How to Raise Kind Children
As a mother to two precious children, there’s nothing that I want more than to teach my children the art of kindness. Living in a world filled with feelings of entitlement and rude behavior, I want to raise children who will make a difference and treat others with kindness and respect. I’m a firm believer that the best place to start teaching these lessons is in the home.
I received samples and compensation in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.聽
How to Raise Kind Children
Encourage hard work.聽Starting at a very young age, give your children chores, duties, and responsibilities. Allow them to save up their own money for large purchases. Although it can be easy to hand things to children, teaching them the importance of hard work creates grateful hearts.
Lead by example. Allow your child to see you performing kind acts of service for others. Acknowledge kind acts performed by others and give praise when kindness is shown in the home.
Teach manners.聽Starting at a young age, teach and encourage your child to use their manners. Before your child can talk, teach them the signs for please and thank you. When they are old enough to start talking, say “please” and “thank you” appropriately and encourage them to do so also. Although my little girl is only 15 months, I make sure she tells me “please” and “thanks” whenever she wants something.
Find ways to give back.聽Participate in family activities and fundraisers that give back to the community. Allow your child to participate in activities that serve and uplift others.
Looking for the perfect way your whole family can give back? Barbara’s聽has partnered with Defenders of Wildlife – a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting native animals and plants in their natural communities. Right now, by purchasing these brightly colored limited-edition collectible bracelets (available in a wolf, sea turtle, elephant, and polar bear designs) for $5 a piece, you can help give back to the Defenders of Wildlife adoption program. For ever four bracelets purchased, Barbara’s will adopt one endangered animal through Defenders of Wildlife’s symbolic animal adoption program. The goal is to 1,000 endangered animals by the end of the campaign. Can you help us reach this goal?
All adoption donations benefit wildlife and conservation efforts of Defenders of Wildlife. What a great way to teach children kindness; showing them the importance of safeguarding endangered wildlife. For more information, or to purchase a bracelet, be sure to visit聽shop.barbaras.com.
I appreciate this post! I also want to raise kind children and I found the tips in this post useful. I hope to make good use of them. I’m particularly concerned about not raising children with a sense of entitlement. I’ll do my best and God will fill the gaps.
Manners are big with me! I always tell my son there is three magical words that will make or break you in life Please, Thank you, and Your welcome
These are great tips that every parent should read! Our family volunteers several times a year to teach our kids to give back.
This is such a helpful and sweet post, I just love it. Going to read and show it to my kiddos later today, thank you!
I love this post so much! I wish all parents would read this and take the advice given. Teaching children to be kind at a young age is so very important. Also leading by example such amazing and inspiring words. I take my son every December and volunteer at the local soup kitchen. We also hand out care packages to families. It is so rewarding and really teaches my six year old about giving back and that not everyone has unlimited funds.
I teach my kids to be kind by following by example and by discipline and teaching good manners at a young age. Giving the kids responsibilities is so good and having them help do good for others is great!
You illustrated that most of this is absorbed if we’re doing it too. The kids follow suit to what parents do, so we’re the best examples of all these tips.
We got lucky and have some pretty great kids. They have such loving hearts. I really appreciate all the different areas the donations go for this program.
We get compliments all the time about how kind our kids are. We started when they were really young and now that they are grown, it has definitely paid off.
Manners are big with me! From a simple please, to a handwritten thank you card, I never want to see small yet important details like these slip away.
I love these ideas. My husband was helping someone move last night and it led to a great conversation about why we help do things for people even though they don’t sound like fun.
We have been encouraging the kids to treat others the way they want to be treated. Being positive can be contagious.
It is so important to teach our kids how to be kind. We make it fun so the kids want to get involved.
I always try to teach my kids by setting a good example. We like to do random acts of kindness everyday.
These points are grea and I think it is so important to start at a young age teaching them to think of others.
These are some great tips. Looking back I can see that my parents taught me these skills. And I know I’ve raised my kids to be considerate and respectful.
When my daughter was younger, twice a year I would have her go through her toys and pick out ones that she could donate to the local children’s hospital. This taught her to give to others in need and helped keep the house more organized.
Oh what a wonderful way to help teach our children kindness. We are huge animal lovers and lead by example. Kindness is such an important virtue for our little ones! I love all your ideas and will have to order a bracelet for our little one!
I love these ideas! I know I do my best to lead by example for my kids every day, I know that’s how I learned best as a child.
We tried very hard to raise her child very kind and considerate. We have him donate some of his allowance each year to a charity of his choice and we usually go and buy a few Christmas presents for family in need
My parents taught me by leading by example. I have been doing the same with my own boys 馃檪