Building kindness in our children

Kindness is not innate; it is a skill we build through gentle support and guidance. From the very start, we can help children understand their own emotions, recognise the feelings of others, and respond with compassion.

Here’s a guide to raising children who make a difference through everyday acts of kindness.

Respond!

From the moment they are born, children look to us to make sense of their world. When we respond warmly, we are setting the stage for kindness. When our child looks troubled, show that you are tuned in, and that emotions are okay—good, bad, or downright confusing. With enough love and consistency, they will slowly come to trust that they are not alone in their feelings.

Label feelings

Teaching our child to identify and name their emotions takes practice but it is a game-changer. From early on, recognise what your child might be feeling - happiness, frustration, excitement, or confusion. By giving that feeling a simple name, you are giving your child an emotional vocabulary for life. They will gradually learn that emotions are feelings that can be expressed, shared, and understood.  

Introduce new perspectives

As they grow, children start noticing that other people feel things too—and sometimes very different things! This is prime time to point out that people don’t all see the world the same way. Introduce perspectives casually – occasionally mention that someone else might be feeling chilly, tired, or cross. When children start understanding that others think and feel differently, they’re building empathy—no long lecture needed.

Story time—with a twist

Reading stories together is not only a cosy way to bond but also an excellent way to build empathy. Through stories, children get to ‘try on’ different feelings and situations. As you read, talk about the feelings of the characters. There is no need for deep philosophical debates, just natural curiosity. Children love opportunities to chat and exchange ideas, and story time is a way to teach them that everyone has their own experience and story.

And finally…

Through small, everyday actions, kindness takes root and flourishes. Each little conversation about feelings, each perspective shared, and each story read builds a child’s capacity for compassion. With a bit of humour and warmth added into the mix, we are helping our children grow up with kindness that will last a lifetime.

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