For more information on the Season for Nonviolence,
go to The Global Association of New Thought: www.agnt.org
or here: www.seasonfornonviolence.org
A Season for Nonviolence, January 30 - April 4, is a national 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities. Commemorating the peaceful actions of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the dates are set between their memorial anniversaries. This international event honors their vision for an empowered, nonviolent world. |
Julie Jenkins-Sathe & Rev. Georgia at the Center For Spiritual Awareness in West Sacramento, CA have compiled this great list of actions for kids for the 64 ways in 64 days, Season Of Peace. It is, as they say, really a Family Activity Guide and we say a perfect way to center into daily mindfulness or prayer together. Read the Authors' Note, our note of minor changes and follow the calendar! You can also get the printed booklet at the Center or print one here from CSA's PDF. |
Day 1, Courage: Have a parent light a candle for you. Make a wish for peace and release it by blowing out the candle.
Day 2, Smiling: Smile at 3 people who are different than you.
Day 3, Appreciation: Tell each family member one thing you like about them.
Day 4, Caring: Make a list or tell a parent three ways you care for yourself.
Day 5, Believing: Finish this sentence with something good about yourself:
I AM __________________________________________________.
Day 6, Simplicity: Clean the clutter in your bedroom today.
Day 7, Education: Read (or have a parent or sibling) a new book today.
Day 8, Healing: Remember a time when your feelings were hurt. Share the experience with a parent or sibling. Breathe and let go of any pain that remains.
Day 9, Dreaming: Draw a picture or write a poem about your dream for peace.
Day 10, Faith: Draw something you want to happen to you.
Day 11, Meditation: Sit quietly listening to nothing but your breath for one minute or more.
Day 12, Groundedness: Look around your bedroom and notice everything. Then close your eyes and ask a parent or sibling to count how many things you remember.
Day 13, Creativity: Do a dance or sing a song after dinner for your whole family.
Day 14, Humility: Share with someone you trust a mistake you made and how you might have done it differently.
Day 15, Reverence: Take a walk outside and collect 3 things from nature. A rock, a leaf, a feather, a seed, or whatever you can find. Don't pick any flowers from the neighbors yard!
Day 16, Gratitude: Before you go yo bed, think of 3 things for which you are grateful and write or draw them.
Day 17, Integrity: Today tell someone you trust about a feeling you are not sure you should have.
Day 18, Freedom: No matter how old you are, there are things you can do now that you couldn't do even 2 years ago. Think of one of them and tell a parent or grandparent.
Day 19, Acceptance: Three times today, look in the mirror and say "I love you" to yourself.
Day 20, Self Forgiveness: Be gentle with yourself, be sweet. Spend today only saying good things to yourself.
Day 21, Inspiration: Draw a picture or write a story about someone you think is a hero, someone you respect.
Day 22, Mission: Make a collage from pictures in magazines of all the things you want in your life.
Day 23, Prayer: Begin and end today with the statement: "Peace begins with me."
Day 24, Harmony: Say something nice today to someone you don't like too much.
Day 25, Friendliness: Say hello to one new person today. Maybe shake their hand or give them a hug!
Day 26, Respect: Speak only with kindness today. Use no name calling or put-downs.
Day 27, Generosity: Clean out your closet or toy chest and donate something to someone who doesn't have as much as you. Always ask your parents first.
Day 28, Listening: Practice listening to your parent tell a joke or story about something that happened to them. Repeat it back to them to see how well you listened.
Day 29, Forgiveness: Write, or have your parent or sibling write down your words for a letter of apology. Who do you need to say, "I'm sorry" to?
Day 30, Amends: What action can you take to change a behavior that makes someone you love unhappy? Draw it or write it down.
Day 31, Praising: Give every member of your family praise today. Tell them something they did that was great!
Day 32, Patience: Practice not interrupting anyone today.
Day 33, Acknowledgement: Choose one person to make an award for. Tell them why they are important to you.
Day 34, Love: Say "I love you" to your parents, siblings and grandparents today. Write one "I love you" note.
Day 35, Understanding: Send every stranger you see today with a silent (to yourself) "I love you" thought.
Day 36, Mindfulness: Color within the lines today. Draw something, anything, and be mindful of the lines.
Day 37, Graciousness: Say "please" and "thank you" all day. Let your brother or sister go first or sit in the front seat.
Day 38, Kindness: Perform 3 acts of kindness today. Help someone do something, clean up after someone else, rub your mom's feet.
Day 39, Dialogue: Choose not to argue today. Discuss but no arguing.
Day 40: Unity: Make a collage of faces. Look in magazines for faces of different colors and shapes and sizes.
Day 41, Openness: Be willing to eat a new food today. Ask your mom or dad what it might be.
Day 42, Accountability: Create a "Peace Place" in your home and be willing to go there when you quarrel.
Day 43, Uniqueness: Look in the mirror and find something about you that is different from your mom or dad.
Day 44, Cooperation: Work with another family member to build a story. One word at a time, taking turns.
Day 45, Mastery: When you feel you are getting angry, count backward from 10 to 1. Breathe deeply, smile.
Day 46, Compassion: Draw a picture of taking care of someone who needs your help.
Day 47, Disarmament: Do not watch TV, movies, or videos today that use weapons.
Day 48, Ecology: With a parent, pick up all recyclables in your home or neighborhood.
Day 49: Honor: Say a quiet thank you prayer before each meal.
Day 50, Choice: Make a collage of opposites like salt and pepper, red and blue, black and white, men and women, dogs and cats, etc. Celebrate choice!
Day 51, Advocacy: Stand up for something you believe in today. Say, "That's good!"
Day 52, Equality: Today, do not compete with your siblings. Make sure everything is fairly divided.
Day 53, Action: Do a special chore to brighten your bedroom: pick flowers (if your mom or dad says ok), put up a new picture, clean your dresser.
Day 54, Giving: Make a "for no special reason" gift for a family member or a friend.
Day 55, Responsibility: On your way to school or while you are playing, pick up any trash you see and dispose of it. Wash your hands.
Day 56, Eco Sufficiency: Do your chores and homework without being reminded.
Day 57, Service: Help your mom or dad with a chore that is not yours.
Day 58, Citizenship: Follow the rules today. Give yourself a Citizenship Award - what would it be for?!
Day 59, Intervention: Talk to your parents about drugs/alcohol. What questions do you have?
Day 60, Witnessing: Share a story with your parent. Have you ever seen someone do something wrong? What was it? What happened?
Day 61, Peace: Ask your mom or dad to help you plant a seed in a little pot for a peace plant.
Day 62, Commitment: Take care of your peace plant everyday. Talk to it, sing to it, listen to it, and water it.
Day 63, Release: Remember the candle you began the Season with? Ask your parent to light it again and blow it out once more to release all you learned.
Day 64, Celebration: Plan a peace party with your family. Ask them each to say one thing they are grateful for.
Dear Parents,
This booklet is in many ways a family activity book. We tried to design 64 ways to affirm peace in your child's heart no matter what their age. For younger children, there will need to be some interpretation of words like intention, sibling, collage, etc.
We hope you find it useful in encouraging your child's participation in the beautiful Season For Nonviolence and a fun way to spend time together. We do not want to create another stress in your life by one more thing to accomplish when you return home from work. We both know from experience the challenges of being a working parent ... if you miss a day or two or more, it's PERFECTLY OK!
If you have nieces or nephews or neighbor kids who would like one of these, feel free to copy it and spread it around.
Love and peace,
Julie and Rev. Georgia
Our minimal changes are here in red!:
Day 8, Healing: Remember a time when your feelings were hurt. Share the experience with a parent or sibling. Breathe and let go of any pain that remains.
Day 25, Friendliness: Say hello to one new person today. Maybe shake their hand or give them a hug!
Day 51, Advocacy: Stand up for something you believe in today. Say, "That's good!"
Day 51, Advocacy: Stand up for someone who is treated unfairly today. Say, "That's not fair!"
© 2007-2008 Laurie
Story Vela, M.A. & New Thought Families
All Rights Reserved For Sharing & Caring
storylaurie@lauriestories.com 1-866-403-0712