As a parent, I believe one of my biggest responsibilities is to help my children develop their values, calibrate their moral compass, and become good humans. We have eighteen years, more or less, to help them while they’re under our roof – but the earlier you get to work, the easier it’ll be to guide them in the right direction.
One of the most important values you can instill in your children is that of kindness. There’s no replacement for kindness – it doesn’t matter how smart or rich you are, if you aren’t kind, you’re going to have a hard time in the world. And there’s no reason to be unkind to others. After all, we’re all facing our own personal hardships as we navigate life. Why not do what you can to brighten a stranger’s day or make life easier for someone else in some small way?
If you’re determined to help your little ones learn compassion but aren’t quite sure how to make it happen, here are a few of my favorite ways to inspire kindness in kids:
LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
Your little ones are watching your every move, and they are continually learning from the interactions you have with others and the decisions you make. One of the easiest ways you can inspire kindness in your children is to demonstrate kindness in your everyday life. Hold the door for strangers. Be a courteous driver. Tip well. There are plenty of opportunities in your day-to-day routine to show a friend or a stranger a little kindness and consideration. Take advantage of them, and use them as learning opportunities for your children.
FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO VOLUNTEER.
A great way to help your kids really understand kindness is to help them find tangible, actionable ways to help others. Volunteer opportunities can be a great way to accomplish this. Collect coats or cans and bring them to a local donation center, or help sort food at a nearby food bank.
If you can’t find volunteer opportunities to sign up for in your own community, look for creative ways to give back and show kindness to others from the comfort of home. Making cards for kids in hospitals or sending care packages to soldiers fighting abroad can be a great way to make an impact on someone who could really use some cheering up.
CHOOSE TOYS THAT EMPOWER AND INSTILL POSITIVE VALUES.
Kids learn an incredible amount through play, so it’s essential to equip your children with toys to engage with that will instill kindness and positive values. While there’s nothing wrong with letting them keep a few action figures around the house, there are far more meaningful toys you can invest in, to mold your little humans into kind, charitable adults one day.
This year, I’m excited to gift my little one a doll from Kind Culture Co., a company whose mission is to inspire and empower children to create a kinder world. If that isn’t a message I can get behind, I don’t know what is! Their dolls come equipped with kindness kits, which contain tokens your child can give to those who could use a little love or gratitude, as well as some ideas to help them find ways to show kindness to others. I also love the fact that Kind Culture donates a doll to a child in need for every doll purchased, meaning I’m able to brighten the spirits of not one, but two, children with this gift.
When it comes to inspiring kindness in your children, you don’t need to solve a puzzle or overcome any great hurdles to do it. You just need to lead by example and find ways to instill kindness and charity into your day-to-day lives. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to making it happen!
