Spring tends to mark a season of renewal. 

Changes unfold all around us. The days become longer, the weather gets warmer, flowers bloom, and wild animals come out to play. We associate spring with energy and rejuvenation. It’s a good time for families — adults and children alike — to give their lives a little refresh to prepare for the new season. 

This refresh could be a home spring cleaning project, more hikes and outdoor activities, and even graduation! But another great way to embrace the change of spring is to renew our relationships with the community around us. 

My Good Brain’s Spring 2024 Tool Kit program is centered around helping children, family members, and caretakers refresh their approach to community-building. It’s the perfect season to engage in vibrant and energetic activities that bring us closer together and help spread positivity to those who need it most. 

We’re excited to announce My Good Brain has had yet another successful Spring tool kit program, in which our team developed and delivered over 100 tool kits to schools in the Bay Area! 🎉

This year’s theme: Community Roots

Research by JAMA Pediatrics discovered that from 2020 to 2022, the average screen time of children ages 3 to 18 increased by 1.5x to 246 minutes daily.

Screen time isn’t a bad thing in itself, but it can be harmful if it isolates us from the people around us. If we stay in online spaces that are unkind, intolerant, and harmful to our mental health, we create a false perception of a community that doesn’t care about us—even though that’s far from the truth. 

So, what better time is there to explore the communities around us than this beautiful season of warmth and color? 

In a world that’s becoming increasingly digital, we encourage children to put down their devices for a moment and enjoy spring to the fullest with these team-based activities. This toolkit contains activities that teach children how to harness their creativity to increase social connection, build authentic relationships with those around them, and draw courage from a solid support system of people.

A huge thank you to the following schools for participating in this Spring’s tool kit program! 

• Eldridge Elementary School

• Tyrell Elementary School

• Treeview Elementary School

• Azevada Elementary School

• Fred E. Weibel Elementary School

• Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District

• Fremont Unified School District/Blacow

• Fremont Unified School District / Mission San Jose Elementary

What’s in this season’s tool kit? 

Children understand the concept of community in different ways. We navigate our lives alongside many communities across many places, each teaching us unique lessons that help us overcome different kinds of problems. For the purpose of the tool kit, we break down the idea of togetherness in three important places for children: at home, in the classroom, and in their neighborhoods. 

Building community at home

Children first learn to understand the bonds between people and loved ones at home. This makes our home the foundation of our understanding of what it means to live alongside people and the qualities we want in a strong community. We explore art activities that help children reflect on what a positive home environment means. We also encourage children to discuss ways to foster patience and tolerance at home with simple words, actions, and creative activities. 

Building community in the classroom

On average, many children spend over 1,000 hours each year in their classrooms! It’s undoubtedly the most influential form of community for children, impacting how they perceive themselves and the world around them. Our tool kit dives into art activities to help children play and collaborate with their classmates in a safe, positive, and respectful way! Art promotes understanding and teamwork, allowing children to express themselves as individuals while celebrating the diversity of those around them. 

Building community in the neighborhood

For many of us, our neighborhoods can feel large and scary. It’s not always easy for adults and children to interact with their immediate neighbors. Still, we encourage individuals to look at community-building in their neighborhood from the lens of spreading kindness and positivity. Community service is a great way to do this. This tool kit explores activities children can share and donate to local causes, charities, and non-profit organizations. 

What is the My Good Brain Tool Kit Program?

Every academic year, we curate a kit of guided resources and art supplies to help students learn about their mental and emotional health.

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 social 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! You can learn more about the program here and contact us if you are interested in helping us share our mission with more students and educators.