Today we enthusiastically celebrated International Thank You Day.
Our children took their first steps into the world of gratitude and discovered how lovely it is to say "thank you". The word is learned early, but usually as a formula: it is said because one must, at an adult's prompting. Today had a different purpose — to find a real reason.
We practised the hard part, which is being specific. A general "thank you" is not felt; "thank you for helping me find my pencil" is felt at once, by the one receiving it and by the one saying it. Each child had to find something concrete to thank someone in the group for, and that put them in the position of looking back over recent days and noticing what they had been given without realising.
We had activities full of cheer and any number of endearing moments, in which our little explorers showed how important it is to appreciate the people around you.
Thank you to everyone who made this day special.