Expert advice on how to teach children kindness from an early age
Raising a child in a world where many children have taken their lives because of bullying is not easy and that’s why it’s important to teach your child kindness from a young age.
Whatever they learn at home will be visible when they interact with other children.
Child development expert Desiree Williams says the best way to teach your child kindness is through play.
She shares the following top four tips that help children grow kinder:
Use pretend play to practice empathy
Most preschoolers do not yet understand how their words and actions make others feel.
While playing together, encourage empathy and perspective by asking your preschooler how they think their character feels. (“Uh-oh! Your doll is not sharing with her friend! How do you think her friend feels? How does your doll feel?”)
That way, they can try to imagine how they would feel if someone refused to share with them, and that will help them make a better decision.
Pour on the praise
Most children loved being praised. Praising and affirming them goes a long way in teaching them they are not the only ones who matter. Those around them also matter and should be praised when doing something good.
Discuss and celebrate differences
Expose your child to people who are different from you and your family. Choose media and toys that represent several cultures, abilities, languages, genders and races.
Then encourage them to ask questions. Discussing those questions builds acceptance, empathy and kindness.
It also teaches them that just because someone is different does not mean they must be ill-treated.
Teach kindness during playtime
Toys like Mega Bloks are great for team building. Build or encourage your child to build something with a sibling or friend, and emphasise the importance of collaboration and sharing.
Suggest that they take turns adding blocks to a shared structure or ask them to help a younger sibling build something they envision.
This fosters teamwork and teaches them the joy of helping others achieve their goals.