Teach your child to spread positivity and kindness.
February is the shortest month but is packed full of holidays, from Valentine’s Day to Presidents’ Day. February is also National Random Acts of Kindness Month, making it the perfect opportunity to reinforce compassion and empathy in your child.
Performing a random act of kindness is exactly what it sounds like: deliberately attempting to brighten someone else’s day by doing something kind for no specific reason. The intention behind it is to practice selflessness and altruism, but research has shown that there are, in fact, many benefits to practicing kindness. For children, showing kindness towards family, friends, their community, and strangers strengthens skills such as respect, responsibility, empathy, and compassion.
There are so many ways for children to join in and participate in this month! Below are just a few ideas.
- Feed the birds.
- Leave a kind note under your neighbor’s car windshield wiper.
- Sit with a new friend at lunchtime at school.
- Talk to someone new at school.
- Donate a toy to Toys for Toys.
- Visit a no-kill shelter and help to socialize the animals.
- Take cookies to the fire station.
- Take care of someone’s pet while they’re away.
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
- Collect money or items to donate to your favorite charity.
- Donate coloring books and crayons to the children’s hospital.
- Deliver water bottles to the homeless shelter.
- Make a thank you card for your favorite teacher.
- Smile at everybody. It’s contagious!
Help your child to learn the positive traits of compassion and kindness. Signing your child up for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley improves their social skills and development, all the while having fun! Contact us today to find out about all of our after-school programs and which is the best fit for your child.