Reading Time: 6 minutes
To the world, you may be one person but to one person you may be the world. – Dr Seuss
This month I thought we would focus our attention on teaching our children Kindness, compassion and empathy.
Children are taught these wonderful character traits. They are skills that are learnt but they add huge value to our lives and the lives of others around us. Children’s brains are most vulnerable to adopting a lifelong kindness habit when they are between 4-7 years. Kindness takes time to develop says Dona Matthews PhD author of Beyond Intelligence secrets for raising happy, productive kids.
Teaching your child to be kind is one of the kindest things you can do as a parent.
Kindness makes children feel good about themselves and it’s planting seeds that make the world better. Kindness builds a child’s self-esteem.
Kindness always has a rippling effect on our world. Try it for yourself. Go out today and smile at every person you meet. Everyone will smile back at you instantly. A smile lifts people’s moods and it is contagious so spread it around.
Have you noticed when one person commits to a random act of kindness it just inspires others to do the same? The key is to get started.
If you see someone without a SMILE give them yours. – Dolly Parton
Let us take a look at the definition for these words from Webster’s dictionary. This brings clarity to what each word means.
Kindness– It is an act of being nice, helping someone in need and helping someone in tough times. The quality of being friendly, generous and considerate.
Compassion– Sympathetic, pitiful and concerned for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.
Empathy– is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.
Try to be the rainbow in someone else’s cloud – Maya Angelo
What are the benefits of being Kind, Compassionate and having Empathy?
– Helping others makes us feel good.
– It creates a sense of belonging, and connection to others and reduces isolation.
– It helps to bring things into perspective.
– It helps to make the world a better place- one act of kindness often leads to more.
– The more you do for others the more you do for yourself.
– Kindness often means putting the needs of others before your own.
– It reduces our stress and improves our mood, self-esteem and happiness.
– It provides good mental health, a stronger immune system, a longer life and improves our relationships.
How do we teach our children to be kind, compassionate and have empathy?
Children learn through imitation. When you are being kind they will see it and be kind too. I will give a list of random acts of kindness. Encourage kindness, compassion and empathy. Here is a list for you to follow.
List of Random Acts of Kindness
– Smile at someone
– Give your place in a queue who needs it
– Donate some of your things to charity
– Volunteer your time and expertise to a charity
– Feed the birds
– Clean the beach
-Share uplifting or funny stories
– Let kiddies donate some of their toys to charity
– Drop some treats off at the Fire Station for the Firemen
– Tip a waiter a little extra for their service
Reading books is another wonderful way to teach children about kindness. Children relate to stories being told and it’s easy for them to learn new concepts through stories. They are able to relate. Thus the power of storytelling. It comes alive in little minds.
Here is a list of kindness stories.
– The Elves and the shoemaker by Vera Southgate
– Last stop on Market Street by Matt De La Pena
– Mouse and Lion by Rand Burkert and Nancy Ekholm Burkert
– Have you filled a bucket today? By Carol McCloud
– Horton hears a who? by Dr Seuss
– The Golden Rule by Irene Cooper
– Giving Tree by Shel Shefton
– Listening with my heart by Gabi Garcia
– Somebody loves you Mr Hatch by Eileen Spinelli
– The mouse and the motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
– Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo
Movies teach kindness too. Here is a list.
– Wonder illustrates kindness
– Horton hears the who?
– Colour my world with kindness
– UTube videos on Kindness
A Pet is another great way to teach children kindness, compassion and empathy as animals totally depend on us for their care.
No act of kindness, no matter how small ever wasted – Aesop
Everywhere you go leave a glitter trail of kindness behind you.
In God’s word, it speaks of Sowing and reaping.
Galatian 6.7-9. Let us sow kindness, compassion and empathy, wherever we go so we can reap it all the days of our lives. A great story illustrating this is the Good Samaritan which teaches us kindness,
compassion and empathy.
Make kindness, compassion and empathy a priority in your life as you teach your child these skills and watch them reap the benefit and everyone else around them. You will know that you have made the world a better place.
The essence of kindness is doing something nice for someone knowing that the only reward you will get is a warm feeling.
What Random act of kindness will you do today?
Who will you share your beautiful smile with?
Make a note to remember World Kindness Day on the 13th of November each year.
A single act of kindness throws roots in all directions and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind to themselves – Amelia Earhart
