The world can feel like a very big place and although there are a lot of things we’d like to change, it can seem an overwhelming task. That can be especially true for our smallest of humans. The book, I Am One: A Book of Action by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, is a wonderful way to convey the ability of one person, one small gesture, one small action. As the season of restoration and renewal is upon us, I invite you to help empower yourself and the smallest members of your family by taking one small action and envisioning the ripples it will create.
For a fun activity, try the Ripple Effect Experiment!
You will need a bowl filled with water and a few different objects that can be dropped into the water. Choose things that vary in weight and size.
Tell your child that the water represents the people, places, and things around them and the objects you gathered represent acts of kindness. Some acts of kindness are bigger than others, but they are all important.
Ask your child what they think will happen to the water (the people, places, and things around them) when they drop an object (act of kindness) in.
Take time to drop in each object one at a time and observe. Did it make a big splash or a small movement in the water?
Talk with your child about how every object will cause the water to move when displaced by the object. Let them know this is called a ripple effect. Talk about how even something very small makes ripples, just like one small person can make a difference.
Brainstorm ways that you and your child can do simple things that could have a ripple effect (smiling at someone, waving hello, or holding open a door).
For a bit of movement, check out 'One Step' by Laurie Berkner Band - You can use whatever energy your little is radiating that day. If your little is feeling very energetic, hop up on your feet, stomp, and make up other movements to go along with this short song. If you’re feeling less energetic, stay close to the floor, stomp and do other movements while staying seated.
To practice breathing or relaxation, I recommend using the song, 'Kindness Matra' by Kira Willey! If your little is able, sit up tall and breathe in and out as they picture the words in their imagination. Or invite them to lay on their back, close their eyes, maybe even cozy up with a stuffed animal or blanket, and listen as they breathe and picture the words in their imagination. The words in this song are beautiful and something to truly live by everyday.
Some other books that share a similar concept are Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein and Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud.
If you don’t have a copy of I Am One: A Book of Action at home, I hope you can snag one from the local library, a thrift shop, or a bookstore, and enjoy a bit of purposeful, mindful, fun story time yoga at home!
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