gratitude

Mindfulness as an Antidote to Holiday Stress

Mindfulness as an Antidote to Holiday Stress

With so much to do and so little time, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle. This year, take a step back and focus on what’s truly important. Embrace kindness and show others gratitude. Give yourself and those around you the gift of your time and attention.

Give Thanks by Giving Back

Give Thanks by Giving Back

One way to simultaneously show gratitude and address anxiety, depression, and lack of control is by doing something positive. This Thanksgiving season let’s challenge one another to give thanks by giving back. Together, we can spread kindness, compassion, and generosity to make a difference in the world.

Music Brings Joy and Kindness to the World

Music Brings Joy and Kindness to the World

In a world that often seems divided and angry, music reminds us that we are all connected by our humanity. By sharing the gift of music with children, we give them the priceless gift of hope and happiness.

A Year in Review

A Year in Review

As we say goodbye to 2022 and embark on a new year, it’s important to remember the things that are most important in life: our family, health, and our community. One small way we can make a big impact is to commit to spreading kindness each and every day. This month, I want to spotlight DGT’s best creations of 2022 in case you missed them, want to revisit them, or want to share them with others. (Yes, please do so!) Be sure to subscribe to our blog, newsletter, and/or volunteer listings so you can easily find all the good we create in 2023!

Celebrate Family This Holiday Season

Celebrate Family This Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time to come together and celebrate the things that matter most. Family, friends, and loved ones can all play a role in making this time of year special. However, the holiday season can also be a time of stress and anxiety. With so much to do and so little time, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle. This year, take a step back and focus on what’s truly important. Embrace kindness and show others gratitude. Give yourself and those around you the gift of your time and attention. These small acts of kindness will help alleviate your stress and will also go a long way in making this holiday season one to remember.

Weave Gratitude Into Your Life

Weave Gratitude Into Your Life

As the leaves begin to fall and the days grow shorter, it can be easy to forget all the things for which we are grateful. However, studies have shown that practicing gratitude can improve our mental and physical health. This November, let's take some time to focus on all the good in our lives. Gratitude is the act of being thankful for the good things in your life. When you focus on the good, you’ll find that your life is filled with more wonder and abundance than you ever realized. Practicing gratitude is one of the best ways to cultivate happiness and make the most of every day.

Gratitude in Transitions

Research shows us that people who intentionally take time to reflect on their feelings of gratitude are actually happier and experience less depression. Additionally, and even more importantly, gratitude instills kindness, compassion, and a caring heart, in our little ones.






Inviting Kindness and Joy to Dinner

Connecting over a nightly meal is great for the brain, the body, and the spirit. By creating a routine of family meals while your kids are young, and by modeling listening and prompting self-reflection, you’ll prepare a space for big, supportive, curious conversations as they grow.






Practicing Kindness: An Age-by-Age Guide

This month we want to share kindness skills by age – which skills are best practiced when. As COVID-19 constraints continue to linger, it’s worth remembering that spending time doing good for others has been found to lower stress, anxiety, and depression. Enjoy these simple – and fun! – ideas.




In Praise of Boredom

At this point in the pandemic, boredom is inevitable. But researchers insist that occasional boredom is an opportunity we should embrace because it comes with important benefits: It sparks creativity, nurtures imagination and problem solving, and opens up much-needed opportunities for quiet and reflection.






Why Stories Matter and How to Use Them to Make a Difference

Stories are powerful – and innately human. They help us understand one another, provide windows into different cultures and time periods, and increase our capacity for empathy. Because they hold great power, the stories kids hear make a difference in how they perceive the world. Here are some ways to amplify the power of storytelling within your family.






Doing Good Together: Our Best of 2020

Doing Good Together: Our Best of 2020

Despite some badly needed hope and light on the horizon, the country still faces myriad challenges. For this reason, our work continues to be critical, since we know (more clearly than ever) that it’s compassion, justice, and community that bring us together — and bring about change. We hope you picked up lots of fun, engaging opportunities for kindness and giving this past year. In case you missed them, we list some favorite resources below.






Six New Traditions to Add More Joy, Hope, and Kindness to Your Holiday

Six New Traditions to Add More Joy, Hope, and Kindness to Your Holiday

Yes, it will be a different kind of holiday, but you also have an opportunity to make this year's celebration one of your family's best by scaling down, embracing new traditions, and connecting more deeply to what you most value. These ideas will add a kick of kindness and hope to your COVID-challenged season --- and help you keep the spirit of the holidays alive despite the compromises we're making to keep one another safe.






Reimagining Your Thanksgiving Celebration

Reimagining Your Thanksgiving Celebration

Since so much might be different about our Thanksgiving this year, it's an ideal time to think creatively about the holiday. We know, for example, that the simple history of Thanksgiving that we've been taught is neither accurate nor fair, so how could we unravel this myth for our children? Here are ways to make Thanksgiving in this upside-down year more meaningful, more compassionate, and a truer reflection of our deepest values.




Take Your Child on a Kindness Date!

Here's a way to prioritize meaningful time with your child---   and also convey how much you value living generously. Take your child on a kindness date! Surprise them with an idea that matches their interests and passions, or have them pick an outing from the ideas below.


How (and Why) to Make Caring a Habit This Year

Many families have told us they want to put more focus – intentional focus – on kindness, serving, and justice in 2020. You know by now that a child raised to be kind does better in school and in life. But how do you find time for ONE MORE THING in your already-too-busy life? And once you've started, how do you keep the caring habit alive?


Our Best of 2019: A Recap

As we look back, we're immensely grateful for our community of big-hearted families working to raise children who care for others. In this tumultuous time, take a moment to be proud of the many ways YOU are building a kinder, more just world. 


The Joy – and Challenge – of Gift-Giving

Giving gifts can be a joyful thing. We get to imagine what others might enjoy receiving. For kids, giving gifts is important for teaching generosity and empathy. But how do you offer children the undeniable pleasure of giving without encouraging consumerism? What gifts can you, in turn, give them that model these values? We offer some guidance for striking a gift-giving balance.