Ever wish there was an easy way to help your children and family “connect” and be more appreciative? Ever wish you heard the words “thank you” a bit more at home? In the midst of your hectic life, could you use a little help remembering to count your blessings? Then READ ON…we’re Elizabeth and Laura, two “Inventor moms” that have had the same problem, so we decided to create a solution that works for everyone.
TIME magazine says that “counting your blessings” is the #1 path to happiness – science is proving that feeling grateful on a regular basis can greatly improve your life. But, like many of you, we’re VERY BUSY MOMS. Between homework and hockey, choir and carpool, how does anyone remember to “count their blessings” every day? We’re lucky to remember to take a head “count” of our children! We found ourselves always reminding our kids to be grateful and appreciative. But then we realized something – if it’s a challenge for us to remember, how can we really help our families?
Laura’s been making people laugh for more than twenty years since co-inventing the mega hit game “BALDERDASH,” I love to design just about anything, and co-inventor Rachel Naples, who introduced us, is a terrific writer. We’d read a lot about how children (and adults) learn best through play and we figured a COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS GAME was a terrific, inexpensive way to get families “playing their way” to feeling more grateful. We knew our magic “formula” had to have lots of funny and engaging questions and logic so that the kids would stay at the table.
We came up with ideas like the “Thank Tank,” and the zany “Look on the Bright Side Glasses” that players wear to “see” things in a different light. For example, kids might be asked to “sweep up” three silver linings in having to clean their room. Or, you may have to find three blessings-in-disguise that make losing your phone a reason to “cell”-ebrate!” We thought about our kids at school, our lives at work and home, and kept on going, adding in some really inspiring quotes, trivia and a “coin toss” for a bit of strategy.
The results were amazing – playing “Count Your Blessings” and learning to “look on the bright side” felt so good that all the kids that helped us test the game started really “getting it” - they were acting more grateful without even knowing it! And, so did the grown-ups…because counting your blessings is contagious.
Thank you for visiting our site - we’re grateful to share silver linings with your family!
