The School-Age 2 children at Rising Oaks Early Learning | Oak Creek love to do acts of kindness. Kindness is more than the act of being nice. True kindness is a deep feeling of generosity and consideration for others, without expecting anything in return. Acts of kindness are free, simple, healthy and positive.
According to the English Cambridge dictionary, kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate, caring, gentle and helpful. Kindness is understanding that we are all human, and is also forgiving others when they fail at being kind, but also being clear that forgiveness comes with an expectation to do better next time. It is not always easy. Sometimes it can be messy or sometimes it can be scary. What we know is that kindness is the cornerstone of community and is something that anyone and everyone can show in their eyes.
When friends from School-Age 2 were being asked about what kindness means to them, lots of pure and innocent answers were given. “Kindness is when we give a hug to a friend that is sad.”, said Emma. “Kindness is when you share a toy with your friend or classmate.”, said Eli.
“Kindness is when you offer to help your mom with chores.”, said Ryan. “Kindness is when you take care of your friend’s pet.”, said Olivia.
There are multiple ways of showing kindness. I asked my friends what do they think about it, how do they show kindness? Emilia said that “You can tell someone you know what you are thankful for.”. And from here, my friends expanded their discussion, turning it into a beautiful and impressive conversation. This is a sign that this is an important part of their daily life and evolution. Olivia wanted to point out the importance of it, “I am thankful for my family and my house.”. Robynne said that she is grateful for the earth we are living on and for her family. “We can be kind when we give some food to someone that doesn’t have any.”, Jahmanuel commented.
In order to remind us about the importance of kindness and the multiple ways we can be kind and show it, some paper crowns were made by our peers, containing cute messages about what are they thankful for or which act of kindness represents them.
One of the best ways to teach kindness to others is by being intentional about it. Volunteer, give compliments, donate, hold the door for someone, simply say thank you.
We are continually learning right and wrong through associative learning. When you see someone being kind or notice it from a family member or a friend, make sure to tell them you appreciate what they did.
Positive reinforcement helps my friends want to do more good things and reminds people to act with good intention.
