Welcome!

     Our "Bucket Fillers" team is a dynamic group of experienced, certified teachers and counselors.   Our mission is to create a world of bucket fillers.  We do this through school assemblies, staff trainings, adult seminars, keynote addresses, and classroom resources, all based on our book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids. 

     In a new twist on the Golden Rule, Have You Filled a Bucket Today? explains to children that we all carry an invisible bucket in which we keep our feelings about ourselves.  When our buckets are full, we are happy; when they are empty, we are sad.   It's important to know that we can fill our own bucket and so can others.  We can also dip into it.    

"Bucket fillers" are those who help without being asked, give hugs and compliments and generally spread their love and good feelings to others.  The simple metaphor of a bucket helps even preschoolers understand the importance of consideration and love, particularly towards those who bully.

"Bucket dippers" rob us of happy feelings by refusing to help with a task or by saying or doing cruel things.  The challenging problem of "bullying" or "bucket dipping" usually rears its ugly head in the first few weeks of school.  Why not address it in a positive, concrete manner through our book or our assemblies? 

Four First Place Awards!!

Written by Carol McCloud, illustrated by David Messing, and published by Ferne Press, Have You Filled a Bucket Today? was named the 2007 Best Children's Picture Book by:

• The Just for Mom Foundation, Category: Behavior
• The DIY Book Festival
• Writer's Digest International Book Awards
• Books-and-Authors.net

     Dave Messing brought the bucket concept to life for children with his heartwarming vignettes.  He created the colorful, swirling hearts and stars filling buckets.  He also matched the happy and sad faces on the buckets with the owners. Dave is currently working on the sketches for a second book.

      We are honored that Have You Filled a Bucket Today? was deemed the Best Children's Picture book by a national children's foundation and three national or international literary excellence organizations.  In 2007 we also received an Honorable Mention from the London Book Festival.

    As excited as we are about these awards, we are even more thrilled to be part of a ripple effect that is helping children to lead happier lives and helping schools become safer and more caring and respectful environments.

   The Bucketfilling concept is not our creation. Carol McCloud first heard the idea that a "bucket" represented a person's self-concept, or mental and emotional health, at an early childhood conference in the 1990's. 

   It was in the 1960's, that Dr. Donald O. Clifton (1924-2003), first created the "Dipper and Bucket" story that has now been passed along for decades.   Dr. Clifton later went on to co-author the #1 New York Times bestseller How Full Is Your Bucket? and be named the Father of Strengths Psychology.  Their book and website are excellent tools for work and life. 

   We also encourage you to sign up for our WEEKLY "BUCKET FILLosophy" e-newsletter.  You will receive weekly words of wisdom and heartwarming stories that will inspire you and fill your bucket!!! 

     Bucketfilling school assemblies, staff trainings and adult seminars are now available, presented by Carol McCloud and her colleagues.  Every member of our team "walks the talk" through daily acts of bucketfilling.  Teaching bucketfilling is easy, living it can be a daily challenge until it becomes a habit.   Then it's a wonderful way of life!

CAROL MCCLOUD, THE BUCKET LADY

(Courtesy of the Daily Press & Argus)

OUR VISION

Our book, presentations and other resources are designed to

• Make bucket filling and other-centeredness a daily habit
• Preempt and reduce mean, bullying, bucket-dipping behaviors
• Empower children to deal with bucket dippers
• Help children learn about choices and consequences
• Create safe, positive, nurturing schools
• Strengthen families and build better relationships

      Young children love being bucket fillers.  They quickly grasp  the concrete language of bucket filling through lively discussion of our easy-to-read book.  Then, with continued encouragement from parents, grandparents, teachers, and others, children create a healthy life habit of their own. 

Flying Off The Bookshelf

(reprinted from the GiftBeat newsletter, July 2007)

     "An Iowa retailer's 2 1/2-year-old son loves the book.  So do her customers.  She sold 92 copies during April and May!" 

"Have You Filled a Bucket Today?"  is now carried in 400 card and gift stores nationally!  These stores alone have sold 12,000+ books in the past six months.   Click here to  see some retailer comments.

FILL A BUCKET!

_______________________

Click here

More Information

Schedule an Event

Order supplies

Contact Us Page

or Just email us at info@bucketfillers101.com.