Like any other attribute, showing empathy, kindness, and compassion is a skill that can and should be practiced daily. Kids grow up to imitate the attitudes and values of those around them. To help your child develop prosocial skills—cooperating, helping, sharing, and consoling—consider the following daily actions you can take to add more kindness to your household, your community, and the world. Here are acts of kindness to do with your preschooler.
Make Space for Kindness
Make compliments a daily part of your family mealtime routine. Once the dishes have been cleared, take a moment to give and receive a compliment about each member of the family. This ritual can also help your child’s developing brain begin to highlight positive traits and interactions. As your child has more practice identifying positive experiences, their brain is more likely to notice positive experiences when they occur. This can create a cascading effect of increased optimism and hopefulness in your child.
Share Stories of Kindness
Researchers in child development know that children grasp concepts more quickly when ideas are introduced through narrative. Instead of reminding your kids to be kind, show them the impact of kindness through both fictional and true stories. Aesop’s story of The Lion and the Mouse, the movie Pay it Forward, or Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree shows kids how a small act of kindness can make a big difference. Biographies of influential people written for kids will show your child how individuals can impact the world by showing compassion to others.
Make Doing Good Deeds a Habit
A child’s focus naturally centers around their family: the people they encounter on a daily basis. Expand your child’s circle by intentionally reaching out to others in your neighborhood or community. Many kids have a natural draw towards helping others, so they may have a few ideas about how they want to reach out. If they like art, they may want to make paintings for neighbors or teachers. If you’re making a tasty treat like cookies, make a few extra and ask your child who they’d like to share them with.
Keep Blessing Bags in Your Car
If you live in a city or a larger town, you may occasionally see unhoused individuals on street corners or benches. To help, keep blessing bags in your car that are filled with necessities like snacks, clean socks, and wet wipes. Kids can help make the bags and even add a special touch by including a picture they drew or a kind note. When you see someone who may benefit from a blessing bag, you can share one with them. This is a way to bring concrete assistance to a specific person. Passing out blessing bags is one of many acts of kindness that help kids understand that there are proactive ways to assist those around us.
Teach Kids Kindness to All Living Beings
When parents think about teaching kindness, they usually focus on actions taken towards humans. However, kindness to plants and animals is also important. Show kindness to animals as a family by fostering an animal in need, volunteering at a local animal shelter, or even bringing treats along with you on walks for neighborhood pups. Seeing a dog’s tail wag can reinforce how fun it is to be kind to others! If you see a worm on the sidewalk, relocate it to the grass. Put up a bird feeder for songbirds and give indoor plants a drink when they look a little thirsty.
Childcare That Promotes Kindness
The impact of kindness is limitless, and individual acts of kindness inspire others, creating a ripple effect. The Gardner School understands the value of providing ways for children to develop empathy by connecting with others. By investing in strong connections in our local community, we prioritize these volunteer opportunities for our staff and students.
We are committed to helping you raise compassionate kids who care for each other and the world. Schedule a visit or a virtual tour today to learn more about our warm and welcoming early childhood care.