Most people in a household have daily or weekly chores of which others are often quite unaware of. They just seem to happen and no-one really notices.
This act of kindness gets children to think about the tasks each person has and the impact it has on them and the family. The aim of doing a chore for each person during this week is to help kids appreciate how others contribute and the difference they make. It will also give the recipient of their kindness a little break from their usual routine and let them know they are efforts are noticed.
Giving a compliment isn't always something that comes naturally. Learning the art can help kids to get outside of their own head to think about other people and their feelings. It helps them to reflect on positive attributes of people and makes recipients of their compliments feel worthy, valued and loved.
Writing compliments in a letter form gives someone a lovely keepsake and positive affirmations they can read over and over.
It's been and continues to be a confronting time with COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter rallies. We've seen some appalling behavior but also some of the most beautiful acts of kindness as people come together to support one another.
In light of this difficult time, it's important that students are encouraged to participate in acts of kindness to help them understand that the positive things they do make a difference.
During this worrying time of COVID-19 with isolation and distance learning, some children are feeling scared and may even experience some anxiety. Being out of routine, unable to see their friends, and adapting to online learning can cause worry and overwhelming emotions for some. If, as a parent or teacher you are concerned about their emotional and mental wellbeing, consider the benefits of mindfulness and meditation as coping skills for kids with anxiety.
Teachers and parents all over the globe are coming to terms with the new "normal" that is COVID-19 with many children now learning at home. This has disrupted routines and caused anxiety for many families and educators as they struggle with technology, a different timetable and a new way of teaching.
As everyone tries to come to grips with the reality that is COVID-19 or Coronavirus, we find ourselves in situations we have never experienced before. These are trying times where people fear for the safety of themselves and their loved ones. My hope is that we find a silver lining by coming together to support, share and care for one another. I truly believe we can find a new sense of community and belonging throughout this pandemic.
Book Title: The Happiest Birthday Ever
Author: Stephanie Berger
For Ages: 4-8
Themes: kindness, generosity, love, empathy, compassion, understanding, giving, character, community, emotions
Related learning areas: Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), character education, emotional intelligence
What better way to foster kindness, build character and encourage positive school communities than awesome visuals that students see each and every day. Like anything else we want our kids to learn, positive values need to be constantly reinforced and lived every single day.
If you enjoy the feel-good emotions produced by doing good then perhaps you're the kind of person who looks forward to the official days that celebrate kindness. Did you know there are 3 of them?
Many teachers like their students to participate in kindness activities at school to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day in February and World Kindness Day in November. They understand the importance of these days as opportunities to build character and instill good values that become the foundation of an emotional skill set that's essential for their future success. Beyond feel-good emotions or reducing bullying, kindness is a highly valued character trait.
Bullying is often a hot topic among parents and teachers. It has been for as long as I can remember and sadly, not a lot has changed. But, I feel we are starting to make some headway with educators now using social and emotional learning programs in their classrooms to build emotional intelligence.
I've been advocating for kindness to be taught in schools for around a decade now. For me, it has always made sense because kindness is the antithesis of bullying. It stands to reason that infecting a school with the kindness bug is going to have a positive effect on children who struggle with antisocial behaviour. A kind majority will eventually have an impact on an unfriendly minority.
Whether you're looking to build character at home or in the classroom, recognised kindness days are a great time to start a kindness campaign.
Kindness is a good old-fashioned value that does a lot more than just build character. Did you know that it can also:
