Parents and caregivers are often very intentional about teaching their children academic skills, such as letter recognition or counting to ten. In addition to academic skills, it’s important to assist children in developing social-emotional skills that will help them thrive interpersonally. One of these skills is developing kindness and empathy towards others. While these skills may seem inherent, research shows that developing empathy is actually a concrete skill that benefits from direct instruction and repetition. To get this conversation started in your house, try reading one of these children’s books about kindness with your preschooler. You may discover a language for discussion and encouraging kind behavior in your family.
The Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson
With stunning illustrations and a diverse cast of characters, “The Last Stop on Market Street” shares the story of CJ and his Nana as they ride the bus together. Nana’s positive, kind demeanor helps CJ see the beauty of the world around him, even in the middle of a rainstorm. Winner of a Newbery Medal and a Caldecott Medal, this New York Times Bestseller is a visual and narrative treat for everyone who reads it.
How Kind! by Mary Murphy
This barnyard tale of sharing and kindness helps children understand how individual acts of kindness can have an exponential effect. When Hen gives Pig one of her eggs, she begins a kindness revolution that benefits the entire farm!
Tomorrow I’ll Be Kind by Jessica Hische
In the sweet follow-up to her bestseller “Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave,” “Tomorrow I’ll Be Kind” tells the story of a bunny learning to give her best to others. It’s told in an approachable rhyming format with dreamlike pastel illustrations.
Words and Your Heart by Kate Jane Neal
Kate Jane Neal’s picture book tells a tale that directly connects the kind words we say to the feelings in another person’s heart. If your child needs extra practice using kind words, this could make for a great bedtime story.
Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud and David Messing
To help clarify for young children what “be kind” means, this book comes up with a handy metaphor for daily kindness: the happiness bucket. Everyone has an emotional well-being bucket that they carry into the world with them each day. Kind words and actions help fill the bucket with more happiness, while unkind words and actions deplete the happiness bucket. Children will learn that being kind fills their personal buckets as well as their friends and family. The concept of “bucket filling” and “bucket dipping” can be a gentle way to steer children towards showing more kindness to others.
Reading Together and Growing Together
Reading together can foster emotional closeness and open conversations between you and your child. The Gardner School helps your child develop intellectually, physically, emotionally, and socially with our mix of free play time, fun academic activities, and our warm and welcoming staff. To learn why parents choose The Gardner School to help their children to grow and learn, contact us to learn more or to schedule a virtual tour.