One of our amazing team members from The Little Optimist Sailing Academy recently participated in the Little Lions Fellowship. Together with her team, they hosted a child-friendly “Sip & Paint” to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month.
We began the day with a gentle check-in and a rainbow breathing activity, setting a calm and positive tone. The children were invited to start the day with affirmations that reminded them of their worth:
✨ I am loved.
✨ I am special.
✨ I am enough.
The Little Lions team joined to show their support for the fellows, adding warmth and encouragement to the day.
Here’s where the fun began, each child got to choose a drink in a color that represented how they felt. Some picked pink, orange, green, red, or yellow, while others mixed as many colors as they could to match their blend of emotions.
Each child received a canvas and paint to express their feelings through art. We saw creativity at its best and learned that happiness and emotion come in many colors. There’s no single way to express joy.
The picnic followed an Inside Out theme, inspired by the animated film about emotions. After a fun dance session, we gathered for a conversation on how we all experience different feelings.
When the facilitators raised the Sadness and Joy emotion cards, most of the kids related to those two.
They shared that they felt sad when others were unkind or when friends fought and were joyful when they played with friends or went sailing.
When asked about other emotions like jealousy, disgust, or anxiety, the kids hesitated at first, until some adults raised their hands, too. That moment opened up honest and relatable sharing.
One child said she feels jealous when her cousins do better at school, and the facilitator explained that it’s completely normal and that instead of feeling bad, she
could ask them for help. Even one of the sailing instructors admitted he gets jealous when other sailors perform better, which made everyone laugh!
We reminded the kids that all feelings are valid, and what truly matters is how we manage them.
Later, the children shared the stories behind their paintings. One girl who had never painted before said she didn’t know where to begin. A facilitator encouraged her to start with something she loved, and she ended up painting a beautiful flower garden, smiling as she said, “I’ve always loved flowers. They make me happy.” 🌸
We ended the day with a sailing session, laughter, and goodie bags for each child. Their bright smiles and thankful words filled the Academy with joy and warmth.
It was a colorful day of creativity, connection, and courage, a reminder that every feeling has a place, and every child’s heart deserves to be seen and celebrated. 💙⛵
