Using positive childhood experiences (PCEs) to give back
With Thanksgiving approaching, we are excited to share practical ways to give back to the community, each other, and ourselves using the Four Building Blocks of HOPE, key types of positive childhood experiences (PCEs). Giving back to people in our communities helps us connect and participate in something much bigger than ourselves. When we balance giving back to neighbors, family, and friends with giving back to ourselves using PCEs, we allow ourselves to create the space needed to deal with stress, anxiety, and other big emotions.
When we share these giving-back experiences with the children in our lives, they learn that they also can connect to the bigger world and that their presence matters. Through these community-based experiences, we can connect children and youth to the Building Blocks of Engagement and Emotional Growth. There are also opportunities to practice the other two Building Blocks of Relationship and Environment.
10 Ways to practice PCEs during Thanksgiving
Give back to your community
- Clean up at the local park. Whether you are picking up trash, racking leaves, or clearing paths for local hiking spots, you are investing in your community. This investment shows your community and the children in it that they deserve a clean and safe environment to live and play in. When children are engaged in the clean-up process, they learn how their actions can positively impact their community.
- Support local stores in the community. Challenge yourself to explore what your community has to offer. Supporting your local stores helps support your community members who invested their time and money in their businesses. Visit the local farm, farmers market, and bookstores. These intentional trips can turn into fun outings with the children in your life.
- Donate money and spare belongings. Encourage yourself to donate money within your budget and belongings you can spare. This can be a great opportunity to ask your children for help finding a cause and organization to support. You can also clean out your closet and donate unwanted items like clothes, toys, and electronics. By engaging with donations with your children, you show that we are all in this together and we can help make a difference in someone’s life by giving back.
- Volunteer at a local organization. During Thanksgiving, many people volunteer at the local food pantry and other community-engaged organizations. Throughout the rest of the year, there are endless ways to volunteer your time such as joining your child’s school Parent Teacher Association (PTA) or coaching a youth sports team. There are also opportunities to coordinate community events, like coordinating a toy drive for the holidays.
Give back to others
- Host a Friendsgiving. Friendsgiving is a space where friends (and yes, families,) can enjoy spending time together over a meal. Creating intentional time with friends is important to stay connected, and it shows children and youth the value of friendship and relationships with loved ones.
- Check in with neighbors, and reconnect with those you do not see as often. When we reach out to others in person or through social media, we let them know that we care for them, even if we have not connected in a while. This small act of outreach can help someone feel valued.
- Share a list with friends of why you appreciate them. Not everyone always realizes how much we love and care about them. Sharing a list of reasons why you appreciate someone can be a great reminder for both of you. This sharing exercise shows children and youth how they can put words to their feelings and express gratitude towards close friendships. This also shows how they can build self-confidence and self-love.
Give back to yourself
- Dedicate time for yourself. Even if it is only 5 or 10 minutes, spend a quiet moment to breathe and be still.
- Write a list of what you are grateful for. This can be done with the children in your life. Help them find what they are grateful for in their day-to-day and the past year. Make this as specific as you want, from the food on your table to the invention of electricity. This helps everyone see that many positive things are going well in our lives.
- Read a book, or listen to your favorite album. This is something that can be enjoyed on your own or with friends and family. Reading a book and listening to music are great ways to ground yourself in the present moment.
