“My child does this so well!”  “He is so clever, just the other day I watched him….!”  How many times have you said something similar about your little one to a friend? I wonder how many times we actually tell our child they are doing awesome things and that, in the words of Bruno Mars, they are “amazing, just the way they are.”

Last month I was given a book called “Have You Filled A Bucket Today?” by Carol McCloud. This children’s picture book has great ideas to help build your child’s self-esteem and encourage positive behavior.  It helps you and your child to express kindness and love on a daily basis.

The book talks about telling our children when they do things that make us happy. When we do this it “fills their bucket” or makes them feel good. The book also tells children how they can fill their friends’ and parents’ buckets too.  What an interesting concept!

This concept of “bucket filling” makes me think of the latest research from the Search Institute for Developmental Assets for Young Children. The research shows that the more “developmental assets” (or full buckets!) children have the more likely they are to be successful in life.

Here are some ideas to intentionally fill your children’s buckets:

• Tell your child why they are special to you
• Provide loving attention and care
• When you hold your child caress, nurture, touch and sing
• Help them think about what they may say or do to fill someone else’s bucket

These are only a few simple ways you can fill your child’s bucket. Have fun with your child and fill those buckets every day!

Share your experience:

For more tips and hints about parenting, or to share your experience, there are many ways you can talk to one of us directly:

• Leave us a comment below – we’d love your feedback
• Talk to us on Twitter: @haltonparents
• Email us at haltonparents@halton.ca
• Call the HaltonParents line for parenting information or to speak directly to a Public Health Nurse (every Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) Simply dial 311 or 905-825-6000.

About this guest blogger:

Judy Shaw is a Registered Early Childhood Educator, Certified with the AECEO and is presently the Supervisor at Sedgewick Crescent Child Care Centre.  Judy had worked for Halton Region for the past eleven years and has been involved with children and their families for over 25 years.