Bucket Filler Activities For Preschoolers To Encourage Kindness

Parenting a preschool child and looking for activities that will encourage kindness? Click through for bucket filler activities, ideas, crafts and kindness projects inspired by the book “Fill a Bucket.”

We all want to raise kind children and reading a story about kindness is one of the easiest ways to do this. Today I have a wonderful bucket filler book to share.

Fill a Bucket: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Young Children by Carol McCloud

This delightful book talks to young children about being kind using a simple analogy. We are all born with invisible buckets. When our bucket is full we are happy and when it is empty we feel sad. The magic starts when we help fill up the bucket of others. Didi is 5 years old and adores being a bucket filler. She loves bucket filler activities that makes her friends and families day better. It is truly a wonderful concept! It also pairs well with the Positive Discipline book by Jane Nelsen and The Leader in Me books.

Bucket Filler Activities

Examples of simple bucket-filling actions are provided throughout the story. I love that they are all things that are simple for preschoolers to do and understand:

Saying please and thank you
Sharing toys
Smiling at others
Looking after a pet

One of the most important messages is that when we fill a bucket by being kind, our own bucket fills up too.

The language used is simple (just right for preschoolers) and it makes for a great read-aloud story. The illustrations are gorgeous and very appealing.

This book provides the perfect chance to talk about the power of kindness and the impact our words and actions can have on others. Children seem to respond well to the invisible bucket analogy and quickly grasp how it all works. I have found that most children love the idea of becoming bucket fillers.

AFTER THE STORY

Talk to your children about ways to show love and care. You might ask questions like

How do you feel when your bucket is full?
Who fills your bucket?
What can we do to show kindness today?
How can we fill (name family member’s) bucket?

This is a great time to affirm your child. You can say things like

When you (name behavior) you fill up my bucket.
Yesterday I saw you (name something kind your child did). You filled up (name’s) bucket.
I love it when you (name behavior). It really fills up my bucket.

Children may come up with their own bucket filler activities.

To help you affirm your child: Best Positive Words For Kids: 70 Affirming Things to Say Right Now

ENJOY A SONG

This is the way we fill our bucket (tune: Here we go round the mulberrybush)

What is the way we fill our bucket?
Fill our bucket, fill our bucket?
What is the way we fill our bucket?
Each and every day.

Invite your child to name one way they can show kindness. Then sing the second verse.

This is the way we fill our bucket.
Fill our bucket, fill our bucket.
This is the way we fill our bucket.
Each and every day.

Have you filled a bucket today?

FILL A FAMILY BUCKET

Berg’s Bugs has a free printable bucket filled with balls. Get, print and post it where your kids will see it every day. Celebrate kind acts in your family by coloring in a ball. When all the balls are filled do something special to celebrate. This is a great way to affirm kind behavior in your family.

My Little Poppies set up real buckets and glass gems to do the same thing. Every time the children do bucket filler activities, they add a gem to their friends bucket.

Busy Kids Happy Mom also has some bucket filling ideas for older kids.

There are lots of follow up activities available on the bucket fillers website. These include instructions on how to make a paper bucket, more bucket filler activities and loads of tips and ideas.

KEEP THE BUCKET KINDNESS GOING EACH DAY

Each morning ask, “How will you fill a bucket today?”
In the evening mention some ways you witnessed your child being kind.
If your child is crying or acting out, ask, “Does your bucket need filling? Can I help?” and offer a hug.

ART PROJECTS TO ENCOURAGE KINDNESS

Make some printable dot hearts to give to someone that doesn’t get out very often

Make a banner with a loving message for a loved one.

MORE KINDNESS ACTIVITIES

Printable Love Notes | Mom’s can fill their child’s bucket with these sweet love notes. Add it to your child’s lunchbox for a special school lunch surprise.

Heart Purse | Sixth Bloom

Kindness Clips| Happiness is Homemade

Free Printable Compliment Cards|Kid’s Activities

Creating Kindness Bags| Pragmatic Parent

Printable Bookmarks to Leave as Surprises | Natural Beach Living

Printable cards to cheer people up| Sarah Titus