think to teach toddlers and small… {read more}

Empathy Game: A Tool to Teach Kids to Be Considerate {Free Printable}

Summary: A printable empathy game plus prop ideas for making it fun for kids, to practice stepping into someone else’s shoes and develop consideration for others. “What’s she feeling, sweetheart?” I am asking my son to stop and think about the way he’s playing with his baby sister. I can see he doesn’t quite understand… {read more}

30 Day Creativity Challenge for Kids {Free Printable}

Creativity is an important skill for every person to learn and practice. Many people assume that being creative means doing hands-on crafts or having artistic talent. Although this is part of what it means to practice creativity, there are many other ways to embody this virtue as well. In fact, whether you believe it or… {read more}

7 Free Colouring Pages for Kids on Positive Values

Below you will find downloads and links to seven free colouring pages for kids on positive values. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to introduce positive values to your little one, enjoy some craft time together using these free colouring pages. They are all very simple pictures, perfect for children under… {read more}

5 Crafty Activities to Teach Kids About Emotions

Children learn in different ways. Some kids love active games while others enjoy storybooks better. Some children enjoy listening to someone speaking while others prefer to experiment with a new concept through a hands-on project. Of course it is ideal to offer children educational opportunities using all the various learning strategies, but if you know… {read more}

International Women’s Day Activities {Free Printables}

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th every year. Let us all use this day to show our appreciation of women for their achievements in society at large, local communities, neighbourhoods and homes around the world. And be inspired to work harder for equality and advancement in any arena we are able to influence! I… {read more}