“Once there was a little girl called Meg, who invented her own kind of happiness.” So reads the first line of THE JAR OF HAPPINESS (Child’s Play, 2015) by Ailsa Burrows. And what a perfect way to begin! Meg keeps all sorts of things in her jar and uses them to cheer up friends and family. When Meg loses the jar, the friends and family she has cheered up come to her rescue with their own bits of happiness.
This is a simple, but powerful story. Similar to a gratitude journal but, somehow more kid-friendly, why not make a “Happiness Jar” part of your home or classroom routine?
Want more tips for teaching gratitude? Check out these suggestions:
- Get Grateful! 20 ways to teach kids gratitude, from tots to teens by Amy McCready – Today News
- 11 Tips for Instilling True Gratitude in Your Kids by Andrea Reiser – Huff Post/Parents
- Gratitude Activities for the Classroom by Vicki Zakrzewski – Greater Good/UC-Berkely
