Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #Self-CareSeptember

#Self-CareSeptember Quote of the Month:

“Always make decisions that prioritizes your inner peace.”

– Izey Victoria Odiase

Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #Self-CareSeptember 

Give yourself a bear hug. It is so vital to be kind and prioritize self-care. There are so many times where we often neglect to take care of ourselves and sometimes prioritize the care of others. It is essential to make time for ourselves and discover what brings us peace and happiness. We must not forget that we’re human and like plants we need water to grow. #Self-CareSeptember #NourishYourself

Week 2: Positive Affirmations

Have youth write down positive affirmations that describe themselves such as “I am kind,” “I am strong,” or “I am confident.” Another idea is to have affirmations written down in a centrally visible place and invite youth to repeat them aloud as you say it along with them. There are plenty of videos available that feature positive affirmations including a nursery rhyme positive affirmations song. As a program idea, you could start each week with affirmations and decide as a group which ones to say together or individually. #Self-CareSeptember #ControlYourHappiness

Week 3: Kind Notes

It can often be easier to show kindness to a best friend than to yourself, so imagine how powerful it would be if we treated ourselves with that same compassion. Have youth spend a few minutes to write a kind thoughtful note to themselves.  A few examples youth can write about could be identifying what they’re doing well, reminding themselves of why they are amazing, and for you the adult, reflect and journal on what you are doing well and why you are amazing. #Self-CareSeptember #Self-Compassion

Week 4: De-stress Plan

Have youth create a personal plan they can use to help them manage stress and worries. Ask youth what their hobbies are, what makes them smile, have youth to write them down in a plan. Some ideas for a plan could include journaling, playing a sport, or simply being outside. This activity encourages self-awareness by giving youth a chance to reflect on themselves. When they’re not feeling their best, they can refer to their plan and engage in the activities they’ve listed. It is a self-management tool anyone can utilize. #Self-CareSeptember #StressReliever

Week 5: Accomplishments Box

Have youth create an “Accomplishments” box to remind themselves of the things they have done well. This is a great way for youth to reflect on all the things they have done. If students are struggling to come up with examples, help them identify their strengths and think about areas they’d like to improve or focus on. #Self-CareSeptember #Strengths

Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #AltruisticAugust

#AltruisticAugust Quote of the Month:

“Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

– John Wesley

#JumpBackUpJuly Quote of the Month:

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."

– Albert Einstein

Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #JumpBackUpJuly

https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Jul%202025.pdf

During the summertime, afterschool programs are different hours, and it may affect daily routines. It is important to talk about how to get back into routines or create a routine. You can utilize this sample schedule to help your students create a morning, afternoon, and evening routine. Routines can include eating, sleeping, and other things that are consistent throughout the day.

Week 2: Summer Journal

A sunshine summer journal is a fun way to track what students have been thinking, learning, and writing for the summer. There is a step-by-step guide in the link above and the supplies needed for the summer journal. There are many ways to utilize the summer journal such as students can draw or write about a favorite thing they did or saw. Another idea is to write simple poems, sticker stories, or even make a weather chart page they see throughout the day.

Week 3: Yet Crown

The Yet Crown activity is where students write a list of 2–3 hard things that they cannot do but want to be able to do. You can utilize the SMART goal method to make sure it is attainable. Then you can have your students decorate their crown with the goals they decided and write the letters YET in the center of the crown. The word ‘yet’ to a sentence is a simple and effective tool for kids when trying to succeed at something new.

Week 4: The Worry Box

As we continue summer programming, it is a good time to reflect on and consider what our students may be feeling. Moreso, focus on what kind of worries students may have. One helpful activity is to encourage students to write down or draw their worries and place them in a Worry Box. This box can be used whenever a student feels overwhelmed. Students can place their worry in the box; this signifies how they can take control of their emotions and situation. It allows them to temporarily “park” their feelings until they are ready to address them — whether by tackling the issue, asking for help, or accepting it and moving on. You can also invite students to decorate their worry box. An alternative activity to consider is the write down, rip up, throw away your stress activity that works best at the beginning of program.

Week 5: Coping Skills

Encourage students to participate in a group coping skill activity and think about what helpful and unhelpful strategies are. There are different ways for people to cope such as physical activities, mindfulness practices, social support, and cognitive techniques. It is important for students to explore and identify what works best for them, whether they are dealing with big life changes, unexpected challenges, and just everyday stress.

Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #JoyfulJune

#JoyfulJune Quote of the Month:

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life ”

– Omar Khayyam

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Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #JoyfulJune

Download the calendar

“A little joy can brighten your day and fill your heart.” As summer approaches it’s the perfect time to reflect on what brings us happiness and what helps us feel better. Joy can be found in anything even in the simplest things – like the sun. The bright sun that rises in the morning sets the stage for a beautiful, joyful day. #JoyfulJune #SimpleJoy

Week 2: Make a Joy List

A joy list is a great way to have kids reflect on what brings them joy whether it’s people, food, things, hobbies, or places. After each student has written down what brings them joy, place it on a poster or cut out the letters of joy and place it anywhere they’d like. Another option is to display their creations in your program space so they can look at them anytime. Here are a couple of templates you can use: My Joy List template and What Brings You Joy? #JoyfulJune #MyJoyList

Week 3: Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

In this nature color scavenger hunt activity, youth will work as a team and find natural items that match each color on a color wheel. As they explore the outdoors, they will have the opportunity to reflect on how nature makes them feel and what they enjoy most about spending time outside. After the scavenger hunt, youth can engage in group discussion, sharing their thoughts on the experience and reflect on their personal connection with nature. #JoyfulJune #ExploreNature

Week 4: Happy Dance

Dancing gives a fun and expressive way to release tension, boost your mood, and embrace positive energy. Have youth get up and do a happy dance. Make sure they shake things off, like, what they have been feeling throughout the day. They can do the same routine or make up their own dance and steps that make them feel happy. #JoyfulJune #HappyDance

Week 5: Glitter Jar

Have youth make their own glitter jar, you will need a jar or bottle, glue, glitter, water, and food coloring (optional). Detailed step-by-step instructions can be found in the hyperlink above. Glitter jars are a fun and creative way to support emotional regulation and mindfulness. They can help with calming down, relaxing, understanding how the brain works, practicing mindful communication, and focus-building. #JoyfulJune #CalmJar

#MeaningfulMay Quote of the Month:

“Don’t count the days, make the days count.”

– Muhammad Ali

Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #MeaningfulMay

https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/May%202025.jpg

We matter every day. But how often do we stop and take the opportunity to “be” in the moment of our daily lives? With easy access to technology, we often find ourselves viewing those moments behind the lens instead of taking the opportunity to “be” in the moment. Take the opportunity this month to “be” in the moment. To “be” intentional with your everyday life. #MeaningfulMay #Intentionality #Beinthemoment

 

Week 2: Self-Made Awards

In your afterschool program, have students reflect on their personal accomplishments and areas of growth. Have students create a specialized award for themselves. For example, a student may reward themselves with “The Spirit Award,” for showing team spirit and energy throughout the year. Then, give students an opportunity to share their award with their peers, family members, and community members during a special afterschool showcase. #MeaningfulMay #Reflection #CelebrateYourself

 

Week 3: Make a Smile Pile

Encourage your students to capture moments that make them smile by writing them down and submitting them to the Smile Pile, a bucket students fill with handwritten notes.  If students include their name on the note, they can share their positive moment with the program, whereas anonymous slips are kept private. You can set aside a time each week to read and share the notes within your program. #MeaningfulMay #PositiveNotes

 

Week 4: Sharing Gratitude Stories

One way to reflect on gratitude is by sharing gratitude stories (link of the activity) with a partner in your afterschool program. Ask each student to think about a time they felt grateful. Then each student pairs up with a partner and takes turns sharing their experiences.  Once students are in pairs, students decide on who will ask the questions and then who will answer. After the first person has shared their story, they switch roles. Finally, have each student record their feelings in a word web. #MeaningfulMay #StoryTime #Gratitude

 

Week 5: What motivates you? Inspiring Quotes

Quotes can be a useful way to initiate reflection because there is an ample supply of them, they are often brief yet inspiring, and they can sometimes be interpreted in multiple ways. Post meaningful and inspiring quotes around your area. Have youth to quietly walk round and read each quote. Then, have students reflect and discuss their quote. Some meaning and inspirational quotes are listed below. #MeaningfulMay #Inspiration

 

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ― Dr. Seuss

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”  — Thomas Edison

 “Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” –Maya Angelou

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” —Albert Einstein

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” —Abraham Lincoln

 

#ActiveApril Quote of the Month:

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

– Lao Tzu

Week 1: Action for Happiness Calander #ActiveApril

https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Apr%202025.jpg

As we begin this new season, let’s become more active and take a moment outside to enjoy the spring weather. One way to gain some active and interactive free activities is to create a free GoNoodle account where you gain access to many topics including self-expression, teamwork, and more.

Week 2: Move & Groove

Research has shown that there are many benefits to being active, such as improving your mood and getting better sleep.  A fun activity to play is “Are you more like.” Have students start in the middle and move left or right based on what they feel more like. Here’s a clip of several examples by GoNoodle, you can also play through during program time. #ActiveApril #MoveToImprove

Week 3: Dance it Out

A great way for youth to explore how emotions are shown and how they feel it in their bodies is through dance and movement. GoNoodle has several different dancing videos including “We Are One” on using different dance moves youth can explore. It has step by step for kids to follow through and can be paused at any moment. #ActiveApril #LetsDance #FeelTheRhythm

Week 4: Mood Walk

A mood walk is when you explore, name, and act out your emotions. For example, walk like you’re happy and get your legs up and smiling face. Then, say “neutral” and say a new emotion every time you would like to switch. You can follow along the Mood Walk by GoNoodle,  and then try some different ones as well with your students. #ActiveApril #Emotions #EmotionThroughDance

Week 5: Let’s Unplug

A List of Outdoor Activities

Take students outside and have them sit or lie in a space that’s just theirs. Students are welcome to bring a notebook and pencil to write down their thoughts or feelings. Another idea is to have students find an object and then allow them to build a one-minute story around it. #ActiveApril #OutdoorPlay

All things Earth Day! Invest in Our Planet

Every year on April 22nd, Earth Day brings the world together to celebrate, and it’s the perfect time to educate kids about climate change and how they can work to protect our home with Earth Day activities for kids. #EarthDay #SavethePlanet

https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/earth-day-activities/  https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2025/  

Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #MindfulMarch

#MindfulMarch Quote of the Month:

“The mind is just like a muscle—the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets and the more it can expand.”

– Idowu Koyenikan4

 

Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #MindfulMarch

https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Mar%202025.jpg

One way to practice mindfulness is to listen to music. Choose a playlist that’s filled with different types of music that can solicit different ranges of emotions. Once you have curated your playlist, play the songs one at a time and ask youth if they think the song is happy or sad. Then you can ask why they chose that specific emotion. To learn more: Feeling the Music Activity Click on the link to access a pre-made playlist . #MindfulMarch #FeelingtheMusic #NamingEmotions

SEL Day: March 3^rd is SEL Day

Celebrate SEL Day! There are so many ways to celebrate to make SEL an important part of your program. Here are just a few fun and engaging activities you can do as a whole group. Organize and host a grateful-ness party and encourage everyone to share what they are grateful for; this can be done by writing a gratitude note. Gather all your art supplies and create a group mural to hang in your program space, sing a song, or a new chant for your program. SEL Day should be a day of celebrating all things SEL! Other ideas include having mindfulness activities, and positive affirmations bulletin board. For more ideas check out SEL Day Activities #SELday #Grateful #MindfulnessActivities #PositiveAffirmations #Celebrate

Week 2: Breathing Exercises

Pinwheel Breathing Exercise , Rainbow Breath Exercise, Relax and Breathe Do Nothing for 10 minutes 

When youth become overwhelmed or need an opportunity to reset practicing calming breathing techniques can help youth recenter. Here are a few breathing techniques that can be practiced during the program. The breathing techniques shared, can be taught as a whole group activity; by doing so, youth will have the tools to self-regulate when they feel overwhelmed. Being aware of your breathing is a keyway to bring a swift sense of calm, and distance yourself from anxious feelings. This will allow youth to look at a situation objectively rather than act quickly as a reaction to stress. #MindfulMarch #RelaxandBreathe 

Week 3: Let’s Play Mindfulness Bingo!

A fun and engaging activity for youth, is Mindfulness Bingo/Mindfulness Bingo (two bingo card ideas). This activity can be a great way for youth reflect on what they are already doing and how they are being mindful throughout the week. The game is simple to create, just fill each card with different mindfulness activities BINGO. #MindfulMarch #MindfulnessBingo

Week 4: Body Scan

The 3 Minutes Body Scan Meditation is a practice youth can use to help them narrow down their focus. As you narrow down your focus you pay closer attention to sensations happening within the body. Alidina states “The body scan trains your mind to be able to move from detailed attention to a wider and more spacious awareness from one moment to the next.” #MindfulMarch #BodyScan #Meditate

Week 5: Yoga

The Edutopia website has 5 Yoga Practices for School-Day Transitions to help with mindfulness. Yoga and mindfulness have been shown to improve both physical and mental health in school-age children (ages 6 to 12). Yoga improves balance, strength, endurance, and aerobic capacity in children. Yoga and mindfulness offer psychological benefits for children as well. A growing body of research has already shown that yoga can improve focus, memory, self-esteem, academic performance, and classroom behavior, and can even reduce anxiety and stress in children. #MindfulMarch #Yoga 

Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #FriendlyFebruary

#FriendlyFebruary Quote of the Month:

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”

– Maya Angelou

Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #FriendlyFebruary

https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Feb%202025.jpg

Let’s give everyone a chance to spread kindness by shouting out someone in the program. A shout-out is a positive comment given from one peer to another, acknowledging something good they did or overcoming a challenge. This can be done at the beginning or end of your program, allowing youth a chance to give shout-outs. Check out the video from Edutopia on how shout-outs can bolster peer relationships. #FriendlyFebruary #Shoutout #BuildingPeerRelations

Week 2: I Heart Afterschool

There are millions of reasons to love afterschool. Afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire learning, and help working families. Tell the world why you, your students, and your community love your afterschool program! I Heart Afterschool is February 14, and what better time to share how you feel about their afterschool program. Afterschool Alliance has free resources for you to use to share your love for afterschool. #FriendlyFebruary #IHeartAfterschool

A fun and engaging activity for your program to try is a holiday themed Connections game. The connection game is based on the Connections game in the New York Times. Thanks to TCEA for sharing this fun and exciting game that will surely get your brain juices flowing. HOLIDAY THEMED - Connections GAME that can be done in your program, colored in pink, purple, and red. There are 16 words, divided into four categories of four words each, and each group shares a common thread. #FriendlyFebruary #ValentineDay #Connections

Week 3: Create a Friendship Flower Garden (Random Acts of Kindness Day 2/17/25)
First, ask youth to draw a flower with big petals and write a characteristic of a friend on each petal, then color them. Afterward, they can hang up their flowers to create a “friendship garden.” Friendship Activities for Kids – Very Special Tales (Activity #11) #FriendlyFebruary #FriendshipGarden

Week 4: Let’s Dance! (Celebrating Black History)
Learn about the art of stepping. Stepping is a form of dancing in which the body is used to create unique rhythms and sounds. The website Step Afrika! offers videos and information about the history of stepping. Challenge the youth in your program to create a unique step. Have them practice and share it with the whole group. About Us | Step Afrika! #FriendlyFebruary #CelebratingBlackHistory #Dance

Week 5: Pom-Pom Jar Activity
A pom-pom jar is a positive reinforcement strategy that promotes kindness. The process begins with an empty jar. Start by providing examples of acts of kindness, such as saying kind words, sharing, or helping with an activity. As kids perform helpful acts, they can add a pom-pom to the jar and share what they did. Afterward, everyone can acknowledge each act of kindness. Once the pom-pom jar is full, celebrate with a treat or game. #FriendlyFebruary #ActsofKindness

• Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #DoGoodDecember

  #DoGoodDecember Quote of the Month:

  "How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time."

  —Morgan Freeman

The holiday season is the perfect time of year to help your students develop and practice positive habits. Kids are already super excited about the upcoming festivities. Use that enthusiasm to encourage thoughtfulness, empathy, generosity, and more! This December, encourage students to look outward and create true acts of kindness. #DoGoodDecember #ActsofKindness #PositiveHabits

Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #Self-CareSeptember

#Self-CareSeptember Quote of the Month:

"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure."

 

—Oprah Winfrey

Self-Care the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health. There are many reasons that self-care is important. Research shows that self-care helps to keep you healthy, helps you recharge and helps to improve your overall well-being. #Self-CareSeptember #SelfcareIsNotSelfish #ActionforHappiness

Download the calendar here

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Week 2: Get Silly

When youth are having a tough time or cycling through big emotions, ask silly questions to help them reset. Asking a concrete question, they know the answer to helps re-route their thinking. Ask questions like: What color is the sky? What did you have for breakfast? Where is your shoe? Even if they answer incorrectly, you're helping their brain and body calm down and get back into the zone. Encourage youth that when they have big feelings, they can pay attention to the room around them and name five things they see to "reset" their brains. #Self-CareSeptember #SelfcareIsNotSelfish #NameYourEmotions

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Week 3: Active Exercise and Healthy Snacks

Activities like yoga, meditation, walks and outdoor games can all promote movement and physical well-being, while also focusing on mindfulness and reflection. Follow a YouTube video for yoga or meditation—or make up your own! Try out Sanford Fit for free mindfulness activity cards. Nourishing our bodies and making sure we have the fuel we need to get through the day is a vital part of self-care for kids. If your child is feeling a little "hangry," encourage them to recognize and name this sensation, and then suggest a nutritious nibble. #Self-CareSeptember #SelfcareIsNotSelfish #GetActive #EatHealthy

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Week 4: Mindful Craft Projects

Providing students the chance to get hands-on with art we provide them with a fun and concrete experience that they can use to self-regulate during times of escalation. It provides a tangible coping strategy that students can use at home, at their desks, or any other time they need to calm down. Here are some simple and mindful art activities your students can do, with little to no preparation from you. #Self-CareSeptember #SelfcareIsNotSelfish #JustBreathe

• Draw Your Breath
  Each student gets a piece of paper and a marker or pen. With the marker in the middle of the paper, students breathe in and breathe out drawing lines for each breath. During this whole activity, students will not raise their pen from the piece of paper. When you breathe in, you draw a line in any direction. Keep the pen on the paper and when you breathe out, you draw another line. Students keep doing this as they breathe in and out making their own lines, shapes, and creative artwork. After about 30 breath cycles, students use colors to color in different shapes. Students can be creative by coloring in the shapes, drawing little pictures or patterns in each shape, etc.
  
  
• Drip Painting
  Show your students a few examples of different abstract art, such as Jackson Pollock's drip paintings. Drip painting can be a fun and accessible painting technique for kids to explore different colors and moods simply through dripping paint on their papers. Be creative and have fun!

• Breathing Beads
  With some yarn and beads, students can make their own unique breathing beads. After students make their own creation, practice some mindfulness by taking a deep breath for every bead.

   

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Week 5: Positive Affirmations

Kids and young adults can use a positive affirmation list by reading the words to themselves or out loud, discussing how they might help, and identifying which phrases would work best. Help students create a positive affirmation list. This activity can be done as a whole class activity, or students can create an individual list. #Self-CareSeptember #SelfcareIsNotSelfish #ControlYourHappiness

Here are a few positive affirmations to get you started:

• There is no one better to be than myself.
• I am enough.
• I get better every single day.
• I am an amazing person.
• I can work through my problems.

Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #AltruisticAugust

#AltrusiticAugust Quote of the Month:

"Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness. "

 

—Seneca

Altruism plays a vital role in creating harmonious relationships and building a caring community. Altruism encourages children to consider the impact of their actions on others, promoting fairness, cooperation, and a sense of responsibility. #TeachingEmpathy #AltruisticAugust #SEL

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Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #AltruristicAugust

Altruism is the unselfish concern for other people—doing things simply out of a desire to help, not because you feel obligated to out of duty, loyalty, or religious reasons. It involves acting out of concern for the well-being of other people.  #AltruisticAugust #SEL #Empathy https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/Aug%202024.jpg

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Week 2: Notes of Appreciation

Give each student in your program sticky notes and ample opportunity to write positive messages addressed to one of their teachers and/or peers. Locate an empty wall in your program and have students place their notes of appreciation on the wall. Read out the notes and watch the faces of students and staff light up. #AltruisticAugust #SEL #Empathy #StudentConnection

 

 

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Week 3: Role Playing-Compassion

Have students create a role-play where they show compassion. For example, what would compassion look like if: A friend is confused by what the teacher said? Someone in your afterschool program is sad because their mother is in the hospital? Your sister is crying because she didn’t make the basketball team? A new student is feeling lonely and left out? Have students perform their role-plays for the class.  #AltruisticAugust #SEL #Empathy #Compassion

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Week 4: “Feelings Charade” 

In Feelings Charades, students will have a chance to demonstrate one emotion. The rest of the class will guess what the emotion is. The person who is doing the charade cannot speak – they must use facial expressions or body language to get classmates to guess the emotion. Write down different feelings/emotions on slips of paper. Place them in a bowl and take turns pulling them and acting them out. Once the correct feeling/ emotion is chosen the person that guessed correctly gets a turn. #AltruisticAugust #SEL #Empathy #ItsOkayToFeel #FeelAllTheFeeling

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Week 5: Fixing the Community

Do your students feel like they are part of their community? Many students feel they are, but they might become more compassionate people if they’re part of their town’s community. Even the best communities have homes and businesses that need repair work. Think about what projects your students can do to help “fix” their community or school. #AltruisticAugust #SEL #Empathy #GiveBack #MyCommunity

 

Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students! This month's theme is #MeaningfulMay

#SEL Day 2024: https://selday.org/

#MeaningfulMay Quote of the Month:

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."

 

—William James 

We matter every day. But how often do we stop and take the opportunity to “be” in the moment of our daily lives? With easy access to technology, we often find ourselves viewing those moments behind the lens instead of taking the opportunity to “be” in the moment. Take the opportunity this month to “be” in the moment. To “be” intentional with your everyday life. #MeaningfulMay #Intentionality #Beinthemoment

Week 1: Action for Happiness Calendar #MeaningfulMay

https://actionforhappiness.org/sites/default/files/May%202024.jpg

Week 2: What matters most activity

Week 3: Year in Reflection - Thank you notes

Writing thank you notes creates a positive environment in which youth feel grateful for all they have accomplished and are able to acknowledge the people who helped them.  Provide youth with blank paper or thank you cards and help them create thank you notes. Youth can write notes to their teachers, after-school staff, friends, and family.  #MeaningfulMay #Gratitude

Week 4: Affirmation Box