🧠 New Activity: Circle of Positivity + How to stop doomscrolling

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🖍️ ✂️ ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK

Circle of Positivity

Objective: Teach children the importance of surrounding themselves with positive influences by identifying the people, activities, and habits that uplift and support them.

Materials:

• A large sheet of paper or poster board

• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils

• Magazines or printed images for a collage (optional)

• Scissors and glue (optional for collage)

• Small objects or tokens (for a visual positive influence space)

Steps:

1. Introduction (5 minutes):

   • Affirmation Talk: Begin by introducing the affirmation "I surround myself with positive influences." Ask your child what they think “positive influences” means. Explain that it can include people who make us feel good, activities that help us grow, and habits that make us happy and healthy.

   • Share that today they will create a "Circle of Positivity" to remind them of the positive influences in their life and how they can choose to focus on those things.

2. Create the Circle of Positivity Poster (15-20 minutes):

   • On a large sheet of paper or poster board, draw a big circle in the center. Label it "My Circle of Positivity."

   • Ask your child to think about the people, activities, and habits that help them feel happy, supported, and loved. These can be:

     • People (family members, friends, teachers who encourage them).

     • Activities (sports, reading, drawing, playing outside).

     • Habits (eating healthy, being kind, helping others, practicing gratitude).

   • Have them write or draw each of these positive influences inside the circle. You can also use magazine cut-outs or printed images to create a collage, where they glue images that represent these positive influences inside the circle.

3. Reflection on Positive Influences (10 minutes):

   • Once the circle is filled, sit down and talk about each of the positive influences they’ve included. Ask reflective questions like:

     • How do the people in your life help you feel supported or happy?

     • What activities make you feel good or help you learn new things?

     • What habits make you feel healthy, strong, or proud of yourself?

   • Highlight that these positive influences are things they can focus on and choose every day.

4. Positive Influence Space (Optional, 10-15 minutes):

   • Create a small "Positive Influence Space" in your home, where your child can place small objects or tokens that remind them of the positive influences they want to surround themselves with. This could include:

     • A favorite book that inspires them.

     • A small photo of a loved one.

     • A meaningful object that reminds them of kindness, strength, or happiness.

   • Let them arrange this space in their room or a shared space, reinforcing the idea that they can actively choose positive influences around them.

5. Positive Habits Challenge (5 minutes):

   • Challenge your child to think of one new positive habit they’d like to add to their circle. It could be something simple like practicing gratitude, helping out at home, or spending time outside.

   • Encourage them to focus on this new habit for the week and reflect on how it makes them feel.

6. Affirmation Wrap-Up (5 minutes):

   • End by repeating the affirmation together: "I surround myself with positive influences."

   • Encourage them to look at their Circle of Positivity whenever they feel unsure or need a reminder of the good things they have in their life. Let them know they can always add new people, activities, or habits to their circle as they continue to grow.

Why This Works:

• Visual Representation: The Circle of Positivity helps children visually recognize the positive influences in their life, making it easier for them to focus on the things that uplift them.

• Empowerment Through Choice: By identifying positive people and activities, children learn that they have the power to choose what and who they allow to influence them.

• Building Positive Habits: The activity encourages children to think proactively about the habits they want to develop, reinforcing the idea of surrounding themselves with positive behaviors and influences.

This activity helps children live out the affirmation "I surround myself with positive influences" by guiding them to identify and focus on the people, activities, and habits that contribute positively to their well-being and happiness.

BEFORE YOU GO

Other ways we can help:

• Follow our Charm Words Daily Affirmations for Kids podcast

• Purchase our first tracing affirmations journal

• Send us topics you want us to design activities for: [email protected]