Teaching Kindness in the Classroom

🌈 1. Kindness Starts with You

Begin each day with a morning affirmation like:

“I am kind, I am helpful, I am a good friend.”

Say it together during circle time or before starting lessons. These positive words help children see themselves as kind and capable — and set the tone for a caring classroom.

🖐️ 2. Kindness Handprint Tree

Create a classroom kindness tree!
Each time a child shows kindness (sharing, helping, using gentle words), let them add a colorful handprint leaf to the tree. By the end of the week, you’ll have a beautiful reminder that kindness grows when we share it!

📖 3. Read About Kindness

Books are powerful tools for teaching empathy. Try reading:

• Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud

• Kindness is My Superpower by Alicia Ortego

• The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

After storytime, talk about how the characters showed kindness — and how your students can do the same.

💌 4. Kindness Cards for Friends or Family

Let kids draw or color a simple “You Are Special” card for a classmate, teacher, or family member. Encourage them to give it as a surprise to brighten someone’s day!

🌼 5. Acts of Kindness Challenge

Create a “Kindness Chart” and challenge your class to complete one kind act each day. Examples:

• Say something nice to a friend

• Help clean up toys

• Share crayons

• Smile at someone new

Celebrate each act with stickers or a cheer — kindness should feel fun and exciting! 🎉

Teaching kindness helps children build empathy, patience, and confidence, and it makes every classroom feel a little warmer. When kids learn that their actions matter, they begin to understand the true joy of giving — and that’s a lesson that lasts all year long.