Filling Buckets with Happiness
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.
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.

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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