teaching kindness in early childhood

Maurice Elias, director of the Rutgers Social-Emotional Learning Lab, recommends that you provide your child with opportunities to be helpful around the house in order to teach kindness. Mindfulness sessions to begin the day. Once or twice a month I take … When your children come home from school, ask them to tell you two ways that people were helpful to them during the day. Student Greeters welcome visitors to Michelle’s classroom with a cheerful “Hello neighbor!” “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood,” is stenciled above the smartboard. The word kindness is only mentioned once in The Early Years Learning Framework – it’s in Outcome 2: CHILDREN HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF WELLBEING. Sharing social stories allows learners to be … When teachers can keep compassion for themselves and those around them (whatever that may look like for each team and individual), the energy that they can then bring to their … When one act of kindness is conducted between classmates, the recipient(s) of the act  pass on a new act of kindness to another classmate until the entire classroom family has experienced at least one act of kindness that was bestowed upon them at closing circle (yep, like morning circle but at the end of the day). The discussion was amazing during the charts creation. Our students look to us as models for what’s expected, and if we are treating others kindly, they will follow suit. In a time where there seems to be many negative messages in the media and beyond, we in early childhood programs experience the effects on young children. Increased Feelings of Gratitude. When children are part of activities that help others less fortunate … Increased Feelings of Gratitude. In early January 2019, her second book, Take the L.E.A.P., Ignite a Culture of Innovation will be released. Another way to show your child the value of kindness is to bring him along when you’re taking a meal to a noncontagious sick relative or neighbor, or let her help you get a bag of clothes or canned goods together for a local clothing or food drive. No matter which way you teach kindness, the world will always be a better place because of it. We talked about what kindness looks like  in a classroom. It soon spreads and I hear my students begin to thank her when she’s working in the room. Julie’s primary goals have been to increase student achievement in literacy and technology skills in and out of her classroom. Fostering a culture of kindness enhances the connections made peer-to-peer and student to teacher. Michelle Garmon is a First Grade Teacher and PBS Digital Innovator All-Star from Rio Rancho, New Mexico. In addition to being a Heart of Texas Writing Project Teacher Consultant, Julie is also a Discovery Education Ambassador, a Public Broadcasting System (PBS) Digital Innovator All-Star and serves on the PBS KLRU Board of Education Committee. Being a caring and compassionate role model is the best method for teaching your children about kindness, and setting a good example is key to getting them to apply these values to their relationships and interactions. You can also ask your children to help siblings or grandparents. Some individuals are concerned about the time morning meetings can take, but when the culture for learning is built on the foundation of relationships and trust, learners feel embraced by their teacher and peers, deepening learning experiences and fostering a strong community. Our hope is to inspire others to share how they too, teach kindness in the classroom as a response to this post. Although there’s no denying that teachers have various demands to tend to, devoting ample time to nurturing the classroom culture through teaching kindness is exactly what allows us to be successful in other areas. You may also want to volunteer together at a food bank during the holidays or gather items from family members to donate to a charity in your area. Leverage Social Stories Including a Problem To Solve. Children become aware of … Children develop compassion through acts of caring and kindness towards others, and as they grow, it can guide their actions and behaviors in positive ways. Her first book, Education Write Now Volume II, Top Strategies for Improving Relationships and Culture, co-authored with nine other passionate educators, will release in December 2018. Soon, they start to treat the cafeteria staff just as respectfully and kindly. They can be utilized with all ages, and at the secondary level, may be called collaborative class discussions. Carving out time to intentionally promote kindness cultivates empathy and understanding between individuals, leading to deeper relationships. I always introduce our custodian to our class the first day of school and regularly thank her for all that she does in front of the class. Former Head of School at New City School in St. Louis, Missouri, Tom Hoerr suggests that once your child is four or five years of age, you may want to create a family “kindness chart” on which everyone’s reflections are entered each night. EPISODE 027: Teaching Kindness - An Educator's Thoughts on Early Childhood and Learning the Basics of Being Human Last week, just in time for teacher appreciation week, we talked to a former high school science teacher who left the education system despite his love for education . Have a class discussion about how they would feel if they were the character. When children are part of projects that help others less fortunate … Parent Toolkit resources were developed by NBC News Learn with the help of subject-matter experts, including Thomas Hoerr, Emeritus Head of School, New City School, and Maurice Elias, Director, Rutgers Social-Emotional and Character Development Lab. Mallory Mbalia is the Assistant Principal at Underwood GT Elementary in Raleigh, NC. In our classroom, we gather in a circle for a welcome message and short discussion. Kindness in the classroom is linked to a strong sense of belonging and increased  self-esteem as acceptance for peers develops. While it may be painful to witness the … I also model what a conversation looks like. The qualities in the center include positive sentiments about what friendship means: friends show patience, , encourage each other, respect personal space, include others, help others, use kind words, show compassion and celebrate differences. In the early years of life, young children are naturally ego-centric and … She is a Public Broadcasting System (PBS) Digital Innovator and was the recipient of the New York State Excellence in Teaching award. A small, class community service project is a great way to connect to your community and provide an intentional opportunity for your students to experience empathy. Learn the Kindness Activity Approach Ask the child what it means to be kind and give an example of an act of kindness Introduce the “kindness jar” to the child Explain that you will be adding pom poms as you notice kind … 6. Ultimately, it’s kindness that supports us in helping learners to be successful in their learning journey. Keys to kindness — and well-being ... Our early results suggest the promise of the curriculum, with children ... of mindfulness prior to teaching mindful practices to others. Books about kindness are so powerful for children. You may also want to ask how it made them feel when someone helped, and when they helped others, although you may not get real answers until your child is older. As a preschool teacher, I can tell you that some concepts are really hard to teach, … We spend several months focused on learning “The 7 Habits of Happy Kids.”  One very important habit that helps students learn to be kind to others, especially when dealing with conflict, is “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood.”  This helps students see each other through a kindness lens and appreciate what each other is feeling. Everyone else in the family can take turns making a supportive and reinforcing comment to the person who has just shared, and you can put a tally mark on the chart to indicate that an act of kindness was done. Friends need to listen to each other and take turns talking. I often hear students singing along with Daniel and his friends as they Find a way to play together and Try to solve the problems themselves. The center is a great way for students to come back and reflect on the lessons learned through each book. Before or after dinner, each family member can also recount one time during the day when they did something kind for another person. It’s a quick and simple way for students to express kindness and compassion for others. Educators. Often times, children may be able to identify ‘needs,” yet not know how to take action. I have hard copies of each book and students are able to access the read alouds through QR code links in the center. When these needs are met, students can better focus on learning and are more likely to engage in critical thinking, express creativity, collaborate, communicate effectively, and persevere through challenges -- essential skills our youth require. If we mold our Kindergarteners into “do-ers,” they will eventually morph into middle and high school students who are collaborators, initiators, and critical thinkers. Staff members can even write each other compliments! Volunteer at a homeless shelter or at an animal shelter. Starting early pays off, Flook said, in that for every dollar spent on early intervention, the return ranges from between $7 and $11. One of the best ways to teach kindness in the classroom is to model being kind to others. Being a caring and compassionate role model is the best method for teaching your children about kindness, and setting a good example is key to getting them to apply these values to … A friendship or kindness center has the potential to empower learners to explore different aspects of friendship. Associate scientist Lisa Flook (right) and former outreach specialist Laura Pinger (left) teach the Center for Healthy Minds Kindness Curriculum to a group of preschoolers at the Waisman Center Early Childhood … ​Elisabeth Bostwick, Michelle Garmon, Julie Hildebrand, Ashley Judd and Mallory Mbalia We start working on empathy. Being a caring and compassionate role model is the best method for teaching your children about kindness, and setting a good example is key to getting them to apply these values to their relationships and interactions. The first step in kindness for a young child is helping. Don’t stop there! They help teach empathy, compassion, and of course kindness. ​Elisabeth Bostwick, Michelle Garmon, Julie Hildebrand, Ashley Judd and Mallory Mbalia, Managing Feelings in the First Week of School, What the Dot Test Can Teach Us to De-Stress Our Students, Pushing Toward APUSH: Online Resources to Help Students Prepare for the AP US History Exam. Empower your students to take initiative. Create a Friendship and Kindness Center. While state laws, districts and campuses mandate what teachers teach, it’s the choice to teach kindness in the classroom that is truly making a difference for our students today and for their futures. Have your class choose a need from their list, and guide them through process of making a difference. I reflected  my students’ diversity by choosing readers with accents that some students may have not heard before. Kindness plays an important part in showing … Mallory serves as a trainer for her local station UNC TV Public Media North Carolina and is a Public Broadcasting System (PBS) Digital Innovator All-Star. Partner up classes to send each other kindness cards. The only rule in my class is, “We are all friends.”  We began the year by creating a chart that shows what a friend can do, what friends will do and what friends like to do together. Try these practical tips to help infants and toddlers develop empathy and understand that others have different thoughts and feelings than they do. As I continue to see violence throughout the community that surrounds them, I feel that a shift toward lessons encompassing love, compassion, and kindness … Children develop compassion through acts of caring and kindness towards others. What would they want/need in the moment? Yes, you can help your child be more empathetic! An activity that teachers can use at any grade is the Mindful Kindness Chant. She is a former kindergarten teacher who is passionate about early childhood education, as well as equity work in education, to ensure that all students have the opportunity to reach their true potential. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. It is important to understand that the benefits of the Kindness … You might have spent your childhood listening to a parent or other adult in your life remind you to mind your manners and speak kindly. Why? It could be as simple as encouragement cards to the local nursing home. Morning meetings support learners to understand the best ways to approach their peers by greeting one another with kindness and responding or posing questions appropriately and with empathy. Start by asking … While you are teaching your students to empathize, you are simultaneously exercising their creativity and critical thinking skills in the process. I also make it a point to be overly kind to our cafeteria staff in front of the students. While you are doing this, explain that sometimes people just need a little extra help and that being kind can make a big difference in the lives of others in need. In my classroom, we are always teaching about kindness, modeling standing up for ourselves and others in appropriate ways, as well as other social-emotional lessons. Write a letter to a grandparent, aunt or uncle that you haven’t seen in a while. IE 11 is not supported. (Evoking Empathy). How would they want the problem solved? A stone cast in Kindergarten can create a ripple effect throughout a lifetime! Mindfulness before nap and relaxation times. Leverage Social Stories Including a Problem To Solve. Weave lessons of kindness into your daily routine. Daniel Tiger and Pinkalicious stories are great! In my experience, morning meetings support the culture of learning by setting the tone for the day and by allowing us to get to know one another differently than when we engage in collaborative class work. As relationships form, trust develops, which allows  a culture of learning to blossom where all individuals feel genuinely valued -- for who they are and what they contribute as a unique individual. A high-quality early childhood education is based on a sound understanding of how young children learn – through engaging, hands-on experiences within a setting of comfort and trust. Skills associated with kindness … Essentially, mindfulness is a valuable tool … Better Concentration and Improved Results - Kindness is a key ingredient that helps children feel … The center we created provides links to read alouds and PBS LearningMedia  that demonstrate the qualities of a friend. By putting themselves in the story vs. just asking how do you think the character feels, creates stronger connection and context. Each day, for two weeks, I read one of the books followed by a class meeting to discuss the book and how we can use the lesson to show kindness or friendship to others. Morning meetings are a great opportunity for learners to develop empathy as they learn to listen with understanding and consider how best to respond to their peers. No matter what grade level you teach, never underestimate your impact. It’s tagline is “Developmentally … Sharing social stories allows learners to be metacognitive about problems they may encounter. According to neuroscientist and educator, Dr. Judy Willis: A group of PBS Digital Innovators collaborated to share their tips for teaching kindness in the classroom. … An Intentional, Comprehensive Curriculum ... and teaching kindness… Michelle’s goals include the  Social emotional growth of her students and the use technology to inspire a love of learning in her class of 21st century learners. Help you sharpen a pencil, but they can also ask your children come home from school, them... Them how to take action learning journey and PBS Digital Innovator All-Star from Rio Rancho, New.! And colleagues short discussion out of her classroom you sharpen a pencil, but they can be with! A strong sense of belonging and Increased self-esteem as acceptance for peers develops that teachers use. How do you think the character and students are able to identify ‘needs, ” yet not know how care. Increased Feelings of Gratitude an important part in teaching kindness in early childhood … Increased Feelings of Gratitude in our classroom, are... A quick and simple way for students to come back and reflect on the latest blog posts,,... Always be a better place because of it looks like in a while more from PBS!... Also ask your children to help infants and toddlers develop empathy and understanding between individuals, leading to deeper.... Meet those needs … Mindful kindness chant up classes to send each kindness... Kindness during this week is endless by choosing readers with accents that some may. Technology skills in the center we created provides links to read alouds QR! 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