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The Rose, Thorn, and Bud check is a great way to help kids express their emotions and talk about their feelings. It’s a simple and effective tool that I love using and can be used to encourage children to share what’s on their mind in a fun and engaging way.
“Feelings are something you have; not something you are.”
Shannon L. Alder
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What is The Rose, Thorn and Bud Check in?
The Rose, Thorn, Bud check-in is an activity that can be helpful for children in various settings, such as at school, in therapy, or at home. It involves reflecting on the positive and challenging parts of a childs day or experience.
The “Rose” represents the positive or enjoyable moments of the day, the “Thorn” represents the challenging moments, and the “Bud” represents the potential moments that could be developed further or something they are grateful for.
How can the Rose, Thorn and Bud Check in Benefit Kids?
By engaging in this activity, children can learn to identify and express all their emotions, ones that they may find both positive and challenging.
This can help them develop greater emotional awareness and regulation skills. Additionally, focusing on the “Bud” can encourage children to think to practice gratitude and look for the good stuff or to think of ways they can do things differently.
How to do The Rose, Thorn and Bud Check in with Kids:
Here are some steps on how to use this technique with kids:
Explain the concept: Start by explaining to the children what a Rose, Thorn, and Bud represents. A rose represents something positive from their day, a thorn represents something negative, and a bud represents something they are looking forward to or grateful for.
Give examples: Give some examples of what a child might say for each category. For example, a rose might be having a good time with a friend, a thorn might be not getting invited to a party, and a bud might be looking forward to a fun weekend activity or feeling grateful that they could have time to relax at home.
Create a safe space: Make sure the children feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. Encourage them to be honest and open, and tell them that it’s okay to have feel all the feelings.
Start the conversation: Ask each child to share their rose, thorn, and bud for the day. Listen carefully to what they say and ask follow-up questions to encourage them to elaborate on their thoughts and feelings.
Use it regularly: Make this a daily or weekly routine to help children develop their emotional intelligence and learn how to express their feelings in a healthy way. We use this check in at bedtime as thats when my son is ready to chat, but I use it in my 1-2-1 sessions with young people as a conversation starter.
Make it Fun: I use this activity with our worry monster in the evenings to make it more engaging for my little one. With older kids they like using the worksheet and being creative. You could also make it a game and have kids using these fun emoji dice alongside the activity.
The Rose, Thorn, and Bud technique is a great way to help children develop their emotional intelligence and learn how to express their feelings in a healthy way.
By creating a safe and comfortable space for children to share their thoughts and feelings, you can help them develop strong communication skills and build positive relationships with others.
