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Foster Empathy in Kids with These Simple But Powerful Acts of Kindness

Child Development Classics, Social-Emotional Development · November 6, 2022

{Sneak peek: Acts of kindness for kids to help them grow in empathy and emotional intelligence. Research-backed but easy ideas to bring into the daily routine.}

I thought I had done what “good moms” do. I signed the kids up for activities. Baseball, basketball, Cub Scouts…all the “right” things. I helped them set up playdates with their friends. 

Then, one day I looked at our schedule. 

I had a revelation: I had just set up a world that revolved solely around them. Although my goal was to raise kind kids who helped others and thought about others’ needs, this was not what our schedule showed. 

raising a kind child

Related reading: The Reverse Bucket List Summer: Helping Kids Grow in Gratitude

Is there space to think of others? Can we incorporate some simple acts of kindness for kids into our routine? What can I do to help them grow in empathy and emotional intelligence?

I was instantly reminded of the articles I’d read from the Making Caring Common project. My revelation, it seems, is one that researchers have found too. In an eye-opening study of parents and children, they found that while the vast majority of parents say that value kindness in their children, about 80% of the kids in the survey said their parents are more concerned about achievement or happiness than them caring for others.

Kids in the study were 3 times more likely to agree (than disagree) with this statement: “My parents are prouder if I get good grades in my classes than if I’m a caring community member in class and school.”

Yikes!

In other words, our words are not translating into action. Our focus on achievement and success is drowning much of what we might be saying about kindness.

It’s a hard realization to face. The core findings of the study are summed up well in its title, “The Children We Mean to Raise.”

{Note: this post contains affiliate links. I earn a commission (at no added cost to you) when you purchase through these links.}

Perfect for Pinning:

The Science of Kindness

The good news is that altering our path is not hard. Each day we can help foster kindness and bolster our kids’ emotional intelligence. From an early age, kids are wired for kindness. Babies as young as 9 months old gravitate toward the “kind” puppet in lab studies. However, for this mindset to continue, it has to be reinforced as kids grow.

Related reading: Kids’ Emotional Intelligence: Why Low-Tech Skills are the Key to Success in a High-Tech World

Modeling kindness in our daily lives is one of the best ways to reinforce empathetic thinking. As eloquently pointed out in the book, The Yes Brain, the part of the brain that helps control empathetic thinking is one that can be developed and trained over time. By pointing out the feelings of others and practicing empathetic interactions, this part of the brain becomes stronger in kids. 

Even in our high-tech world, emotional interaction and kindness still matter. It makes for a better world, and research also tells us it helps make kids happier and more successful…even in those high-tech jobs. Although coding computers may one day be automated, skills like communication, empathy and emotional intelligence will never be perfectly imitated by a robot. These skills are what make us human.

 

Related reading: Social-Emotional Development: The Ultimate Guide for Parents

Easy Kindness Activities

Purpose, not Pressure

It’s easy to forget on a daily basis, but we have a limited amount of time with our kids under our roof. Pointing this out, however, is not about feeling pressure to make things perfect; it’s about making good use of the time we have.

So I put together a collection of easy kindness activities for kids that we can incorporate into our daily routine.

social emotional activities for kids
Instant Download: Emotion Camp for Kids

Acts of Kindness for Kids:

  • Kindness rocks–decorate stones and place them in surprising places for people to find
kindness rocks
Kit to create Kindness Rocks
  • Bake cookies or muffins and deliver them to local heroes (e.g., police, firefighters, etc.)
  • Donate used books to a nonprofit group like Reach Out and Read, a children’s hospital, or a children’s shelter
  • Make snack bags to give to individuals experiencing homelessness
  • Participate in Camp Kindness–6 weeks of kindness, empathy-building activities from the Kindness Elves
  • Read books that promote empathy and ask kids a lot of questions about how the characters are feeling (see my Pinterest board for book ideas).
  • Make drawings or signs to post in your windows (facing out) as a friendly greeting to neighbors

Want more ideas for acts of kindness? Sign up here to receive an expanded printable list FREE:

Acts of Kindness for Kids

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**PLUS you’ll receive ongoing strategies for confidently nurturing your child’s emotional development

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Need more ideas for fostering kindness in your children?

Check out this post: Fun, Meaningful Kids’ Gifts that Promote Kindness

Thanks for reading 🙂

.

More resources for fostering kindness in kids:

camp kindness
Camp Kindness from The Kindness Elves
the yes brain
The Yes Brain
unselfie book
UnSelfie

Filed Under: Child Development Classics, Social-Emotional Development Tagged With: child development, emotions, kindness, parenting, social emotional development

Amy Webb, Ph.D.

Writer and mom of two who brings academic child development and parenting information into the lives of ordinary parents who can use it in their daily lives.

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Amy Webb
As a mom of two young boys, I've seen first-hand how research-based child development information, combined with intuition, can guide you through your parenting journey. Although I have a Ph.D.in Human Development and Family Sciences, many of my real parenting discoveries have come through my experience. I believe parenting with confidence comes from knowledge; parenting with grace comes from insight. Join me on this parenting journey of learning and discovery

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