Our 2023 Fall Tool Kit Program
Another year, another successful Fall Tool Kit program!
My Good Brain is a small but growing team, and we dedicate a lot of time every semester to craft, pack, and deliver hundreds of tool kits to local schools in the Bay Area. But this year, we were so excited to have the opportunity to do things a little differently and work faster to get our art activities in the hands of the schools we’ve partnered with this year!
This Fall, we collaborated with the Starbucks team at Hayward’s Industrial and Highway 92 branch to pack all our tool kits! It was our most successful packing day yet — as you might have guessed, the extra hands meant our tool kits were ready to go in record time. A big thank you to Starbucks for sharing your space for our tool kit assembly!
This year’s Tool Kit theme: Back to school
Our Fall 2023 Tool Kit was all about helping children prepare for the new school year.
Transitioning back to school after summer is daunting for both students and parents. It’s a period of time filled with change, and sometimes, that can bring just as much anxiety as there is excitement. Piling expectations can introduce stress, new environments can bring discomfort, and a drastic switch in routines can lead to exhaustion.
So, we crafted our tool kits specifically to help children understand, express, and manage the emotions that kick in at the start of the school year.
We want to express our sincere appreciation and joy to be able to deliver tool kits to these Bay Area schools! 🎨
Eldridge Elementary School
Tyrell Junior High
Blacow Elementary School
Azevada Elementary School
Fred E. Weibel Elementary School
Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District
A peek into the tool kit
The art activities in this tool kit are centered around three core themes: Building resilience, making friendships, and practicing mindfulness. Why do these matter?
Building resilience
Heading back to school after the summer marks the start of a new adventure! Students meet new people, tackle new academic topics, pick up new activities, and naturally learn more about their strengths and weaknesses. These changes are challenging, and they can make students nervous. That’s where resilience comes into the picture. Our art activities for resilience are centered around seeking joy and being upfront about worries.
Making friendships
The friends children make along the way are the people they will share much of their time with daily. Our friendships aren’t just fun and play — they play a big role in shaping our identity. The friends we cherish are the ones who also help us learn skills like self-awareness and social awareness. We equipped our tool kit with activities to support this discovery by helping children express their values honestly and confidently.
Practicing mindfulness
Every school year, students are reminded of the importance of balance. Academics, sports, friendships, hobbies, rest — how do children calmly navigate all these needs? Practicing mindfulness regularly gives them the tools to handle the big feelings that come with seeking balance and making sense of time. We were excited to share art activities that help children recognize when their emotions are taking over.
What is the My Good Brain Tool Kit Program?
Every academic year (Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters), we curate a kit of guided resources and art supplies to help students learn about their mental and emotional health and express these complex emotions through creative activities.
Our Tool Kits are meant for elementary and middle school students ages 5 to 13. With these art activities, we want to give educators in the classroom and even parents at home resources that can help build:
A proactive approach to managing the socio-emotional health of students
Fun and safe ways to engage in difficult conversations
Accepting and compassionate communities of students with a shared interest in art
We’re always looking for new ways to expand the reach and impact of our Tool Kit program! If you’re an organization interested in working with us — whether it’s similar to our collaboration with Starbucks, our art activities with Makedo’s toys, or more — we’d love to chat with you!
You can learn more about My Good Brain’s Tool Kit program here 💛
