Thoughtful Kids: Three simple ways to inspire more kindness
There are so many ideals, morals and values parents strive to impart on their children. Thoughtfulness is one of mine. It’s not natural for any human to be thoughtful. Thoughtfulness, to me, is taking time to consider others - friends, family and strangers - and thinking of ways to bless, love and care for them.
As a parent, I have adopted this motto: Invite the kids into it. They invite me to build legos, read books, work on puzzles, and sit in forts battling off bears. Why not invite them back? Invite them to help with dishes, fold laundry, prep dinner, and invite them in on serving and loving others. You want your kids to read more, then they should see you read more. You want your kids to help around the house? Have them chop veggies for dinner. Now, when they see me empty the dishwasher, they come on their own to put away dishes.
How are we raising up thoughtful and kind kids? I am sharing three simple rhythms and routines we have set in place to influence thoughtfulness and kindness toward others.
Our three Simple Ways:
Invite them to shop for others. When we are shopping for gifts, I have my kids help. While we shop, we talk about the person and share things we love about them. They also get to pick out gifts often and they feel so proud! I already see the fruit from this practice. My four-year-old picked out Star Wars figures for her cousin because she remembered he loved Star Wars. When she found them, she didn’t fight to keep them. Just the opposite. She couldn’t wait to have him open it.
Have them sign the cards and share a message. A rule in my house that we follow most of the time is that no card goes out the door without everyone signing it. That includes my toddlers. They’ll sit down with me and again, we will take time to talk about the person. We pray for them and share the ways we love them. The fruit from this practice is: I left a box of envelopes on their craft table and they both (4 and 2 yr old) came to me with paper in the envelopes saying “This is for babcia because I love her,” or “Card for Uncle Kurt.” My four-year-old is constantly affirming people she encounters. “I like your hair” to “I think you’re very kind and smart” to the cashier at our grocery store.
Have them create their thank you cards. After a birthday or a holiday, I will have my kids paint, color or draw on their thank you cards. This replaces me sitting at the table alone writing thank yous for them. Instead, they are putting into practice gratitude. I talk to them about what it means to receive gifts, to be thankful and ultimately, that it’s about the relationship not the gift. I created these postcards with all the art they’ve created through the years. Now, we all use these postcards when sending out cards and my kids’ are so proud to see their art on a card.
I would love to hear ways you inspire and promote thoughtfulness and kindness in your home! Drop a comment below.
with joy,
Aneta
Founder + Designer