Be kind. Encourage compassion. Inspire creativity. Nurture courage. Grow your mind.
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and the holiday is a great time to reinforce kindness with your kids. Make the most of the days leading up to Valentine’s Day by encouraging your kids to show appreciation to their friends, teachers and family through various acts of compassion and kindness! Check out this list of kid-friendly, simple acts of kindness for inspiration.
Nothing shows love and adoration for others more than a homemade card! While the digital age has taken over much of our lives, a homemade card allows children of all ages to express their own creativity with words and/or drawings and make their friends, classmates and family feel special.
Kids love to celebrate Valentine’s Day with their classmates at school. What better way to show your love for your friends and teachers than by sharing some holiday-themed treats? From heart-shaped cookies to Valentine’s Day themed candy, you can’t go wrong!
Complimentary words of affirmation are an easy way for children to express their feelings with their family and friends. Encourage your children to think of why they admire or enjoy spending time with their siblings or friends. Simple phrases such as, “You are talented,” “You are amazing,” or “You are loved,” are great options for kids to use during the holiday.
Asking children to assist their parents in small tasks like unloading the dishwasher, taking out the trash, or even cleaning their rooms allows them to grow their appreciation for everything their caregivers do for them on a daily basis!
Everyone deserves to feel included! By encouraging your kids to sit with someone new at lunch, they practice inclusion while making someone feel seen and special.
Kind words go a long way for anyone, but especially kids! Leaving a sticky note on a classmate’s desk with an encouraging note can brighten their day and make them feel extra special this Valentine’s Day. Here are some ideas for encouraging sticky notes:
Going the extra mile when doing simple tasks means more than you think. Teaching kids the value in these kind acts is an important life lesson, and it may just turn someone’s day around!
You know what they say – sharing is caring! Sharing is a crucial life skill for children to learn as it helps them understand the importance of compromise and fairness. Encouraging your kids to share a toy with a friend is an easy way for them to practice caring through sharing.
It is always important to take the time to reach out to relatives, whether it’s just to catch up on their lives or let them know you’re grateful for them! Kids can have a parent or older sibling record a video message to send to their relatives to put a smile on their faces for Valentine’s Day.
Are your bookshelves overflowing with children’s books? Maybe books your kids have grown out of? Consider giving them the opportunity to select a few books to donate to your local library so other children can enjoy their favorite stories as much as they do!
Smiling is contagious. In fact, smiling is proven to boost childrens’ immune systems, relieve stress, and help grow new friendships. Smiling is a simple way to show kindness to anyone you see.
A creative and crafty way for kids to show their love is to make a homemade gift for a special someone. This not only gives them the opportunity to think of someone they’re grateful for but also encourages thoughtfulness and creativity as they decide what the person may like as a gift.
We hope you enjoy spreading love through these acts of kindness with your kids this Valentine’s Day season. For more ideas on how to teach kids about kindness, compassion and curiosity, follow Curious B.E.I.N.G.s on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to the Curious B.E.I.N.G.s newsletter.
