V is for Views: Themed Activities

Like I spy, we each have our own view of the world around of us. Some of us are very in tune with it and see minute details. It can be very distracting but also very helpful. After all, these skills are important for police officers and investigators. Others view the world solely from a personal bias of what is going on of interest of importance to them as individuals. All the details fade away unless they value what is happening as being relevant. Some people have a sour view and defer to a negative worldview and others wear rose-coloured glasses. Some view things in shades of gray while others see a rainbow of living colours. We are all different.

We are all unique and our views are impacted by our life experiences. While there will be circumstances beyond our control, it is important to help the child(ren) in our life to be optimistic and see things in the best possible light so they have hope and positivity. It matters.

Here are some activities that may support this goal to have a better view of the world around them.

1. Use phrases like, "Turn your frown upside down!" (smile) and "Don't worry. Be happy!" While cliche, they tend to help!

2. Look for the silver lining in situations.  "Yes, this is a difficult situation but..."

3. Search for rainbows. What are the signals of promises of good? What are the signs that there is hope and a promise for sunny days to come?

4. Have a gratitude journal. Whether you challenge yourself daily to record items for thanksgiving or only when something special happens, over time it is good to see your journal fill up with the things that you appreciate.

5. Give thanks for 3 things every day at mealtime. Make this a family habit and a way to ask each other about the good things that happened in their day.  Did they have fun in music class? Get a cookie from their friend at lunch or get to pet a neighbour's dog on the way home? Big or small, so long as they matter to the person sharing, they are all positive.

6. Pray and be grateful for the answers to prayer. Again, it is similar but this time the gratitude is directed to God and is meant to be a part of building up spiritual well-being. Ask and then see God answer.

7. Include a surprise note or treasure in their lunch bag that they will appreciate. Perhaps it is something about them that you are grateful for! It will put a smile on their face and remind them that they are precious, valued and loved.

8. Search for a secret smiley face each day. Hide a smiley face stuffie or sticker somewhere in the house and go on a search for a smile! Perhaps the one who finds it can be the one who hides it the next day.

9. Have a joke of the day. It could be a calendar with a joke or a designated jokester in the family who likes to keep people laughing. Either way, sharing a smile (or a groan) is fun and bonding too.

10. Have open conversations about their views of things. Maybe they heard something on the news or from a classmate and they want to talk about it more. Be open as they express their views and, even if your opinion differs, show them that you value their perspective before asking them to consider listening to yours too. This is key to understanding their view of the world and to building up your relationship with them so they know it is safe to come to you to talk when they want to learn more about a situation and/or how to handle something.

11.Children learn by observing your example. If you want them to have a good view of the world around them, try to have a positive worldview (keep the negatives to yourself) and be tolerant of people who are different even if you cannot openly support them so they learn to value others.

12. Learn about different cultures around the world. Learn about countries, languages, and people groups and enjoy the multicultural diversity of where you live. Celebrate people as people and learn more about their views of things and consider how it has been shaped by their experiences or the experiences that influenced their country and impacted their life. 

I am sure there are many activities you could do. Laugh over bubbles, draw smiley emojis, watch funny animal videos, have a tickle-time, write your own jokes, make funny faces in the mirror and so forth. And, if it is a tough day, just be there for them. Try to understand their emotions and just listen to them share their view of a situation. You don't have to fix it. You don't have to tell them what they did right or wrong. Just let them talk it through and try to be available to help if they ask for options that may help them out. Most likely, they will realize on their own where their view was beneficial and where it was detrimental or simply requiring a shift in perspective to correct itself. 

Somewhere in the process of having fun, sharing ideas and listening to them, you will build up a meaningful relationship with the child(ren) in your life. You will broaden their worldview as they will broaden your perspective too. It is definitely worth the time and effort!