Make the World a Better Place With World Kindness Day

We can all use some kindness in our lives and World Kindness Day is a great opportunity to teach our children the value of a little compassion. It feels good to not only receive kindness but to show it as well. In today’s turbulent climate it is easy to be overwhelmed by chaos, violence and hatred, making it hard to see the good in life at times. It is widely believed children who learn kindness grow into adults who show kindness, thus creating a kinder world for everyone.

Celebrated annually Nov. 13, World Kindness Day was established to promote good will, break down barriers and make the world a better place. Whether it be an anonymous gift to someone, a planned good deed or a random act of kindness, showing a little compassion for our fellow human beings lifts the spirit, both for the giver and the receiver.

This movement to celebrate the simple act of kindness began in 1998 and has been celebrated around the world ever since in countries like the United States, England, Italy, Singapore and Australia.

Showing kindness is easy to do and easy to teach. Encourage your little ones to take part in the movement by creating their own commitment to making a difference with a kindness project of their own.

Many schools and organizations participate in World Kindness Day, providing organized activities to make a difference but there are still plenty of ways to do a random good deed on your own in celebration of the cause. Some great acts of kindness include donating clothing or toys to a homeless shelter or delivering soft, warm blankets to an animal shelter.

If you happen to travel with your family during this year’s World Kindness Day there are still plenty of ways to teach your kids to show compassion through random acts of kindness while on the road. Some simple ideas include asking someone how their day is going, complimenting their outfit or holding a door for someone. Some great ways to foster kindness within the family is to have your little ones place calls to their grandparents or encourage them to pick vacation activities their siblings would enjoy.

While World Kindness Day encourages acts of kindness to be done on a particular day, the goal is to propagate a legacy of goodwill that will last a lifetime in the children we raise. And above all, remember the immortal words of Aesop — “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”