Research consistently shows that children learn most deeply through meaningful, real-world experiences. At Mindful Littles, our powerful feel good–do good model activates learning by doing—unlocking children’s authentic compassion, joy, and genuine desire to help.
In this video, you’ll hear how Mindful Littles’ service learning programs help children learn by doing—while bringing joyful relief for the adults working on the front lines of food insecurity.
“Sometimes our staff take on other people’s trauma. When you’ve created a happy, meaningful moment for a child, it recharges your batteries and gives you the oomph to keep going.” — Tom Dearmore, Food Bank Partner
Sometimes we feel like “community service” is reserved for the time we spend at food banks, shelters and more. While that work is important, equally valuable are the everyday moments of integrating compassion into our children’s life experiences. An easy way to connect to feeling good and doing good is during Classroom Parties!
Activity Prep Instructions for Halloween Care Bags
1. Choose School Staff Members to Give Halloween Care Bags to
You can ask your principal or classroom teacher and identify a list of staff members to give Halloween Care bags to.
2. Assess your Budget
Determine how much you want to spend for your care bags for the staff members.
3. Gather Supplies
For the Halloween Care Bags:
Gift bags in Halloween colors
Tissue paper (for lining and presentation)
Small care items (e.g., fuzzy socks, eye masks, coffee gift cards)
Assemble your larger Halloween Care Bags in advance, adding tissue paper and care items.
Share the activity flow with your teacher. Also ask if they can designate a few students to deliver completed bags to the front office.
5. Bring to the Party
Bring your prepped Halloween Care Bags to your classroom party.
6. Run Gratitude Card Activity
Ideal timing is to run this activity during a classroom party as a station, but can be run any time during the days and weeks leading up to Halloween.
Introduce the activity to students. “There are so many people at school who help us each and everyday, but we don’t often pause to thank them for all the work they are doing behind the scenes. For our activity, each of you will make a special thank you card for these people who make our school days possible.”
Cards can include messages such as: “Thank you for taking care of us everyday!” or “Thank you for all that you do to make our school better!” You can also print out a card using our printable template, and have students write notes on the back.
7. Divide Cards Equally
Split up the student cards equally amongst the Care Bags.
8. Deliver Bags to Staff!
Ask your teacher to designate a few students to deliver the bags to the School Office at the end of the Class Party OR better yet, if it is possible have few students hand-deliver the gifts to the recipients! Happy Halloween!
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