Kindness makes the world a happier place. Too often we try to lower a child’s anxiety or give in to whining. KIndness encourages a child to look outward and think like Jesus. That curbs selfishness and helps a child discover joy of giving smilies and helping people. Try a few activities that share how kindness works.

Drop a leaf and a rock into water. The leaf floats and gently touches the water. The rock causes ripples and disturbs the water, and then sinks. That’s the difference between kind and angry words. One gives the person a gentle touch, like a soft kiss. The other disturbs the person, pushes into their day and the words often sink in as hard reminders.

Too often people can be like angry birds trying to boss and change others without kindness.

Shine a flashlight onto a mirror and watch the light bounce back. Kind words reflect a heart full of light. Kind words often cause a person to pass on kind words to someone else. The kindness seems to bounce from one person to another.

Chat about being kind. How is talking back not being kind (or respectful)? How does forgiveness help us be kind? How does an encouraging word soften our hearts so we respond with kindness?

Start a list of simple ways to be kind, like letting someone else take the first turn in a game, writing a note to tell someone something you like about him or her, or helping someone when you notice they could use an extra hand. Here are some ideas:

• Smile at each person you see.
• Notice if anyone drops something and pick it up.
• Open a door for someone.
• Ask a person how they are really doing and if you can pray for him.
• Hug a loved one or friend.
• Let someone else take the first turn in a game.
• Compliment people for their great smiles, outfit, or pretty eyes.
• Thank people for their kind actions or words.
• Read in the Bible Jesus being kind such as feeding 5000 or healing someone and then chat about His kindness.

Thanks for dropping in and add you ideas on how children can be kind.

I’m KAren Whiting, author of 34 books and a mom and grandma.

Check out devotions that provide opportunities to talk about kindness. Here are a few I wrote.

If you do not already subscribe to this blog, please consider joining us!

#christianchidlrensauthors #childrensbooks #karenwhiting