At Cy-Fair Montessori School, we value kindness. We teach our students to be kind to one another at school, and we know that parents do everything they can to foster kindness at home. Sometimes, it isn’t clear exactly what you can do to instill this virtue into your kids. Of course, there’s only so much control you have over your little one’s personality, but by demonstrating the importance of kindness and encouraging kind behavior, it’s more likely that it will all fall into place. Here are some tips for teaching your child the value of kindness.
how to teach your child to be kind
set the example
Children learn from what you do more than what you say. You can tell your child all you want that they must be kind but if you don’t practice what you preach, your message will fall on deaf ears. Set an example of kindness for your child. Hold the door for strangers, show empathy and compassion to your spouse, and demonstrate good manners. This will go a long way toward teaching your child how to behave in a caring way.
send kind thoughts
This is a simple exercise that can encourage your child to think in a kind way. Practice sending kind thoughts to loved ones. For example, if you have someone in your life who is struggling, ask your child to join you in sending kind thoughts their way. You might go around the dinner table and have everyone say a kind thought to send to someone else.
practice gratitude
Being kind is easy when you have an attitude of abundance. Make gratitude a central value in your family, and it will be simple for your child to adopt a kind perspective. Try having every member of the family say one thing they’re grateful for every day. By focusing on what you have instead of what you don’t, it creates an abundance mindset, which means there is more to share with the people around you.
smile more
This is a simple one, but it can be powerful. One smile can change the course of someone’s day. You don’t have to do much to spread kindness in this world; just sharing your smile adds your own bit of light to the universe. Smiling at strangers as they walk by, at your partner, and your child can demonstrate to them the importance of sharing your warmth with others.
volunteer together
This is a fantastic way to bond as a family and show your child exactly how their kindness can have a positive impact on the community. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities for families, such as soup kitchens, toy drives, and park clean ups. You can check out VolunteerMatch to find opportunities in your area.
Being a member of a kind community can go a long way towards fostering kindness in a child. Because of our continued focus on creating positive citizens, you can rest assured that your kid learns important values by attending our Montessori preschool in Houston. If you’re looking for an educational opportunity for your child, contact us today to learn more.