Kindness is an important character trait to have as an individual. Kindness is often considered as all soft and fuzzy, but there can be surprising benefits to being nice and teaching children this such as boosting your children’s health, reducing anxiety, enhancing self esteem and happiness.
For others they believe that kindness is innate, that we are born with it, and the environment in which we live in can influence how it is developed or hindered. So whatever our outlook or our beliefs are, kindness is something to nurture within our children.
Below are some suggestions on how to nurture kindness in young children.
- Role Model
You and you alone are your child’s greatest teacher within their life. Everyday you are modelling a message, and your children are watching and learning from everything you say and do. Are you modelling the message you want to convey? How you treat yourself, your child and those around you such as family and friends overall will be the greatest lesson of kindness that you can display for your children. It can be the simplest way they will pick up the trait without resisting it.
- Being Unique
There are many ways in which we can be kind. By encouraging your child to follow their heart/dreams and express their kindness through what comes naturally for them. In the overall broader picture, each and everyone of us has a contribution to express kindness to each other on a daily basis.
- Empathy
It is important for you children for them to be able to show empathy to what others must be feeling. Empathy allows us to see beyond ourselves and opens us up to kindness.
Amanda Ogden is from Sydney Australia, and has spent the past 13 years working within the welfare industry in both administration and case management assisting people with mental health issues, mild intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injuries, drug & alcohol, homelessness gain employment. She also loves travelling, creating jewellery, music, friends and family.
Defying Shadows 