Teaching Kindness: A Necessity in Today’s World

Teaching Kindness: A Necessity in Today's World

In a world increasingly filled with hate and unkindness, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. From disparaging rhetoric from our leaders to the alarming resurgence of anti-Semitism, our communities often reflect a harsh reality. While we may not have control over these external events, we do have the power to choose how we respond and how we treat those around us.

In this context, one goal emerges above the rest: to cultivate kindness in our learners—one that they can carry with them throughout their lives.

The Importance of Kindness

At our core, we are wired for connection and kindness.  This is evident in every early childhood classroom where learning and growth happen not in isolation, but through the social interactions with others.  Educators in this setting understand that while these qualities may be innate, time is well spent on fostering their growth. Unfortunately, as our children get older, we spend less and less time teaching and practicing these skills- perhaps, because the emphasis on academic learning becomes greater and is deemed more important than these “softer skills.”  However, academic achievement is actually enhanced in environments where the skills of kindness, such as empathy, cooperation, and compassion, are encouraged and practiced.  

What Does Kindness Look, Sound, and Feel Like?

To effectively nurture kindness, we need to define it in concrete terms. It’s not enough to tell children to “be nice” or “play nicely.” These phrases are often vague and leave children unsure of what is truly expected of them. Instead, we must articulate what kindness looks like, sounds like, and feels like.

For instance, kindness can manifest in simple actions: sharing a toy, listening attentively to a friend, or offering a helping hand. By providing clear examples, we can help children understand that kindness is an active choice. 

We also must model kindness and give our learners opportunities to practice kindness in and out of the classroom.  This isn’t about imposing rigid rules; it’s about instilling a fundamental understanding of what kindness truly means in both actions and words.

Core Social-Emotional Skills

Teaching kindness involves cultivating core social-emotional competencies, such as self and social awareness and relationship skills. Many evidence-based programs promote social-emotional learning (SEL) and character development, and kindness is often a foundational component of these initiatives. The Foundation of Jewish Camps has created such an initiative encouraging camps to intentionally cultivate and teach kindness at camp.   I helped create “The Character at Camp Playbook,” activities that increase core social-emotional skills needed to “live” kindness and which help learners develop a more profound understanding of themselves and how their actions affect others.  

Teaching Self-Kindness

It’s important to remember that kindness extends beyond our interactions with others; it begins with how we treat ourselves. Teaching children to practice self-kindness fosters resilience and self-acceptance, enabling them to be kinder to others. When children learn to appreciate their own worth, they are more likely to extend that kindness outward.

Kindness is not just a passive virtue; it is a skill that can—and must—be taught. As we navigate a world that often feels unkind, let us work to create and foster a culture of kindness in our homes, schools, camps, and communities. By intentionally teaching kindness, we empower the next generation to respond with empathy and compassion, creating a ripple effect that can transform our world for the better.