Teaching kindness to young children can be both rewarding and fun. The Dalai Lama says Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. He emphasises that kindness should be a constant practice in our lives, regardless of the circumstances we face and our children are never to young to learn this. Here are some practical ways to instill this important value in their daily lives:

1. Model Kindness

Children learn by observing adults. Demonstrate kind behavior in your interactions with others, such as holding doors open, using polite language, and showing empathy. Share stories about your own acts of kindness or those you’ve witnessed to reinforce the message

2. Engage in Role-Playing

Use play pretend to create scenarios where children can practice kindness. For example, have them role-play comforting a friend who is sad or helping someone in need. This allows them to explore feelings and appropriate responses in a safe environment. Discuss and give examples of ways to be a good friend, i.e. be inclusive, use kind words, take turns.

3. Create Kindness Activities

Incorporate fun activities that promote kindness:

• Compliment Game: Children pass a ball and must compliment the person they throw it to.

• Kindness Jar: Each time a child performs an act of kindness, add a pom-pom or marble to the jar. Once it's full, celebrate with a special class activity

• Kindness Rocks: Paint or decorate rocks with kind messages to place around the school or in the school garden

• Friendship Bracelets: Have chidren braid friendship bracelets to gift someone in their class

4. Encourage Helping Behaviors

Ask children for help with simple tasks like handing out books, wiping the board, or carrying the sport equipment. Acknowledge their efforts with specific praise, reinforcing the idea that their actions positively impact others

5. Read Books About Kindness

Select stories that emphasize themes of empathy and kindness. After reading, discuss the characters’ actions and feelings, helping children connect the story to real-life situations. Find inspiration for books to share in my blog post here

6. Practice Gratitude

Encourage children to express gratitude regularly. This could be through writing thank-you notes or simply discussing what they appreciate about others during morning group time.

7. Volunteer Together

Participate in community service as a class, whether it’s picking up rubbish around the school or returning books to the library shelves. This teaches children the importance of giving back and seeing the impact of their kindness firsthand

8. Discuss Kindness Challenges

Talk about situations where it might be difficult to be kind, such as when someone is unkind to them. Encourage them to think about how they can respond positively despite challenges or join The Great Kindness Challenge for 2025 here

9. Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness

Create opportunities for children to perform random acts of kindness, such as leaving positive notes for classmates or helping someone carry something heavy. Discuss how these small gestures can make a big difference

10. Reflect on Kindness Experiences

After engaging in kind acts, encourage children to reflect on how it made them feel and how it affected others. This helps reinforce the emotional rewards associated with being kind

You can find further ideas on my Kindness Pinterest board here.

By incorporating these practical strategies into daily life, parents and educators can effectively teach young children the importance of kindness, fostering a more compassionate generation.

What activities do you do with your class to teach the value of kindness? We would love it if you joined the conversation and left a comment below.