Teaching Kindness

(Now that summer is here, it is time for me to discuss different educational topics alphabetically. Please join in the conversation and tell me what you think!)

I don’t believe that students automatically know how to be kind to others. They have to learn this and over time, it will become a habit.

Here are some tips on how to teach students to be kind:

• Model kindness yourself. This is the most important thing you can do to teach kindness to your students. Be sure to use kind words and actions in your interactions with them, as well as with other adults and children.
• Talk about kindness. Have conversations with your students about what kindness means, why it's important, and how they can show kindness in their own lives. Use books, videos, and other resources to help them learn about kindness.
• Create opportunities for kindness. Plan activities and projects that give your students a chance to practice kindness. This could involve working together on a group project, helping out a classmate who's struggling, or doing a random act of kindness for someone in the community.
• Reward kindness. When you see your students being kind, be sure to praise them for their actions. This will help them understand that kindness is valued and appreciated.
• Celebrate kindness. Take time to celebrate the acts of kindness that happen in your classroom or school. This could involve creating a kindness wall, giving out kindness awards, or simply acknowledging kind acts during class meetings.

Here are some specific activities you can do to teach kindness in the classroom:

• Have students create a kindness contract. This could involve listing specific acts of kindness that students will commit to doing each day or week.
• Play kindness games. There are many different kindness games that you can play in the classroom. These games can help students learn about kindness and practice being kind to each other.
• Read books about kindness. There are many great books about kindness that you can read to your students. These books can help them learn about the importance of kindness and see how it can make a difference in the world.
• Start a kindness club. This is a great way to get students involved in promoting kindness in your school. The kindness club could plan activities, create projects, and spread kindness throughout the school community.

Teaching kindness to students is an important part of creating a positive and supportive learning environment. By following these tips, you can help your students learn the importance of kindness and how to show kindness in their own lives. This is a skill that will help them be more successful in the classroom and in life. 

Do you teach Kindness? If so, please share.