Have you ever heard of the phrase “one act of kindness can change the world”?
With so many horrible situations going on throughout the world, one cannot help but think that if everyone could be so kind, the world would be a better place.
Kindness not only to others but also to oneself. And from an early age, acts of compassion should be fostered in children. So that they grow up with a good conscience and a drive to do good.
Why from a young age?
There is a Malay adage that says, “Melentur Buluh Biarlah Dari Rebungnya” which means to teach children or instil positive values in them from a young age. The English equivalent is “Strike While the Iron Is Hot“.
Even when your child is a baby, they begin to observe how you are behaving as parents. And as children, may imitate their parents’ responses to them as they grow.
In this regard, we as parents play a critical role in beginning to teach excellent manners to our children at an early age.
As soon as the infant is born, parents can demonstrate the value of good manners and politeness by being soft, patient, and courteous to the little one.
It’s a good start to teach your toddler the words ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. But if you also work on her empathy, she’ll pick up on consideration even more quickly.
That is one approach to teaching children to be kind. Now, let us look at some additional options:
Encourage Kids to Write Kindness Notes
Tell your children that there are always people for whom they can be thankful. Those who are continually encouraging them and improving their lives.
Teach them to write thank you notes to convey their gratitude. The notes can be addressed to persons they appreciate, such as grandparents, siblings, teachers, doctors, family friends, and so on.
You can do the same for your children to show them how valuable they are to you.
Donate to Those in Need
Involve your kids personally in donating items that would benefit others. For example, conduct a quick spring cleaning at home.
Encourage your children to take part by selecting toys, clothing, and books that are no longer in use but are still in good condition to donate.
Then, take them to any homeless shelter, orphanage, or the homes of people in need that you may know.
Explain to your children the purpose of donating and how the goods can be helpful and useful to individuals who receive the donation.
Set Up a Kindness Jar
Every time your kids do something kind, put some notes in the jar with a brief description of the deed.
This would be a lovely reminder of your admiration for your child. When your child is unhappy, the kindness jar can also serve as a mood booster.
Another way to keep your kids interested in the jar is to provide a reward if they fill it to a certain level. The reward should be something enjoyable, such as a family picnic or a trip to an animal park.
The jar can be a tangible technique of providing positive reinforcement to encourage your children to do nice things and be kind.
Give Someone a Gift
Help your children make simple gifts that they can give to others.
On a piece of paper, write down the names of some friends, family members, and neighbours. Place the papers in a jar.
Draw a name once a week or every other week, and with your kids, decide what gift or gesture you can offer to that individual.
The gifts could be something simple that can make someone’s day better, like a handcrafted card, a unique bookmark, or a friendship bracelet.
Affirm Others with Compliment
Saying something pleasant to someone might be the simplest act of kindness.
Motivate your kids to establish the habit of complimenting and applauding the work of others. For instance, decide together to make it a goal to give compliments to people throughout the day.
Discuss with your child what it means to give compliments and how much they can mean to the person receiving them, whether they say, “Your shirt is nice,” to a kid at the playground or, “You are so brave,” to a sibling.
Perform A Random Act of Kindness
According to the Mayo Clinic, this can have an impact on a child’s attitude, outlook, and even health. You can undertake many random acts of kindness with your kids.
For example, pay for the person in front of you at the drive-thru, volunteer at a local animal shelter, leave money on a vending machine, engage in virtual fundraising, or help to cook for the needy.
The list goes on and on as there are numerous other activities you might do with your children to demonstrate how to be kind to others. You’ve got this, parents!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours from Motherhood with love!
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