Kindness Goes a Long Way

Kindness is good for us and not just because it is the right thing to do. Being kind actually provides us with physical, emotional, and mental health benefits. Kindness and compassion benefits both people: the giver and the recipient. Teaching children to be kind will go a long way to helping them to have healthier, happier lives.

Some of the benefits of kindness include feelings of happiness, calmness and healing. It also helps the heart to be healthier, reduces stress, and causes people to live longer lives.

Being kind is a skill that we can practice with kids, like we practice playing the piano or doing math. A great way to start is by helping our children recognize when a friend or family member is upset or needs help. Then, we can encourage kind behavior by modeling ways to show compassion and encouraging them to do it.

Other ways to teach kindness include pointing out acts of kindness and compassion in stories and movies and, of course, in real life. Brainstorm with kids about ways that they can show kindness to neighbors, friends and kids at school who seem to be lonely or unhappy. Ask your kids what people have done for them to show kindness and how it made them feel. Model small and large acts of kindness in front of kids often. A great family activity could be talking or writing about kindnesses that were experienced at the end of each day.

Compassionate Acts That Kids Can Do

• Say hi to kids who don’t seem to have many friends.
• Ask other students to play with you and your friends.
• If someone seems sad, ask if you can help.
• If someone comes to you with a problem, empathize, and then, if appropriate, tell a trusted adult.
• Don’t say things like, “Quit feeling sorry for yourself” or “Quit worrying about it. Everything will be fine” or “Get over it.”
• Do say things like, “That must be really hard” or “I’m sorry you are feeling so sad.”
• Teach someone how to do something.
• Leave a note of appreciation for a parent, grandparent, or teacher.
• Help a sibling with a chore.
• Give a family member a hug.
• Call or text someone you haven’t communicated with in a while.
• Apologize to someone who you have wronged.
• Say “thank you” when someone does something for you.
• Choose not to gossip or say unkind things.
• Smile at someone.

1. https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/7-ways-kindness-improves-your-health 2. https://www.pbs.org/parents/being-kind