When we think of holidays in February, we tend to focus on Valentine’s Day. While it’s nice to give and receive cards and candy, it’s also expected and can undercut the spirit of generosity. However, just a few days after Valentine’s Day is Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17th. Although we strive to be kind every day, it’s good to take a day to go out of our way to lift someone’s spirits, just because. In addition to important development skills, our Bangor child care staff at Watch Me Shine also want to teach children empathy and generosity.
Random acts of kindness are a great way to teach young children empathy and generosity. Here are a few of our favorite ideas.
Kindness Cards
We could all use an unexpected word of encouragement from time to time. Make kindness cards for your neighbors or friends with encouraging messages like “you’re special” or “you’re a good friend.” To make people feel extra special, write messages that are specific to the recipient. Compliment a neighbor on their garden or a friend on their special talent. Have the kids come up with the messages themselves and decorate the cards with their own artwork.
Say Thank You
Saying “thank you” is just basic good manners, but taking the time to say it can make someone’s day. If you take your kids out to do chores or run errands, encourage them to say thank you to the cashier at the grocery store or teller at the bank. The practice will encourage kids to make saying thank you a habit, and it will bring a smile to someone’s day.
Visit a Pet Shelter
It’s not just people who appreciate a little kindness. Animals do, too! Contact local pet shelters and ask about their policies for visiting. Many pet shelters have sweet animals who are good with kids and would love someone to play with them. Visiting a shelter is also a great way to show kids what having a pet is like if they’ve been asking for one.
Watch Me Shine | Bangor Child Care
Our Bangor child care team at Watch Me Shine understands the importance of teaching kids empathy and generosity as well as skills like reading, writing, and speech. By participating in Random Acts of Kindness Day, kids learn the value of being kind to those around them.
