“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” ~ Aesop
Happy World Kindness Day, a global celebration dedicated to paying i forward and focusing on the good. Kindness Day first began when a collection of humanitarian groups from several nations, now known as the World Kindness Movement, united on November 13, 1997 and made a “Declaration of Kindness.”
Not only is kindness contagious. It’s free, it can be easy, and it is important.
It’s important not just for making the world a better place but for each individual’s emotional well being, which makes it a topic to cover with your kids.
“When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.”
The Dalai Lama
Science backs this up. Research from the University of California Riverside showed tweens ages 9-11 who performed acts of kindness towards others were happier and also tended to be the students with whom their classmates wanted to spend time. Other studies studies show that kindness has many physical, emotional, and mental health benefits.
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”
Lao Tzu
It’s important for our kids to recognize and acknowledge the kindness directed their way, too.
I like to ask my child each day to tell me about both a time she was kind to someone and also an act of kindness that someone did for her that day. It took a little time, but after it became a part of our evening routine, she had more and more stories to share.
Sometimes kids are more willing to talk about others than themselves, so switch up and ask what acts of kindness they have observed.
It’s also worth reminding kids that acts of kindness don’t need to be huge moments. Small acts can have a huge impact. Sometimes our kids think on the scale of moments that go viral. Remind that a small act often causes a ripple, and that’s going viral in a different, and arguably more impactful, way.
“There’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”
Scott Adams
Need some ideas for being kind as a family? Check out the suggestions at RandomActsofKindness.org. And definitely ask your kids. It’ll give you some insight into how they see the world. It’s also an opportunity to send the message that you trust them to see what the world needs and then find a way to help meet that need.
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Prior Post: 12 Fun Advent calendars for teens and tweens
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