Inspiring Stories and Activities for Building Empathy and Compassion in Children
Revamped Post:
Hey there, folks! I'm super excited about today's post — we're diving into an awesome list of books that teach kids the power of kindness. My friend Erica from What Do We Do All Day? handpicked these gems just for you and me! I can't wait to read through them with my little ones.
I'm all about spreading that kindness love and these books definitely help parents talk to their kids about the importance of treating others with respect, generosity, and compassion. Even reading a story together is an act of kindness! Here are some of my top picks from Erica's wonderful list:
Those Shoes focuses on the topic of poverty and helping others instead of focusing on personal wants. Jeremy wants the latest pair of trendy shoes, but his grandmother can't afford to buy them for him. This book shows Jeremy's struggle with giving the shoes away, making the act of kindness all the more impactful.
Each Kindness is a incredibly touching story about a new girl, Maya, who is ostracized by the other children due to her poverty. One day, their teacher drops a stone into a bowl of water to demonstrate how powerful the ripples from a single act of kindness can be. This book serves as a moving reminder to show kindness every chance we get.
How to Heal a Broken Wing is a beautiful story about a boy who notices a wounded bird in the city and takes it home to nurse back to health. The book highlights the rewards of patience and compassion even for the smallest of creatures.
The Spiffiest Giant in Town is a fun tale about a scruffy giant who gets a makeover and soon finds himself giving away all his new clothes to help those in need.
How Kind is a delightful book for younger kids that demonstrates how simple acts of kindness can be passed on. Each time someone performs an act of kindness, the recipient asks, "How kind!" and becomes inspired to pass on the act.
The Nice Book provides specific advice on being kind and generous, breaking down that vague phrase we all use when talking to children. Each page carries a word or short phrase that acts as an instruction for kindness.
The Kindness Quilt follows a class as they embark on a kindness project, creating a "kindness quilt" with their drawings of acts of kindness. This is a fantastic book that would be great to use in a classroom or at home to inspire your child to perform daily acts of kindness.
As Erica points out, even reading a book to a child is an act of kindness! Have you read any of these books? What are your favorite kindness books? Let us know your thoughts!
Happy reading, friends!
Erica (a.k.a. "Mom and Kiddo"), a Stay-At-Home Mom to two energetic boys aged 4 and 8, shares her insights on What Do We Do All Day?. You can connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest, or Google.
Notes:[1] KinderHood Magazine, The Best Children’s Books About Kindness, 2020[2] Scholastic Parents, The Best Kids Books about Kindness for All Ages, 2020[3] National Conflict Resolution Center, Empathy and Kindness Books for Kids, 2021[4] Kidspot, Books about Kindness for Kids that Teach Resilience, Empathy, and Tolerance, 2020[5] Nia Bia's Acts of Kindness (Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1 in Kindness for Kids)
- Engaging in indoor activities such as reading books that promote acts of kindness, like 'The Nice Book' or 'The Spiffiest Giant in Town', can contribute positively to one's lifestyle and personal growth.
- When it comes to fashion-and-beauty, 'How Kind' can inspire children to pass on simple acts of kindness, creating a ripple effect in their relationship with others, much like the stone in 'Each Kindness'.
- In the realm of food-and-drink, sharing a meal and discussing the lessons learned from books like 'Those Shoes' or 'How to Heal a Broken Wing' can foster a sense of empathy and compassion.
- For those who love home-and-garden projects, embarking on a kindness project, as in 'The Kindness Quilt', can bring satisfaction and create a beautiful reminder of acts of kindness within one's home.
- In the world of education-and-self-development, understanding the importance of kindness towards pets, as demonstrated in 'How to Heal a Broken Wing', can provide valuable lessons in responsibility and empathy, extending to all aspects of life, including relationships with other humans.
