Kind people have easier lives. They connect with other people more quickly. They have friends who are willing to do favors and coworkers who work with them as equals. They find it easier to get the bank teller to deposit that check now instead of holding it and their snow plow guy shovels their back steps for no charge. Most importantly, kind people feel better about the world because they are being treated well in return.
Give your kids an easier life by raising them as kind people. Here are some tips on how.
1. Practice manners often – It may seem repetitive, but encourage the use of basic mannerly phrases like “please,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome” until they are reflex. When your kids use these phrases instinctually, other people will treat them in kind, creating a feedback loop of kindness.
2. Encourage smiling – A smile is disarming. It’s hard not to smile back at someone. A simple smile and nod can make a stranger feel welcomed and happy. This is another way to spread kindness that comes back to you.
3. Make helping normal – Insist that everyone in your family help one another, even if it’s not necessary. Let’s say you have dozens of cookies to make for a bake sale. Enlist your kids’ help, even if you can do it alone. In kind, help them whenever you can. This will make helping other people a normal part of life.
4. Practice proper behavior – Before you introduce your child into a new situation, do some trial runs at home so they know what to expect. They’ll find it easier to be polite and kind when the situation feels familiar. For example, if you’ll be taking your kid through security at an airport for the first time, do a mock run at home so they don’t get nervous in the metal detector or taking off their shoes.
5. Turn negatives into positives – When you’re waiting in traffic due to road work, don’t vent your frustration about people making you late. Instead, turn it into a positive. Say something like, “It’s important we go slowly so the workers don’t get hurt and can fix our roads.” If you point out the negatives in everything, your kids will too.
6. Be the best example – There’s no better teacher than your behavior. You can tell them how to behave until you’re blue in the face, but they will always prefer to emulate your actions. The best way to teach kindness is to be kind.
Written by Karen Barski, BSN, RN, Mother of five, Certified Infant Care Specialist & Instructor, & Inventor of the Woombie Baby Swaddle
Karen has been an RN for 18 years, and has worked in many different nursing roles. As a Certified Infant Care Specialist, Karen counsels thousands of families yearly on a multitude of issues relating to pregnancy and infancy. Also, as a mother of five, she has invaluable experience and tips to share.
Since 2007, Karen’s company, KB Designs, has invented a line of signature baby swaddle products that have helped parents easily transition their new babies from womb to home. There are multiple designs and sizes so that babies can enjoy the comfort and security of the Woombie up until the time they begin to roll.
Each product has been created and designed by Karen because of a need she identified in her life with her five children. With convenience, safety, and fashion in mind, KB Designs has helped over a half million babies and counting!
For more information, visit www.woombie.com.
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