When we think about St. Patrick’s Day, we often picture rainbows, shamrocks, and pots of gold waiting at the end of the rainbow.
But what if the real treasure isn’t something children have to search for? What if the treasure is already inside them?
That’s the idea behind this “My Inner Gold” St. Patrick’s Day SEL activity for kids — a simple, meaningful social-emotional learning activity that helps children recognize the wonderful qualities they carry within themselves.
Because every child is filled with special qualities, such as kindness, bravery, creativity, curiosity, compassion, perseverance, and so much more. Those qualities are the REAL gold!
Children are often taught to look outward for rewards — gold stars, trophies, praise, or perfection.
But one of the most powerful lessons we can teach kids is that their worth isn’t something they have to earn.
Their kindness matters.
Their creativity matters.
Their differences matter.
Helping children notice these qualities builds confidence, self-awareness, and emotional resilience — all essential parts of social-emotional learning, and a perfect pair to St. Patrick’s Day!
This activity invites children to reflect on the things about themselves that feel like “gold treasure.”
The activity is simple and fun — perfect for classrooms, counseling offices, or families at home.
Children begin by thinking about the qualities that make them special.
On each gold coin, they can write or draw something about themselves that they love or feel proud of, such as:
• I am a kind friend
• I try again when things are hard
• I am creative
• I help others
• I make people laugh
• I am brave when I try new things
After filling in the coins, children cut them out and paste their treasures into the pot of gold.
By the end, they’ve created a pot filled with the things that make them uniquely wonderful!
Activities like this help children develop important SEL skills:
• Self-awareness
• Positive identity
• Confidence
• Emotional expression
• Appreciation for personal strengths
When kids learn to recognize their own inner strengths, they begin to see themselves in a more compassionate and confident way.
Instead of striving for perfection, they learn something even more valuable: They are already enough.
Many of the themes in my children’s books center around helping kids recognize their inner strengths and embrace who they are.
In The Only Me, Stella learns that even though she’s a twin and often compared to her sister, she is special and unique just the way she is.
In Petunia the Perfectionist, Petunia discovers that mistakes and imperfections are part of learning and growing.
In Stella’s Brave Voice, Stella finds the courage to speak up and use her voice.
And in Saturdays with Gramps, we see the love, memories, and emotional connections that shape who we are.
Each of these stories reminds children that their identity, their feelings, and their differences are something to celebrate.
The Inner Gold activity reinforces that same message: Every child carries treasure within themselves.
After completing the worksheet, you might ask children questions like:
• Which piece of “gold” are you most proud of?
• When did you show kindness recently?
• What makes you different from others in a wonderful way?
• How can you share your “gold” with the world?
These simple conversations help children practice reflection, empathy, and self-love.
This printable activity is designed to be easy to use at home, in classrooms, or during counseling sessions.
Children will:
Write or draw their “inner gold” on the coins
Cut out the coins
Glue them into the pot of gold
Celebrate the wonderful things that make them who they are
✨ Download the My Inner Gold St. Patrick’s Day worksheet here.
Because the greatest treasure children can discover…
…is the goodness already inside them.
Enjoy!!
You Might Also Like:
Share
This book is PERFECT for perfectionists (children and grown-ups!) and belongs in classrooms, libraries, and every child’s bookshelf.
Share
Stella’s Brave Voice follows the twins from The Only Me and has earned a 5-star Book Review Award from Litpick and Reader’s Favorite.
Share
The Only Me was named one of the top 100 indie children’s books of 2022 by Kirkus Reviews and earned a 5-star Book Review Award from Litpick.
We don’t spam! By signing up, you agree to get emails from Marissa Bader.
To ensure you receive my emails make sure to add marissa@marissabader.com to your contacts or list of safe senders. You can unsubscribe at any time.
A PDF download will be sent to your inbox.
We don’t spam! By signing up, you agree to get emails from Marissa Bader.
To ensure you receive my emails make sure to add marissa@marissabader.com to your contacts or list of safe senders. You can unsubscribe at any time.
A PDF download will be sent to your inbox.
We don’t spam! By signing up, you agree to get emails from Marissa Bader.
To ensure you receive my emails make sure to add marissa@marissabader.com to your contacts or list of safe senders. You can unsubscribe at any time.
