*Watch the Video!* Learn to appreciate the positive qualities of the people around you and make a mobile which becomes a swirling starscape!
What you’ll need: Paper and card (different colours if possible, but can be coloured with pens, pencils or paints if not available), glue, coloured pens or pencils, string or thread, at least one stick - preferably two.
What’s it for?
This activity will help you to appreciate the positive qualities of the people around you and what makes them special for you. This will help you know how you fit in with the people you care for, and allow you to build even stronger connections and develop a sense of belonging in you.
Check In:
Notice how you’re feeling right now. Close your eyes and notice what’s going on inside your mind and body.
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking?
How does your body feel?
Method:
Make a list of the most important people in your life. These might be your parents or carers, siblings, friends and relations. Leave some space by each name.
Think carefully and identify three qualities that each of these important people have that make them such great people. These might be things like: kindness, courage, modesty, curiosity, loving, humour, loyalty, wisdom, fairness, forgiveness, playfulness, etc. Write three by each name.
Think about the things you like to do together, what’s special about your relationship. Do you feel loved and supported by them? Are they fun to play games with?
Do the same for yourself.
Now using the paper and / or card cut out some star shapes. You might want to ask an adult for help with this part. Cut out one star for each of your important people.The stars should be different sizes with one that is larger than the others. If your paper is very thin, stick it to some card so it will keep its shape, and cut it out.
On the big star draw a picture of yourself on one side; on the other side write, or draw something which represents, your qualities.
On the other stars draw pictures of the other important people in your life. On the reverse side, draw, or write down, something that represents their qualities or something that you like to do together.
If you’ve not used different coloured paper or card, you might like to colour in the edges of the stars in colours of your choice.
If you’re using two sticks, tie them together in a cross shape. Attach a longer piece of string to the middle - this is what you’ll attach it to the ceiling with. If you’re using one stick, attach a string to the middle.
Carefully make a small hole at the top of each star. You could use one side of a hole-punch for this.
Tie the string to the holes and attach the other ends to the stick(s), making sure that you have put your biggest star which represents you in the middle!
Ask an adult to help you hand it up somewhere. If you hang it by an open window, the breeze might make the stars swirl!
Extra Activity: Show your Swirling Starscape Mobile to the people you included on the stars. If they’re not in your household, you could send them a picture of it, or show them online. See how they react.
When you’ve finished, spend a moment reflecting on the activity and ask yourself the following questions:
Did you learn anything new about yourself while you did this activity?
How do you feel about the people you wrote about after completing this activity?
Was it easy or hard to think of three qualities for the important people in your life? For yourself?
How easy or hard was it to think of the things that you liked to do with your important people?
If you showed your Swirling Starscape to the people you included, how did they react? How did it make you and them feel?
Conclusion:
This activity helps you to identify the positive qualities of important people in your life, the things that connect you together, and helps to foster stronger relationships, and a sense of gratitude and belonging.
Take a moment to notice how you are feeling at the end of this activity. Did you discover anything surprising? What can you take away to make you feel better about yourself from this activity?
If you would like to, share something about your experience with this activity with someone you live with! Ask the person who looks after you to send us an email if you have any questions or comments about the activity, or would like to send us any pictures (info@catcorner.co.uk). Don't forget to subscribe for more fun CAT activities!
Created by Ian Grundy © April 2020
Creative Arts Used: Art
Psychological Areas Explored: Relationships, Emotional Wellbeing, Self-Exploration
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These activities could be done by children of all ages, but some may need the support of their parent or carer to read the instructions or complete the activity safely.
This website was made by CAT Corner to help you explore your feelings through fun creative arts activities. The people using the website and the people responsible for them need to make sure they stay safe (full disclaimer on About page).
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