J is for Joy Finder
Find joy in the ordinary
Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be filled with joy and now more than ever, it’s helpful to try and take pleasure from the small things. Joy is often not something exclusively based upon our circumstances - it’s about finding magic in the everyday, the simple pleasures that life has to offer, which are often small, ordinary things that don’t cost a penny, like the sunshine or fresh air. Joy can also often occur in the moment. For both these reasons, being a Joy Finder often comes really naturally to kids and those who are able to focus on the here and now, rather than dwell in the past or fret about the future. When we focus upon ‘experience’ as opposed to ‘stuff’ we are able to better live in the here and now. Here’s our pick of the top simple yet abundantly joyful activities for kids.
Colouring
Number one on our list is colouring, of course! Not only are our very own inspirational colouring pencils soft leaded so leave a wonderfully vibrant and satisfying woosh of colour on the page but each is printed with a positive ‘spark’ word designed to get kids thinking and chatting while they colour. We have 12 free colouring templates and 12 free stories featuring our exclusive Stibler animal characters too, which you can download, print out and help to bring to life what each of our ‘spark’ words mean. Find them HERE.
Baking
A age old way to relax and feel good…plus you get to eat delicious food at the end of it! Little Cooks Co.is an award winning monthly subscription box filled with healthy ingredients to make baking with children easy and fun! Designed by a qualified nutritionist everything is pre-measured and all the packaging is compostable! There’s also an annual cooking record and collectible stickers plus child-friendly savoury recipes for family meals. https://www.littlecooksco.co.uk/. There’s also plenty of ideas for cooking with kids on the BBC website and there’s a host of family friendly food bloggers out there too including Cooking with my Kids.
Painting
Painting, drawing, doodling, colouring - art in whatever form allows us to get lost in our imagination and clear some space in our heads. Make your own personalised birthday, Christmas, invitations or thank you cards with Festive Fingerprints. Using a dab of paint and their finger little ones can turn the blank canvases into their very own masterpiece and send it off to somebody special, in turn bringing a moment of joy to them! https://www.festivefingerprints.co.uk/.
Chalks
We came across some wonderful creations chalked out on pavements, patios and fences during our recent period of isolation! It reminded us of not only the joy to be had in picking up a piece of chalk and being allowed to draw all over the floor or wall but sharing your end result with others in order to bring a smile to their face as they took their daily stroll. We also loved the fact so many of these pieces of art became collaborative, with members of the community invited to add their own messages and drawings. If you’re looking for a good chalk brand, we can highly recommend the super chunky, all-natural, non-toxic and dustless (= less mess) Kitpas Art Chalks made from recycled scallop shells. Purchase from https://www.popboxart.com/
Nature
Whether it’s exploring a local woodland, growing your own sunflowers, collecting natural resources - conkers, pine cones and shells…, jumping in puddles or making mud pies, there is nothing like the great outdoors and a large dose of fresh air to make you feel good! Squelch Wellies are great for outdoor lovers! Kids can change up the look of these transparent wellies by mixing and matching using the brand’s range of colourful socks including seasonal themes for Halloween and Christmas. What’s more, 10% of profits goes towards purchasing eggs for the biggest food bank in the UK - the Newcastle West End Food Bank. Find out more at https://squelchwellies.com/.
Check out the National Trust’s list of 50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4 or Alistair Humphry’s Microadventures too.
Dancing
Is there anything as powerful as the combination of movement and music to lift our mood?! Whether your kids like strutting their stuff to a bit of hip hop or prefer to pirouette around the room in a tutu you’re sure to find something online for them to join in with. DanceXchange ran a series of 30 minute virtual classes including Bhangra and Musical Theatre, all of which are still available to view HERE; US based Kidz Bop is hosted by kids for kids but is guaranteed to get everyone up and moving; and London theatre, Sadlers Well, has a host of videos family dance workshops on their YouTube Channel HERE teaching kids aged 2-6 how to balance and move like their favourite animals as well as dance the way colours make you feel.
Play Dough
Anything which allows us to get hands on can be really calming, focusing our minds and bringing with it the reward of creating something wonderful - LEGO is a great example! As is play dough! We love Organised Chaos with Kids - organic, natural and sustainable play dough made from non-toxic, mostly food grade ingredients, CE tested so you don’t have to worry about any nasty chemicals coming into contact with your child’s skin. It is so super soft and mouldable and the best bit, each colour has been scented adding another element of joy to their play. What’s more all packaging is reusable or recyclable with no single-use plastic in sight! https://www.organisedchaoswithkids.com/
Camping
Whether it’s a slumber party in the living room, a tent in the garden or a full-blown camping trip kids love an opportunity to sleep anywhere that isn’t their boring bedroom! It is just so super exciting! It’s been amazing to see kids doing it over lockdown to raise money for charity too including 10 year old Max Woosey who slept outside for 200 days in memory of two family friends who died. And if you want to join in but are more of a glamper than a camper, then try Bundle Beds! Self-contained, fully-bundled beds which come complete with a super-slim yet luxuriously comfy inflating mattress plus a cosy pillow and sheets. Simply unclip, unroll, unzip and the kids are ready to hop in! Check out Camping in the Forest for 16 sites in secluded forest locations in partnership with Forestry England and Forestry and Land Scotland.