Raising Thoughtful Kids: Simple Ways to Model and Share Kindness

Last night, I took the kids out for a quick dinner, and like any prepared mom, I tossed our favorite game—Spot It—into my bag. It’s our go-to for a laughs and a little friendly competition.

After we ate, we played at the table, completely in our own world—until we heard a little voice from the next table:
"Mom, they're playing again! They must love it."

She wasn’t wrong. A simple game kept us connected, kept the phones away, and turned an ordinary dinner into a memory. It’s the little things—cards in the mail, a thoughtful gift, or a game that brings people together.

But the story doesn’t end there.

As we packed up to leave, her mom mentioned she’d made a mental note of the game because she wanted to have more game nights with her family. Sweet, right? But it gets even better.

As we drove away, I casually mentioned to my kids that we had another Spot It tucked in our car’s activity bin. Cue the immediate, passionate pleas from the backseat:
"Can we go back and give it to them?!"

So, we turned around, grabbed the game, and gifted it to the family. A simple moment—but one that stuck with me.

Here’s the thing: kids learn thoughtfulness and generosity not by being told, but by experiencing it. It creates a ripple—one small act inspiring the next. That’s exactly why I’m so passionate about the GWJ Kids’ Stationery Kit. It’s not about what kids have—it’s about who they are. Thoughtful. Kind. Joy-inspiring.

And sometimes, the simplest things—a card, a note, a little game—can start that ripple.