05/09/2022
Kids are hard-wired to have empathy for others and want to help. Parents, caregivers, and teachers can take advantage of these natural instincts that we're all born with and encourage kids to practice kindness in their everyday lives.
Ways to teach kindness to kids:
1. 1. Do Unto Others
Young children need reminders about trying to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. Ask your child to try to remember to think before saying something about someone and to take the time to consider how they might feel if someone said it to them.
2. 2. If You Cannot Say Something Nice…
The adage about saying nothing at all if you don’t have something nice to say about someone is a good lesson in kindness to teach kids. Teach your child to get into the habit of saying only positive things—the sort of things that will make someone feel good rather than sad.
3. Kind Words and Smiles
It’s also a good idea to get kids into the habit of being friendly and finding something nice to say to someone.
4. Thank You, Please, and More
Teaching good manners, such as being respectful to others, greeting people properly, and speaking to people in a polite way, is also an important part of raising a kind child.
5. Guard Against Spoiling
Kind children are also children who are charitable, who know that their parents cannot buy everything they want for them (and understand why they should not get everything they want), and are patient, thankful, and have self-control.
