**Can Your Child Fill Their Bucket?**

Recently, I held my last 3- and 4-year-old kids’ yoga class for the 2024-25 school year. The final classes are always the most emotional since many children will be moving on to new schools, making this potentially our last time together for yoga.

Throughout the year, I have had the opportunity to grow alongside the children, learning about their unique habits, what they enjoy, and what they don’t. I observed which yoga moves they were comfortable doing, the ones they wanted to try creating on their own, the songs they loved to hear repeatedly, and those they no longer danced to but once adored.

For our final mindful craft, we discussed the concept of “filling our bucket.” One recurring theme in our yoga class is kindness. I believe kids often hear phrases like “Be kind,” “Say kind words,” and “Act kind.” I wanted to leave them with a valuable lesson: to remember to be kind to themselves, especially on days that might not feel so gentle. Even if they struggle to express their feelings, their inner strength is always present.

Each child received a bucket, which we decorated with sparkly gems and fun stickers. They chose a word that made their hearts happy, and I wrote it large on their bucket. Whenever they needed a reminder, they could scoop their hand into the bucket and place it over their heart to reinforce their strength and kindness.

I admire these children’s silliness, laughter, and clumsy little feet. I will miss their beautiful faces. They have truly filled my bucket.