Give one - or all! - of these activities a try with your afterschool group this week!
1. Using words that display kindness
Provide some examples to the group of words that display kindess & compassion:
- Let me help you.
- I like your hair today.
- I’m sorry.
- Thank you!
- Let’s work together.
Make a point of catching children using words that display kindness and compassion. Give immediate positive reinforcement. Ask children how it felt both to give a compliment and receive a compliment.
At the end of each week, give out kindness awards. Post them so the whole community can see. Reinforce with the parents that you are doing this and how important it is to follow up with positive reinforcement at home as well. The awards could be certificates, actual prizes, or something you make up!
2. Kindness logs
Have the children create kindness logs that they share with the group. A kindness log is a book that the child can write down and even draw pictures about activities s/he engaged in that displayed kindness.
Here's an example:
Today I gave up my seat to someone who needed it more. I told my brother he really was a great artist. I called my grandmother because I know she must be lonely. I picked up all my toys so my parents didn’t have to.
3. Experience chart
Create an experience chart with the children all about activities they can engage in to spread joy in their community.
- Take a large piece of paper and have children add their ideas to it about activities they can do as a group, to make their community a better place.
- Each child can be given an index card to write down his/her ideas and then tape them up on the chart, or you can do it together as a group.
Choose one of these "activities to spread joy" to do each week!
