Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ages: 4 – 9 years
‘’Stop being a bucket dipper!’’ my six-year-old son yells at his little sister. At the age of barely four, she already knows how to push his buttons.
He has lined up his hot wheels on a racetrack, and is excitedly counting down the start of the race.
‘’5, 4, 3, 2, 1 … Ready…Set ….’’
‘’MUUUUUMMMM! She keeps taking my hot wheels off the track!’’
You see, before he can say “Go”, she quick as lightning snakes out her little hand and grabs one off the track.
Suppressing a smile, I put on my stern mom expression and walk into his room. My son looks like he is about to cry. My daughter looks pleased with herself.
I remind her she is being a bucket dipper. She doesn’t look so pleased now and even volunteers a very quiet, ‘’sorry’’ to her brother.
This is exactly why the book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today is the one book that every parent should have!
A guide to daily happiness that helps not just kids, but also reminds adults about the importance of being kind.
Ok, so this book isn’t some great adventure story and it doesn’t have epic illustrations full of dragons, unicorns and dinosaurs to ‘’wow’’ over.
However, this is a really great book with cute illustrations that teaches a valuable lesson…
…and despite all this, my kids love it!
Author Carol McCloud uses a simple metaphor of an invisible bucket and dipper. When we choose to be kind, we not only fill the buckets of those around us, but also fill our own bucket.
When we say or do mean things, we are dipping into buckets.
It’s a very easy concept for kids to grasp and they intuitively want to be bucket fillers. There are some great simple examples in the book on how to be bucket fillers. Of course, it also explains how not to be a bucket dipper.
Have You Filled a Bucket Today is a great book for encouraging kind and positive behavior and is a must have for any parent!
Whilst this book is clearly aimed at teaching children kind and positive behavior, it’s a gentle reminder for adults about the importance of having a full bucket.
