Teaching Kids To Be Kind

Charlotte Menke

9 years ago

[tps_header]Do you struggle with how to begin teaching kids to be kind? It’s not quite the same as teaching them good manners, although it’s similar. This isn’t about “Thank You” and “Excuse Me.” This is something more intangible – how do you teach your child to be kind when there is no solid word, or phrase or pattern to give them.

Table of contents

Teaching Kids To Be Kind

How do you teach your child to be kind?

Being kind is not just a one-time act for anyone and it’s not always the same thing in different situations. Teaching kids to be kind means that you have to teach them:

Empathy and Compassion
Right and Wrong
Fairness
Decision-making skills

All of these factors come to play when your child acts either kindly or unkindly. Along with all these skills, modeling good behavior is a number one parenting goal. By modeling kindness, your child can begin to see it in action and learn how to be kind themselves. The results will be seeing your child exemplify a kind spirit toward others around them. For some parents, teaching kids kindness may also be a part of teaching them what compassion for other individuals is.

Also interesting:

New Year's Eve With Kids: Family-friendly Ideas For The Turn Of The Year

Here is what other moms have to say about teaching kids to be kind.

Advice and Stories from Real Moms

Random Acts of Kindness

I really liked the idea of doing something kind each day leading up to Christmas. I also thought this was a wonderful way to help instill the spirit of the season in my family. I didn’t want them to think Christmas is all about collecting toys. For my Christmas calendar, I only included items that school-aged children could do without help. An adult might have to step in to act as delivery driver or provide a stamp, but that’s it. – Corinne from Wondermom Wannabe

Download the free printable Random Acts of Kindness Calendar for Kids from Wondermom Wannabe

Teach by example

I think you have to teach by example. I am kind to my children, and in return, they have become very kind young ladies! – Lauren from Mom Home Guide

Books about Kindness

Harry The Happy Mouse: Teaching children to be kind to each other. What Does It Mean To Be Kind? Kindness Is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler The Kindness Quilt The Berenstain Bears: Kindness Counts

Also interesting:

Introducing A New Baby To The Family (Parenting Lounge #5)

Model good behavior

We work on this through modeling kind behavior, providing social interaction with other children and by reading books that promote kindness. A grumpy toddler can still be unkind, though. – Donella from Gluesticks and Gumdrops

They will mimic you

Your kids mimic you. If you’re kind, they’ll see that. – Albion from AlbionGould.com

They learn by example

Children learn by example. When “you” come out of your child’s mouth, you’ll realize how important your example is. Be kind, tell them to be kind, show them what kindness is. – Valerie from Occasionally Crafty

Lead by example

I think that the most important thing is to lead by example, by being kind to them as well as people that you encounter through the day. – Nikki from Play Learn Every Day

Thank you, Moms!

Teaching kids kindness, love, compassion, integrity and all of those other virtues of good character is one of the most important things we can do as parents. Teaching kids virtues like kindness is truly all about sharing great examples in your own life, doing kind things in front of them and helping them to become compassionate for others needs.

Also interesting:

Jealousy Among Siblings

Welcome to the Parenting Lounge!

You can also download the free ebook “Inside The Parenting Lounge” where I collected the top ten parenting lounge posts and packaged them in a PDF ebook.