Filling Buckets with Happiness
The question: "How Full is Your Bucket?" is based on a philosophy and book by Donald Clifton, in which he explains that each of us has an invisible bucket that can be filled or emptied based on relationships with others. When we treat others well, we fill their buckets as well as our own, and when our buckets are filled we are happy. When we treat others poorly, or when we are treated poorly by others, our buckets are emptied, leaving us feeling unhappy.Because of its simplicity, the concept of "bucket filling" has been successfully translated into children's books for a range of ages...
Written by Donald Clifton's own daughter and grandson, How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids
by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer is a simple introduction to the concept of bucket filling. In this story, a young boy is having typical daily struggles (fighting over a block tower with his sister, slowing down the morning routine, running into friends as well as problems at school, etc.) His grandfather has told him that he and every other person has an invisible bucket, and the boy discovers that he can contribute to his own and other's happiness by filling the buckets of others.
by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer is a simple introduction to the concept of bucket filling. In this story, a young boy is having typical daily struggles (fighting over a block tower with his sister, slowing down the morning routine, running into friends as well as problems at school, etc.) His grandfather has told him that he and every other person has an invisible bucket, and the boy discovers that he can contribute to his own and other's happiness by filling the buckets of others.
For the youngest kids, Fill a Bucket: A Guide to Daily Happiness for the Young Child by Carol McCloud and Katherine Martin is a great introduction to the concept. It talks about how children can make themselves and others feel good by being kind.
Kids as young as 5 or 6 would be able to get the lessons of the books above but are also likely ready to learn more about the "bucket dippers" that come up in Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. "Bucket dipping" involves actions that take away from the happiness of others, and of the bucket dippers themselves, such as teasing and bullying.
Tip: Use the bucket filling analogy with your children throughout their day. You are likely to be surprised at how strongly they will connect with it - and how much it will impact the way YOU interact with others!
Parent TOGs:
Book: How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Donald Clifton, Ph.D. (the original adult version of the bucket filling philosophy; a quick read with research support and real-life application)
DVD: How Full is Your Bucket? DVD (based on the Tom Rath and Don Clifton book)
Websites: www.BucketFillers101.com (a website run by Carol McCloud and others, with seminar and school assembly information, as well as products such as posters and Tshirts)
www.BucketBook.com (Website for How Full is Your Bucket?, with more information about the research and additional resources)
Have you ever tried explaining a complicated concept to your kids with a simpler analogy? Did it work for you and your kids? Please share your experiences in the Comments section!
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