I am a school-based social worker and want to share my experience facilitating Heart Stories with a group of children ages 3–5.

The majority of these children come from immigrant families, live in multigenerational households, and come from low socioeconomic backgrounds. While children in this age group are often given opportunities to play with toys and interact with their peers, their teacher shared with me that they rarely have the chance to engage in the arts, beyond traditional paper and crayons.

With that in mind, I introduced them to a variety of new materials: watercolor paints, oil pastels, and acrylics. The immediate excitement as I brought out the supplies warmed my heart. Many of the children exclaimed that they had never used watercolors, acrylics, or oil pastels before.

Before we began, I led a short guided meditation to help the children center themselves. We practiced the “smell the flower, blow out the candle” technique, using deep breathing to calm both body and mind. They followed along beautifully and were clearly eager to begin creating their own masterpieces. As they painted, the room filled with smiles and positive energy.

I remember one child accidentally spilled some paint on the floor and immediately looked worried, expecting to get in trouble. I reassured them by saying, “No one gets in trouble for making a mess in this space, that’s how art is created.” Their fearful expression melted into a joyful one, and they continued painting with confidence.

When asked what their hearts were filled with, many of the children said their families, the beauty of nature, and even their favorite book or TV characters.

Later that day, their teacher emailed me to share how excited the students were for the rest of the day and how proudly they showed their artwork to their parents and caregivers at dismissal. She asked if I could return to facilitate another workshop as soon as possible.