Teddy’s Leaky Bucket is a book and game to help children heal from hurts. The story is about a boy who goes through some difficult situations, leaving his emotional bucket pierced and leaking out. He never feels emotionally full due to the holes in his bucket. He learns how to heal by processing the situations, feeling the pain, and forgiving people who had hurt him. In the end, he is not only feeling full and happy again, but he is also able to reach out and help others heal from their wounds.
The game helps children process their own experiences and to discover the power of forgiveness. The questions will address many misconceptions about forgiveness and help children identify ways it will lead to healing. They will explore the importance of acknowledging and releasing the pain from the hurtful experiences. Cognitive behavioral interventions are used to help children recognize self-talk and rescript negative patterns of thinking.
The book addresses the conflict between his parents and his father leaving. This opens the door to discussing the impact of divorce on children. It also discusses betrayal by a close friend and rejection from his basketball team. These topics are relatable to many children.
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Game Card Topics:
Forgiveness – Kids will explore how to forgive, misconceptions about forgiveness, and how forgiveness leads to emotional healing.
Bullying – These cards address ways to respond to bullies and how to not allow negative words into the heart.
Family Problems – Family problems can be painful for children. Kids will learn how to question what they believe about what has happened and how to process family situations.
Feel the Pain – Acknowledging the pain is a vital part of healing. Kids will be prompted to identify the emotions they feel in relation to their experiences so they can heal and let it go.
Guidance – Sometimes, it can help to have a trusted adult to process emotions with. They can offer deeper insight and new perspectives.
Leaky Bucket – These cards will challenge children to consider situations that have led to a leaky bucket and steps to take to heal.
Full Bucket – Kids will explore what it feels like to have a full emotional bucket. This will include the emotional needs of others in their lives.
Let it Go – The last step to healing is to let go of the anger, worries, and bitterness tied to hurtful situations. Children will discuss ways to let it go and take on a new perspective.
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This resource is best for children ages 5-12, but the content also applies to older children. It can be used in individual, group, or family sessions. It comes as a hard copy book, and an online version comes as an eBook and game that can be played via Google Slides.