Kindness. One important thing that can make many lives better, and many individuals happier.
Learning to be kind, or not, begins in a child’s early years. It is a lesson to never stop learning over and over again. Check out this short list of things that can help you teach your child to be kind, and can help all of us no matter what our age!
- Good manners. Polite people are usually kind people. Make sure that you encourage (many moms or dads have demanded) your children to say please and thank you. It is a simple gesture that establishes a pleasant standard of behaviour. Be a role model for your kid. Be polite yourself, and your kid will follow.
“Treat everyone with politeness and kindness, not because they are nice, but because you are.” – Roy Bennet - Being aware of others and their feelings is the first step to understanding them. The parent tested model is ‘putting yourself in someone else’s shoes’.
‘Explaining and practicing the idea of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes creates the first awareness of empathy.’ - Be aware of cyberbullying. It’s new ground for everyone, but bullying in a new world is still bullying. The internet never forgets, and while cyberbullying hurts the victim, it can also hurt the bully in the future. Read our article on rules for a safe internet use.
- Most of all, SMILE! Smiles brighten up your day and make people around you feel better too! Smiles are contagious, so when you’re feeling grumpy, smile for yourself and others!
Kind people are happy people. Let’s be kind!