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Kindness

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Recap

Have you ever experienced someone being kind to you? What was it they did? How did it make you feel?

Have you ever been treated badly? What happened? How did it make you feel?

What would you prefer people to show you? Kindness or unkindness?

Most, if not all, of us want to be treated well in life. We all know what unkindness does to people, especially through bullying, racism, prejudice, trolling on social media or expressing our anger at others. We want people to be kind to us and we can easily see the benefit that kindness has on those around us. Kindness is about realising that other people matter. There are lots of different ways we can express kindness but did you know that kindness is not just good for those who receive it? It is also good for those who are being kind. When we are kind, it can make us happier. It is known to help strengthen our friendships and reduce stress. Whilst some may see kindness as a weakness, it often requires courage and strength. Kindness can make a positive difference in the world and to us individually.

Experiments

Kindness isn’t always easy. We can find it hard to be kind to certain people because of things they have said or done. At other times we forget to look after ourselves or show appreciation to others. Kindness doesn’t have to take lots of preparation. It is about realising that other people matter and that we have something to contribute to make life better for ourselves and others around us.

    Experiments with people you know
  1. Send someone you know a message or give them a call to say “hi”.
  2. Think about the words or messages you send on social media and make sure they are kind.
  3. Give someone your place in the queue.
  4. Give an unexpected gift to someone.
  5. Be kind to a neighbour anonymously (e.g. a kind note/chocolate bar through their door).
  6. Do something practical to help out at home.
  7. Take time to compliment somebody.
  8. Say hello to everyone you know this week when you see them.
  9. Find time to catch up with someone you don’t always spend much time with or a friend you haven’t seen for a while.
  10. Choose one person you know in your family to be kind to this week. You could visit them, send them a gift, or contact them with some encouraging words.
  11. Write a thank you note to someone — this could be a parent/guardian, a teacher, a youth worker or a friend.
  12. Set an alarm to go off on your phone a couple of times in a day(at a time that is appropriate, so not in lessons when you are in school). When it goes off stop what you’re doing to call, text, message or email someone simply to tell them how awesome they are.
  13. Involve someone who is on their own. For example, ask them to sit with you at lunch.
  14. Refuse to gossip about someone and walk away from situations where others are being mean.
  15. Listen to someone who has a problem and encourage them to talk to someone they trust. You could offer to go with them.
    Experiments with people you don't know
  1. Give someone your place in the queue.
  2. Take something you no longer need to a charity shop (with your parent/guardian’s permission).
  3. Open a door for someone or let someone pass in front of you.
  4. Say thank you to the bus driver, cashier at a till or someone who does something for you.
  5. Fundraise for a cause you believe in.
  6. Pick up rubbish if you see it on the floor.
  7. Place kind notes in random places.
  8. Have your hair cut to donate to a charity like www.littleprincesses.org.uk (check with your parents first)
    Experiments you can do for yourself
  1. Buy yourself a treat.
  2. Write down one positive thing about yourself every day for a week.
  3. Have a nice long bath or shower.
  4. If you mess up, be your own best friend and forgive yourself. We all make mistakes.
  5. Take a laughter break — take 5 minutes out of your day to watch a funny clip that makes you laugh.
  6. Write yourself a list of all the things you are good at.
  7. Have a day where you do things you enjoy.
  8. Give yourself permission to say no to requests from others for things you don’t want to do. Within reason — for example, you still need to do your homework etc.
  9. Find a positive phrase to say to yourself or a positive activity to do when you’re feeling down.
  10. Create a booklet, journal, list or poster of ideas of how you could be kind to yourself and then put these ideas into practice over the coming weeks.