Filling My Own Bucket: Helping Kids Care for Their Hearts

 Being a bucket filler starts with knowing how to care for your own heart. Kids who learn how to fill their own emotional buckets feel calmer, more confident, and more ready to be kind to others.

At AMC, we’ve been talking about bucket filler kindness for kids—how even the smallest kind actions can make someone else feel happy and safe. But here’s something just as important: children need to know how to fill their own buckets too.

That means learning what makes them feel peaceful, proud, loved, and understood—and building healthy habits that help them care for their hearts.

Because when your bucket is full, it’s easier to pour kindness into the world.

🪣 What Fills a Child’s Bucket?

Every child is different. But some common things that help children feel emotionally “full” include:

  • 💬 Being heard and understood
  • 👏 Being praised for effort and kindness
  • 🧸 Having quiet time to rest or play
  • 📚 Listening to a story or being cuddled
  • 🧘 Taking deep breaths or having a calm-down spot
  • 👫 Spending time with someone who makes them feel safe

You can ask your child:

“What fills your bucket?”
“What makes your heart feel good inside?”

Their answers may surprise you—and help you understand what they need most.

🌈 How to Teach Kids to Fill Their Own Buckets

Here are a few gentle ways to guide children toward emotional self-care:

  • 🎨 Create a “bucket list” of favorite calming or joyful activities. Hang it in your home or classroom.
  • 📆 Build daily moments for refilling: reading together, having quiet time, or simply talking about their day.
  • 💖 Celebrate their self-kindness. “I love how you gave yourself a break when you felt frustrated.”
  • 🧠 Teach them to notice their feelings. “Your bucket feels a little empty right now—what could help?”

 

💬 A Note for Families

When children learn to care for their own emotional well-being, they don’t just become more resilient—they become more kind. A full bucket gives kids the energy to show up in the world with patience, generosity, and joy.

At AMC, we believe kindness starts within—and every child deserves to know how to keep their heart full.

For more on how to help your child care for their emotional well-being through self-care and routines, check out “Building Emotional Resilience: Teaching Children Coping Skills” by Diane Wolkstein. This helpful guide explores the power of daily habits like sleep, nutrition, movement, and connection in building emotional strength.

 

Written by Goldie Narboni