On Fostering Generosity
At the Art Table, kids think they’re just drawing, but really? They’re learning generosity, confidence, and how to navigate BIG feelings. Creating is healing, even if they don’t know it yet. That’s the magic of art therapy in action…
When I was working on my certification as a trauma and resilience specialist, I learned about the power of focusing on universal needs that promote resilience and positive development.
These universal needs—belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity— being met has been shown to greatly improve positive long-term outcomes and help children that have experienced trauma to flourish and grow.
This quarter at Miss Lauren’s Creative Corner, we have been leaning into the need for generosity as a theme woven through our art therapy and social-emotional learning activities. By providing opportunities for children to practice generosity, I worked on nurturing their belief that they are valuable, capable, and worthy contributors to their communities.
Generosity as a Foundation for Resilience
Trauma often robs children of their sense of self-worth and connection. Generosity, when restored as a universal need, has a profound ability to heal these wounds. The act of giving—even something as simple as a smile, a kind word, or a handmade gift—helps children reconnect with their communities and see their role within the larger world.
As we provide space for generosity at the Art Table, children begin to internalize these truths:
I have something to offer.
I am helpful.
I am valuable.
I am worthy.
These affirmations are transformative for kids who have faced hardship or carry low self-esteem. By practicing generosity, they shift their focus from their struggles to the joy of helping others—a mindset that fosters resilience and promotes healing.
How Generosity Is Incorporated Into Our Work
One of my biggest beliefs working with these sweet kiddos is that learning happens best when it feels organic. I try to come up activities that nurture generosity in a way that feels like fun, not work. For example:
Creating and Sharing: Kids might make drawings of people they love or that brighten their day, that can be given to friends, family, or sent to sponsors. These activities allow them to experience the joy of giving something meaningful.
Noticing Generosity: I try to help kids to identify acts of generosity within themselves or their peers. (“What is something KIND that someone did for you today, or that you did for someone at school?” … “that was very generous of them/you!”) Whether it’s helping someone with a project or sharing supplies, these moments reinforce their self-worth and empathy.
Kindness Jars and Collaborative Art: Group activities like filling jars with kind notes or working on a shared mural help kids recognize how their contributions make a difference.
The beauty of these projects is that children don’t even realize they’re building life skills or engaging in therapy—they simply feel like they’re creating, playing, and connecting.
Generosity: A Gift That Gives Back
Generosity doesn’t just help the recipient; it transforms the giver. For children who have experienced trauma, the act of giving rewires their internal narrative. It moves them from being defined by their hardships to being defined by their strengths and contributions.
By restoring this universal need, we’re helping these kiddos to heal and equipping them with tools to flourish far beyond the Art Table or here at BHOG!
