This activity really helps to teach children empathy and also notice how others are feeling and be sensitive to the needs of others. We took a medium size gift bag and made it into an “I Care” bag. The bag is filled with things that can comfort a child who is having a bad day for any reason. Some of the things in our bag are: a small soft receiving blanket, small board book, musical toy, giggling toy, mirror, wet wipes, lotion, small squeezable Nerf football, small stuffed animal, glove puppet, small container of play dough, and a fine mist squirt bottle. Each day a child in the classroom is assigned to be the “I Care” child. Their job is to notice when others are sad, distressed, unhappy, lonely, etc. They take the bag to the sad child and tell them they care. Then they offer suggestions from the bag that might help them feel better. They stay with the child and serve them in a helpful way until the child feels better. They are responsible to repack the bag and put it away.

– Sharon Raban