Stormy

Weather

By Clifton (Jerry) Noble, Sr.

July 1, Saturday. Lay on a bench in sun-shine was hoping to get rid of a sore throat and head ache. As usual my long-haired, black and white cat, Fluffy, was curled up on the warm concrete terrace close by. Picking him up, I knew he had matted hair that badly needed clipping. So I went in for the tiny scissors from my nail-clipper case and got to work. If a cat could say thanks for having a fur coat removed on a warm day, Fluffy said it.

July 2, Sunday. Throat was still too sore to permit singing at church with my organ playing, but the minister, Mr. Shears, helped my teen age choir and the anthem sounded fine.

I left my mother at “Little House” on New State Road’s Whitman Hill (next highest knoll in Montgomery) to visit the “girls,” about age 50. Cousin Mildred Moore and driver-friend, Marion Shaw teach in the Boston area and spend summers at “Little House” with a rural mail box out on Main Road. They

were interested in Polaroid pictures of Jerry Jr. (baby) which I had loaned mother. They will spend the Fourth with Mildred’s broth-er Ralph in East Longmeadow.

For Sunday dinner I bought steaks for wife Elizabeth to cook for herself and my mother. After returning mother to Sarah Gillette old lady’s home on Broad Street in Westfield I went down on hot boulders in the brook hoping that afternoon sun would bake out my cold.

July 3, Monday. I am taking vacation from survey work, along with my party, to make a long weekend. Mother (nicknamed “Hester” by me) came up to dinner again today. She rocked Junior to sleep and put him in his crib before leaving. Only a headache remains from my cold so I was not uncomfortable washing diapers and baby things at the launderette in Russell. Elizabeth phoned owner Ralph Sheldon to learn that it will be open to-morrow.

After starting to mow the lawn, I got caught out in a shower with baby in the carriage. It should be mentioned that if I leave baby in carriage in the middle of the lawn Fluffy cat stands guard. When any stray dog comes near the carriage Fluffy actu-ally chases it out of the yard.

July 4, Tuesday holiday. With baby fussy Elizabeth can-celled invitation for her mother, father and Uncle David Atwa-ter. I finished mowing lawn and tanned in sun. Across the road the Barnes family had a picnic.

July 5, Wednesday. Back at work, Assistant supervisor Al Cloutier came out to ask if my Tom Cooney would go on Con-struction. Tom prefers survey.

July 6, Thursday. Tom is assigned to Louis Johnson’s party leaving me with Steve Bryda, Vin Penna and Bill Dwyer.

July 7, Friday. This is the week Blue Cross premium is de-ducted from paychecks. I took the two best baby Polaroids to show Tom before he left. They were wrapped in a napkin in my lunch box. E put them in waste basket but God reminded me just in time to rescue those pictures. At Zayers I got a teddy bear, “Mr. Tiddleums,” and a stuffed rabbit, “Mr. Bundy,” for baby.

Above, Nurse Jean Watson holding Jerry Jr.

Facing page, Fluffy Cat.

He is 98 days old, and when he saw them he reached out for the first time.

July 8, Saturday. At church I played for Fern Monat’s morning wed-ding. Ironed clothes in afternoon and read “Rasputin” in evening. My church playing is volunteered.

July 9, Sunday. Picked up Hes-ter and took her to visit Grace Cowles and daughter Lillian on Pine Ridge Road while I was at church. Her father, Wesley Monat, paid me for playing for Fern’s wedding yesterday. Hester had a happy time holding and feeding her grandson. Uncle David drove Atwa-ters up in the Dodge. He and Mother A walked to the brook with me while I started gas pump to push water 400 feet to the reservoir behind the well house.

July 13, Thursday. In evening Mildred and Marion brought a toy for baby. Matron Peterson took all the old ladies from Sar-ah Gillette Home for a “mystery ride” to see her summer home on Stage Road in Blandford.

July 14, Friday. Our Department of Public Works is laying off 74 temporary men.

July 18, Sunday. Hester came to church and dinner. Baby weighs 12 lbs 8 oz, cries “Ee-weh, ee-weh.”

July 19. Monday. I received $30 check from Good Business magazine for article written July 4th. Westfield Ford replaced brake shoes on front wheels of my blue car.

July 22, Saturday. I washed in Westfield despite laundry’s broken pipes. Hester, waiting in car, saw Mildred and Marion at dry cleaning store. They were on way home to West Newton where they are having painting and papering done to their Wa-tertown Street apartment.

I loaned my transit to John Glaze at his north side Decorat-

ed Metal Products. He wants to survey property lines for a new mobile home park.

Mrs. William Pero looked all over Montgomery to ask us to do a puppet show for Belchertown Congregational Church next May 17th.

July 23, Sunday. E’s brother Shi-pley phoned from Missouri where he has been transferred by IBM. I rushed to church to play for special afternoon service.

July 25, Tuesday. E and nurse Wat-son took baby to Dr Wonson for diph-theria and whooping cough shots. I worked in Damato pit in swim trunks. Gene Washburn, Mr. Gardner and Jim-my collected paper for the Fire Depart-ment.

July 26, Wednesday. Worked in Southwick. At lunch time John Manzi rowed boat on lake so I could swim beside it. Worked in swim trunks to dry them.

July 27, Thursday. Our electric clothes dryer was delivered. Set it up in garage.

July 29, Saturday. Laundry on Franklin Street was third I tried before finding one not crowded full.

July 30, Sunday. I got newspaper and gas in Russell before picking up Hester at Sarah Gillette Home. Also brought old My-ron Kelso to church. Hester enjoyed clam stew and corn E had for dinner. Jean Watson came to help with baby. She told E she doesn’t want to lose her job with us, but we just don’t have the money to pay her.

“...if I leave baby in carriage in the middle

of the lawn Fluffy cat

stands guard.”

the carnival came to be, and the fasci-nating history that defines this beloved event.

To understand the Southwick Fireman’s Carni-val’s beginnings, we must first examine the history of similar events in the region. In decades past, fairs in North America acted as agricultural exhibitions, beginning with the Hants County Exhibition in Windsor, Nova Scotia in 1765. The exhibition was established by the Windsor Agricultural So-ciety as a means of spreading agricultural awareness among the public through the display of local livestock, crops, farming equipment, and more. The event spread to the United States starting in 1807 in Pitts-field, Massachusetts. Elkanah Watson orga-nized a small “fair” in Pittsfield demonstrating new advancements in sheep shearing on a pair of Merino sheep.

However, his vision quickly expanded with the event’s success, and on October 1st, 1810, the first county fair in the country was born in Pittsfield. Watson referred to the fair as a “cattle show” and intended for it to be a way for farmers to show and have the qual-ity of their livestock be judged and awarded. The following year, Watson worked to create the Berkshire Agricultural Society hopeful it would be capable of raising funds for agricultural improvement in Berkshire County as well as to facilitate events like his fair. With the help of the Agricultural Society, the event became an annual occurrence in Pittsfield starting with the 1811 agricultural fair. Sub-sequent fairs revised Watson’s vision and included agricultural ac-tivities for people of all ages as well as opportunities for vendors to sell agricultural products, making the county fair a true celebration of our nation’s agricultural landscape.

County fairs soon popped up around the country as farmers sought to showcase their livestock and wares. Larger-scale fairs fol-lowed such as the first ever state fair in Syracuse, New York in 1841, which focused on educating attendees through providing farmers and agricultural workers the chance to display their innovations in the field as well as demonstrate how those innovations support our American lifestyle.

The late 19th century saw a notable shift in fair culture from agricultural showcases to multifaceted entertainment experiences with the introduction of the Midway. Originally created to offer visitors a break from more traditional agricultural exhibits with a

Come One,Come All

Origin of the

Fireman’s Carnivals

By Lucas Caron

focus on amusement, the Midway quickly became one of the most prominent aspects of the fair experience due to its lively atmo-sphere full of entertaining rides and games. The Midway gained widespread recognition at the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, which included a multi-tude of rides, games, sideshows, and food vendors, as well as featuring the first ever Ferris Wheel. Moreover, this newfound focus on entertainment also brought about a surge of interest in traveling carnivals, which brought the joys of the Midway to rural areas where more traditional fairs were not always as accessible.

The nationwide success of fairs, trav-eling carnivals, and the Midway had the potential to provide financially for a small town’s local economy and build pride and unity among its populace through a fun and festive celebration. It was this sort of thinking that inspired the Fireman’s Carni-val in Southwick as well as in other rural communities.

Many towns had only volunteer fire departments which received no town fund-ing, so carnivals provided a much sought after means of support. Southwick’s vol-unteer firefighters created the Fireman’s Association with the objective of raising enough money to purchase a new ambu-lance for the town. To do that, they sponsored a traveling carnival in July 1948 that brought all the won-ders of the Midway to Southwick. Games fit for kids and adults alike sparked the interest of the community, from the classic ring toss to the competitive yet lighthearted turtle races. Meanwhile, rides such as the Ferris Wheel, pony rides, and, in recent years, helicopter rides, provided an exciting experience for attendees. Then, as the sky darkened on one night of the carni-val, a mesmerizing fireworks show dazzled audiences!

As the carnivals grew, the heart of the experience was the Fire-man’s Parade, a celebration of the Southwick community that typi-cally took place right before the final night of the carnival. Beginning with the 1950 Fireman’s Carnival, the parade included members of Southwick’s and other fire departments, marching bands, local businesses, and organizations from across New England looking to take part in the festivities. Hundreds of residents from Southwick

and the surrounding towns watched from the side of the road. It was more than a means of showing off the latest advancements in the town’s fire equipment; it demonstrated the tightly knit community central to life in Southwick.

Southwick’s Fireman’s Carnival raised an immense amount of money for the town. The Fireman’s Association successfully purchased the new ambulance it desired, which was displayed in the first Fireman’s Parade in 1950. As the years passed, the carnival also funded numerous other pieces of equipment for the town such as a short-wave radio in 1953 and a new rescue truck, ambu-lance, Scott air pack unit, and jaws of life apparatus in 1981 among many other things. Where the car-nival proved most successful, however, lies in its impact on the Southwick community. Being only 18 years old, I did not get the chance to experience the Southwick Fireman’s Carnival prior to its end after the 2013 carnival. Despite this, numerous conversa-tions regarding the carnival experience with my grandpar-ents yielded a key conclusion; for those who participated in it, the Fireman’s Carnival was the soul of Southwick life made manifest through a celebration worth remember-ing. It represented a love for Southwick and its people, and an effort to uplift the town through shared happiness and connection to one another via exciting festivities. Although it is no longer in existence today, the spirit of the carnival lives on in those who proudly celebrate their community here in Southwick.

Bringing Back the Festivities

A fundraiser effort by the Southwick Civic Fund is nearing its goal to revitalize the feeling of a carnival experience in town through a fireworks show on August 9th with additions such as food, ice cream, and a DJ. Those looking to support this cause and donate can do so at SouthwickCivicFund.org. Your donation will contribute greatly to the celebration of the Southwick commu-nity and bringing smiles to the faces of residents across the local area!

Fireman’s Carnival Advertisements in Southwoods Maga-zine 1989 and 1990

ents had moved us to the ends of the earth.

Driving around these many years later, things look very different. Surprisingly, though, a large amount of farmland re-mains farms. What is being farmed is what has changed. David reminisced about working for Lorenzo Lambson at Lambson’s Tobacco on the corner of Granville Road and South Loomis Street. The property owned by the Radwilowicz family has a sign advertising “Hay for Sale” surrounded by rolling hayfields. We passed the former Brzoska Dairy Farm, perched overlook-ing Coes Hill Road on the corner of Hillside Road, and could remember when cows dotted the green hillside. This is another farm that has become hay producing. The Bisi Farm at 146 South Longyard Road was also a thriving dairy business that I am sure is grateful for the hay demands of this area.

Traveling down Sunnyside Road, we see the remnants of the Hall’s Dairy Farm in the design of the Ranch Golf Course. I remember many conversations with Phil Hall about dairy farm-ing and what he wanted to do to preserve as much land of the family farm as possible. As someone who enjoys the look of farmland, I am always grateful to the families that have strived to keep the land undeveloped. There is usually some sacrifice involved on the part of the family to keep the beautiful views for us all to enjoy.

We stopped at Coward’s Farm at 150 College Highway to see what has changed there. The fields that were once where black beef cows grazed are now filled with Christmas trees and greenhouses. We entered a charming gift shop with beautiful antique furniture. The greenhouses were full of annual and pe-rennial flowers, herbs, shrubs, and succulents. Everywhere the eye looked, it was in bloom. Fields of Christmas trees waited patiently in neat rows in all directions for the chill and excite-ment of the Christmas season. John and Theresa Coward also grow broadleaf tobacco in several fields around the south end of town.

Our drive took us down North Loomis Street to the previ-ous Southwick Ski Resort, formerly owned by Frank and Julia Zomek, which operated from 1962-1973. The property has had several owners but became The Black Rabbit Farm several years ago. When it first opened as a vineyard, winery, brewery, and eco-campsite, David and I had stopped just to look around. It has changed hands again, and now it is home to Toadstool Hill Farm, which grows mushrooms in the brewery building. Their products can be found for sale at Blossoming Acres farm store.

Exploring Southwick’s Agricultural Landscape Part 3: A Drive through the Countryside

On Sheep Pasture Road, we passed the former Frederick “Feg” Arnold Tobacco Farm. It is still occupied by family but is no longer a tobacco farm, just quiet fields of hay where tobacco once grew. Farther south on Sheep Pasture Road, we see the C. J. Arnold and Company Tobacco Farm, which still operates today. The owner, Dwight Arnold, still produces shade tobacco as his father did years before. His wife Karen grows the beauti-ful sunflower field where she has a self-serve cut sunflower business. Some of the fields in the past few years have had pumpkins and winter squash growing in them. These fields are worked by Blossoming Acres.

My last stop on this scenic outing, traveling down memory lane, was at the Robert E. Arnold Tobacco Farm on College Highway. This was the location of my first real job at age 13. The farm has changed over the years, but the owners are still as friendly, kind, and welcoming as they were back then. We sat down to chat with Dave Arnold about how the farm has evolved over the past 40 or so years. As we were chatting, Dave’s brother Fred came in and joined in our reminiscing.

When I first met Dave, Fred, and John Arnold, who were three brothers running what seemed to me like a large farm, I was impressed at how smoothly everything ran. The farm pro-duced shade-grown tobacco under tent cloth for cigar wrappers. Although my journey with them only lasted four seasons, the farm continued along this trajectory until 2005. Several factors contributed to the changes that followed. As the public view of smoking in the United States changed, so did the demand for cigar tobacco. Another factor involved changes in the environ-ment: the increased prevalence of two tobacco plant diseases, blue mold and tobacco mosaic virus, became more difficult to control with pesticides. Both diseases cause damage to the deli-cate leaves.

The farm switched over to grow broadleaf, open-air tobacco until 2011. At this time, the state of Connecticut Agricultural Ex-periment Station contacted them looking for a farm to grow and sell special tobacco seed that they had been working on. The seed has inbred resistance to tobacco cyst nematodes, which allows the grower to use fewer pesticides—a win for tobacco farmers and the environment. This new venture took far less land than they previously farmed. “What to do with all the rest of their acreage?” became the great question. Over the past four-

teen years, David said that they tried a few different crops. They tried stevia and pumpkins for wholesale. Neither was profitable enough to make them worth growing. Then came the strawberries and asparagus. Each new crop had to be carefully recorded and numbers crunched to see if it was worth their time, effort, and supply cost to keep producing them. For now, Dave said, these two crops seem to be working in their small road-side stand. I wondered about the farm stand name, Johnson Brook Farm. Dave explained that production is now under the Johnson Brook Farm, and the land still belongs to the Robert E. Arnold Farm. Much of the land and barns are being leased to Cow-ard Farm to grow broadleaf, open-air to-bacco.

Farmers are a resilient breed with love and respect for the land. This stewardship for the land can be passed from one generation to the next, as is the case with many farms in South-wick. They seem to find a way to keep and care for the land, even if the uses change and evolve with the times. The Agricul-tural Commission in Southwick is a resource for anyone who is interested in agricultural endeavors, both large and small. We can be reached through our website.

Editors note: If you have enjoyed this series and would like to visit some of the farms mentioned in the last three months to see how they operate in person, please consider taking part in Southwick’s third an-nual Open Farm Day on August 17th. More info can be found in the advertisement on page 6 and the short article on page 17.

be in this situation right now, and He knew what I’d need for this situation. If He put me in the situation, He put in me the strength to deal with it.”

You have nothing to prove, no one to impress, nobody to fear. You are handmade by God. He calls you by name. He knows the hairs on your head and the thoughts in your heart. God sees the power and potential He put in you. Do you?

Do you see it? Don’t let this world trick you into losing sight of how special you are! Don’t be like the 9-year-old boy I heard about. The boy went into a sports collector’s shop and bought a pack of basketball trading cards. He was so excited, he opened up the pack right there on the counter! The owner of the store was watching him, and when he saw one particular card, he leaned over the counter and said, “Hey, kid, I’ll trade you a whole second pack of cards for just that one card.”

This seemed like a no-brainer to the 9-year-old. “A whole pack for one card? Sure!” He handed him the card, the store owner gave him another pack, and that little boy walked out of the store thinking he had gotten the best deal ever!

When he got home, his mom gave him one of those “mom looks.” She said, “How did you wind up with two packs? I only gave you the money for one.”

He said, “You’ll never believe it, Mom! The owner gave me a whole new pack for one card.”

“Son, what card was it?”

“I don’t know. Some guy named…Michael Jordan.”

Her face immediately changed. She drove right back to that store and came home five minutes later with that Michael Jor-dan card—and a third pack of cards.

You see, Mom knew the value of that card. So did the owner. But the 9-year-old boy didn’t. So, he fell for a trick.

I wonder, how often do we fall for a trick? How often do we trade away our God-given value because we don’t know our own worth?

The devil tells us we’re hopeless, and we believe him. Soci-ety tells us that our worth is in our appearance, and we believe them. Our own minds whisper that we are not enough, and we believe ourselves. Don’t fall for those tricks!

Do you remember that iconic cereal commercial? “Silly rab-bit! Trix are for kids!” The next time you’re tempted to doubt yourself, say to yourself, “Don’t fall for it!”

Lesson 2: Tricks are for kids.

I remember when I committed my life to Christ as a teen-ager. It was an easy decision. I mean, salvation is the best deal ever. Jesus paid for my sins. He gave me resurrection power. He loves me like a best friend. He even prays for me when I don’t have the words to say. Who wouldn’t want that? So, accepting

Don’t let Your

Deficiency Define You

Jesus was an easy decision. What’s been a lot harder for me is accepting Jeff. Accepting Jesus took a moment; accepting Jeff is taking a lifetime.

You have to understand: Jeff is far from per-fect. Jeff gets cranky. Jeff is not very easy-going. I try really hard to be like Jesus, but at the end of the day, I’m just Jeff. But then it hit me… You can’t just accept Jesus by faith. You have to ac-cept yourself by faith.

Okay, sure, you’re a work in progress; I’m a work in progress. But you are beauti-ful, valuable, and important right now too. By faith, accept yourself! By faith, believe that God knew what He was doing when He made you!

Remember David, who fought Goliath?

David wrote: “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful!” David made some massive mistakes, but he knew how valu-able his life was to God. He never forgot how much he was worth.

Do you know your worth? Have you accepted that you are valuable beyond description to God? The devil will try to trick you into doubting that. But don’t forget—“Tricks are for kids!

Don’t fall for it!”

At the card shop, the guy behind the counter knew the value of his cards because he had a book that told him how much they were worth. If that 9-year-old had that book, he could have looked up how much a Michael Jordan card is worth, and he wouldn’t have been tricked and traded it away for a $1 pack of worthless cards.

Guess what! You have a Book that tells you your value. Have you looked yourself up in that Book?

Did you read the part where God called you His masterpiece? Did you read the part where Jesus gave His life for you because you’re worth so much to Him? Did you see that God has given you gifts that are unique to you, and you have to use those gifts be-cause nobody else can do what you do?

Did you read the fine print? Where it says you’re going to have a fine home in Heaven?

If you look yourself up in the Book, you’ll see… You are precious in the sight of God, You are more than a conqueror, You are loved, You are called according to His purpose. Don’t settle for anything less than that!

of fuel, an oxidizer (like nitrates, chlorates, and perchlorates) to provide the oxygen necessary for burning, and metal chlorides, which contain the chloride ion that helps make the colors. When the “firework stars”—the numerous small pellets of black pow-der from the fireworks explosion—ignite, the metal particles (in the metal salts) absorb a huge amount of energy. Once they begin to cool, the particles emit the extra energy in the form of light. The color of this light depends on the type of metal. Various chemical elements produce a wide variety of colors. The sound you hear happen as the gases inside the firework expand faster than the speed of sound — a mini sonic boom that fills the night sky.

Beyond the dazzling display of fireworks, we can also find sparkles in nature’s gifts and within ourselves. On June 11th a Full Strawberry Moon sparkled close to the horizon. This moon is named for the strawberry harvesting season. It symbolizes life, fertility, abundance, and maturity. I enjoy looking at the vibrant red colors and little specks evenly spread out with sweetness. Some say love and prosperity flow from this tasteful berry’s ap-pearance. Looking at that awesome Strawberry symbol in a spiritual scope, it is seen as an expres-sion of gratitude for nature’s blessings.

We all have the ability to promote gleams of sparkle emitting from our eyes. That choice of mind adjustment will have positive results in oth-ers. Who among us would rather see an individu-al giving off despondency than one truly shining from the heart? Yes, we all exhibit gloom at times; however, transforming your mindset is reachable with effort like rain that sparkles on the grass. Rain is given on certain days, and morning dew occurs most mornings—a symbolic application of putting on a healthy attitude every day. Give it a try; you and others will profit from the outcomes. Be diligent to restore the sparkle in your eyes — glitter like rubies and twinkling like crystals. Con-sider the production of fireworks on display; it requires effort to dance in brilliance for all to enjoy.

As I write on Memorial Day, watching a National Day special honoring our brave men and women of the United Stated Mili-tary, we remember their ultimate sacrifice. They are symbolic of the stars and stripes on our flag − powerful sparks united into bright, colorful fireworks − emblematic of defending our peace and freedom. Let our hearts be kept with full faith and trust. To the men and women serving in the military, we learn courage and strength from your colorful actions. Thank you for your ser-vice.

Take all occasions to build others up as well as yourself. When you see the door of opportunity open, move forward with thoughtful steps, so your “human fireworks” have a powerful effect of generating explosions of attitudes toward good, truth, and peace. With that said, Susanna and I send grateful sparkles of energy to all readers.

Sparkle

like

Fireworks

Open Farm Day this year – our third annual! – will be Sunday August 17, from 10 am to 4 pm. We are pleased and excited to again offer this popular event!

What is Open Farm Day? Simply put, it’s an opportunity for you to get a behind-the-scenes look at our local farms. Have you ever been inside a tobacco barn? Would you like to take a hayride? Have you seen how an automated greenhouse works? How about kids in your family? Would they like to have a pony ride? Or a train ride? Or pet a goat?

All these activities and more will be available from 10 am - 4 pm Sunday Aug. 17. Admission is free, and we encourage people of all ages to attend!

Southwick Open Farm Day is designed to promote South-wick farms, raise awareness of farm operations, build respect for the work our farmers do – and, of course, to have some fun! Volunteers will be on hand at each location to help with park-ing and other logistics.

As of this writing, eight farms are participating this year: Blossoming Acres, Calabrese Farm, Coward Farm, Arnold Tobacco Farm & Sunflower Stand, Firefly Fields Farm, Klin-eview Stables, Bisi Farm and the GranVal Scoop. In addition, the Southwick History Museum will be open to showcase the town’s farming history and offer some “special doings.”

Here’s how it will work: Pick up an Open Farm Day “pass-port” at any of the participating locations, and get a sticker showing that you were there. (Passports are optional, but they help you plan your day.) The passport will direct you to all the Open Farm Day locations, and you’ll get a sticker at each place you visit. Here’s a tip – you may not be able to get to all of them! So choose locations you have a special interest in or ones you haven’t visited before.

Look for Open Farm Day brochures around town at the participating farms, businesses, the library, and Town Hall. We are very grateful to local business contributors who are helping us offset costs. To date they are: B&E Tool, College Highway Insurance, Farm Family Insurance, The Launch, VCA Animal Hospital and Westfield Bank. We SO appreciate the support!

See you on the farms!

By The Southwick Agricultural Commission

A Psychologist’s Guide

Inside the Young Mind:

Grateful Hearts & Strong Minds with Everyday Gratitude

By Dr Simone Phillips, Psychologist

When practiced regularly, gratitude strengthens a child’s sense of self-worth and perspective—even when life isn’t going their way.

This July, let’s make gratitude more than a holiday feeling and carry it with us all summer long.

Why Gratitude Matters for Mental Health

Gratitude shifts the focus from what’s missing to what’s meaningful. For children, this simple habit can:

• Reduce anxiety and negativity by gently rewiring their attention toward safety and abundance.

• Enhance empathy by helping them notice others’ efforts and kindness.

• Build resilience by fostering appreciation even during setbacks.

Think of gratitude as emotional glue—it strengthens connec-tion to self, family, and the wider world.

Everyday Gratitude Practices for Families

Gratitude grows best when it’s simple, consistent, and en-gaging. Try these easy, research-backed ideas to make thankful-ness part of your home’s emotional rhythm:

1. Gratitude Check-Ins − At dinner or bedtime, ask:

• “What made you smile today?”

• “Who helped you this week?”

• “What felt good in your body or heart?”

Why it works: These open-ended prompts guide children to reflect on positive experienc-es, increasing emotional awareness.

2. The Thankful Tree or Jar − Create a vi-sual space where each family member adds notes or drawings of gratitude. Use seasonal shapes—sunshines, flip-flops, beach balls—for summer flair! Parent Tip: Keep it in a central spot and encourage kids to add to it independently.

3. Kindness Notes with a Twist

Invite your child to make simple thank-you notes for every-day heroes: the mail carrier, a sibling who shared, a librarian who helped. Younger kids can draw, older ones can write.

Emotional twist: Expressing gratitude boosts mood for both giver and receiver.

4. “Thankful Walks” − Take a short family stroll and play a game: each person names five things they see, hear, or feel grateful for.

• “I’m thankful for the shade of this tree.”

• “I’m thankful to have you walking with me.”

Why it works: Gratitude paired with movement activates calming brain pathways.

5. Gratitude Art and Storytelling − Create collages, photo boards, or comic strips that show what your child is thankful

for. Ask them to narrate the story behind each item or memory.

Parent Tip: Hang the collage where your child can revisit it during tough days.

Modeling Gratitude as a Grown-Up Superpower − Children learn gratitude by watching us. Share your own moments of ap-preciation aloud:

• “I’m so thankful for this quiet morning.”

• “I noticed how kind that store clerk was to us.”

• “Thank you for helping me clean. That meant a lot.”

You don’t have to force positivity. Gratitude isn’t about de-nying hard things—it’s about holding both joy and challenge in the same breath.

Books and Media to Spark Thankfulness

Use stories to deepen your child’s emotional literacy. Look for books where characters show appreciation, reflect on com-munity, or grow through giving. Try titles like:

• The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

• Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña