A Gift for You

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	Basic
	Age: 4-5
	1 h
	Children explore what makes them feel good and create a small gift to bring joy to a peer, learning about needs, empathy, and kindness.
	Wellbeing
	Art Conversation
	Sheets of paper Scissors Glue Markers Crayons Stickers Colored cards (pre-cut for use as gift cards) Other decorative materials

Preparation

Prepare colored cards in advance, already cut into a gift card shape (small squares or rectangles work well). Provide drawing materials: crayons, pencils, stickers, glue, and decorative items.

Optionally, cut out emotion cards or feeling icons that children can add to their drawings if they need ideas or visual support.

Implementation

Begin by gathering the children in a circle. Ask a simple but meaningful question: What makes you feel good?

Give each child a chance to share their answer - it might be playing, hugs, kind words, or being with a friend. Let them know that today’s activity is about making someone else feel good, just like others do for them.

Then invite them to look at the child sitting next to them. After this moment of observation, they return to their seat to begin creating a small surprise.

Each child draws a picture meant to make the classmate sitting next to them feel good. They can use crayons, stickers, or any decorative materials available.

Once the drawing is finished, they glue it onto a gift card and decorate it however they like.

When everyone is ready, return to the circle in the same order as earlier. Each child gives their gift to the next child, along with a few words: I drew this for you because...

The child receiving the card is invited to share how it feels to get the drawing:

I feel happy because...
It makes me feel special because...

Reflection

Close the activity with a calm group reflection. Help lead the discussion with warm prompts like:

How did it feel to give a gift?
How did it feel to receive one?
What kinds of things make us feel good?

Talk about how everyone is different - some like quiet time, others like hugs or fun games - but at the heart of it, kindness and care are what matter most.