Make your own festive lights to help you identify ways of helping others and letting your lights shine.
What you’ll need: Paper, markers or pens, scissors, whole puncher (don’t worry if you don’t have one), ribbon, string, or yarn
What’s it for?
This activity will allow you to identify ways of helping others during the festive season and throughout the year. This self-awareness of how you can be a ‘light’ to others, can help you feel more positive about yourself and build even stronger relationships.
Check In:
Notice how you’re feeling right now. Close your eyes and notice what’s going on inside your mind and body.
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking?
How does your body feel?
Method:
DISCUSSION
Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, you may have noticed that Christmas lights are one of the signs of the festive season. People put lights on their Christmas trees or around their houses to shine brightly in the darkness.
Take a moment to think, and if you are working with other people, share your thoughts on how you can also be a ‘light’ in the lives of others during this festive season and throughout the year.
When we show support and care for others, we let our lights shine.
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
Take a piece of paper and draw a light bulb that could look like this:
Inside of the bulb, write down one way you are going to let you light shine by helping someone this festive season. You can make as many bulbs as you wish.
You can colour and decorate your light using any art materials of your choice. Think about colours that represent positive and thoughtful feelings.
When you are happy with your design, cut out your light and punch a hole in the top of the bulb. If you do not have a whole puncher, you can use a pencil to gently pierce through the paper to make a hole. Make sure you stay safe doing so or ask an adult to help you with this.
Next, using the ribbon, string, or a yarn you can string the lights together:
Decorate your house with your lights to remind you of those who need your support and care during this festive season. You can make a heading ‘LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE’ to go with your display.
Extra Activity: Ask the people in your household to join you and come up with a project that will serve others during this festive season. You can all let your lights shine together.
When you’ve finished, spend a moment reflecting on the activity and ask yourself the following questions:
What are some ways that we can be the ‘light’ in the darkness for others?
How can we help those around us during this festive season?
What is your one way to let your light shine?
Why is it good to help others?
What are some of the things that might distract us from thinking of others and letting our lights shine?
How can we shift our focus to letting our light shine for others?
What are some of the positive outcomes that could happen because of letting your lights shine for others?
How can you work together as a team at home or at school to let your lights shine for others?
What did you like about this activity?
What did you learn from engaging in this activity?
Conclusion:
This activity allows you to pause for a moment and shift your focus from the busyness of the season. It also helps to remind you of the importance to take time to help others and give to those in need around us. When you let your light shine for others, it can help you feel more positive about yourself and strengthen your relationship skills.
Take a moment to notice how you are feeling at the end of this activity. Did you discover anything surprising? What can you take away to make you feel better about yourself from this activity?
If you would like to, share something about your experience with this activity with someone you live with! Ask the person who looks after you to send us an email if you have any questions or comments about the activity or would like to send us any pictures (info@catcorner.co.uk). Don't forget to subscribe for more fun CAT activities!
Created by Karolina Koman © December 2020
Creative Arts Used: Art, Creative Writing
Psychological Areas Explored: Relationships, Resilience, Self-Exploration
If you enjoyed this activity, you might also like: Fill a Bucket: Learn how showing kindness and appreciation of others can make your home and the world a happier place for everyone, including yourself.
References:
This activity was adapted and taken from:
Joiner, Lindsey. (2016): The Big Book of Even More Therapeutic Activity Ideas for Children and Teens: Inspiring Arts-Based Activities and Character Education Curricula, by Lindsey Joiner, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, pp. 198–199.
These activities could be done by children of all ages, but some may need the support of their parent or carer to read the instructions or complete the activity safely.
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