US author, Eric Simmons is convinced that kindness is a trait we can develop in our children. Today he shares his 10
Most Effective Ways to Invoke Kindness in Children.
The
world we live in can sometimes be complex for young children exploring life.
Today’s society is de-humanising the humans more and more and children are
becoming insensitive towards nature, people and the environment. Our children
are the future of the earth, and if they are not taught to be kind, the world
is going to turn bitter every day.
Children learn more at young ages and those habits go on with them during their lives. Teach them to share their food, toys and belongings with their friends and even needy people on the street. Persuade them to donate any of their clothes, books or toys as it is a sweet and helpful act for the people who are in need.
2. Encourage them to Invite all Kids to Play (Including the kids that are not nice)
Encourage your kids to be nice towards children who are not so friendly, and when they are playing, invite the isolated ones to play with them as well. This will create a soft corner in their hearts and they will be more inviting towards people who are not so nice.
3. Smile at people outdoors
Children are pure and clean at heart; encourage them to smile to at least five people when they are outdoors. This will develop as a good habit and will favour them in life.
4. Teach them Empathy
Kids often think only about themselves and forget about other’s feelings. Encourage them to think of themselves in someone’s difficult situation and help that person out they way they would want to be helped.
5. Model Kindness for you and your children
Kids observe each and every detail of adults and try to copy them which is why it is important for you to be kind as well, so they can copy you and know that this is the normal behaviour.
6. Teach them to Apologise and Forgive
The simple habit of saying sorry, giving your children a chance to explain, and teaching them to give others a chance to explain will help them to learn to forgive and apologise.
7. Spread Kindness to Receive Kindness- Mantra
Incorporating this simple mantra and pointing out when something like this happens to them will strengthen their belief and will make it a strong habit in them.
Kids often think only about themselves and forget about other’s feelings. Encourage them to think of themselves in someone’s difficult situation and help that person out they way they would want to be helped.
5. Model Kindness for you and your children
Kids observe each and every detail of adults and try to copy them which is why it is important for you to be kind as well, so they can copy you and know that this is the normal behaviour.
6. Teach them to Apologise and Forgive
The simple habit of saying sorry, giving your children a chance to explain, and teaching them to give others a chance to explain will help them to learn to forgive and apologise.
7. Spread Kindness to Receive Kindness- Mantra
Incorporating this simple mantra and pointing out when something like this happens to them will strengthen their belief and will make it a strong habit in them.
8. Teach them to Praise
Try to teach your children to compliment someone on something they like about them. This will strengthen their bond with the person and lessen their chances of self-centeredness.
9. Basic Manners
Basic manners such as saying thank you and excuse me at dinner etc are important and can be encouraged in children if they are used in homes.
10. Teach them Diversity and its Benefits
Educate your children about different ethnicity and backgrounds that people belong to, and that everyone is a human being despite their differences of religion or colour. Encourage your children to share their stories and bond with children with different ethnicity so they can bond well.
Eric Simmons is a first time author of children's books.
He is a world traveller, grew up in New York but now resides on the West coast. Eric developed his passion for writing after taking a children’s book writing course years ago. He is a father of a toddler and enjoys reading to him. Eric’s career is in aviation and writing is a second passion.
After serving a brief period in military, he graduated from Southern Illinois University. Eric enjoys spending leisure time with family and travelling around the world.
Flying With Kindness is a travel adventure story about a boy name Basil and the normal sibling rivalry with his younger sister, Ava. Being kind doesn’t seem to come naturally for Basil. He perceives it as too much work. Basil’s parents struggle to encourage him to show kindness with no success.
By chance, Basil’s family meets an old lady, an encounter which set up a chain of events and teachable moments in kindness. When Basil loses his favourite teddy bear on his flight, kindness is returned to him in an unexpected way.
Try to teach your children to compliment someone on something they like about them. This will strengthen their bond with the person and lessen their chances of self-centeredness.
9. Basic Manners
Basic manners such as saying thank you and excuse me at dinner etc are important and can be encouraged in children if they are used in homes.
10. Teach them Diversity and its Benefits
Educate your children about different ethnicity and backgrounds that people belong to, and that everyone is a human being despite their differences of religion or colour. Encourage your children to share their stories and bond with children with different ethnicity so they can bond well.
When
parents encourage acts of kindness by our children, we can make a better
world.
He is a world traveller, grew up in New York but now resides on the West coast. Eric developed his passion for writing after taking a children’s book writing course years ago. He is a father of a toddler and enjoys reading to him. Eric’s career is in aviation and writing is a second passion.
After serving a brief period in military, he graduated from Southern Illinois University. Eric enjoys spending leisure time with family and travelling around the world.
Flying With Kindness is a travel adventure story about a boy name Basil and the normal sibling rivalry with his younger sister, Ava. Being kind doesn’t seem to come naturally for Basil. He perceives it as too much work. Basil’s parents struggle to encourage him to show kindness with no success.
By chance, Basil’s family meets an old lady, an encounter which set up a chain of events and teachable moments in kindness. When Basil loses his favourite teddy bear on his flight, kindness is returned to him in an unexpected way.
