I’ve been thinking about ways to teach my kids to be kinder. Positive reinforcement seems like a good approach, but I’m not sure exactly how to go about it. Anyone have experience with this or suggestions that worked well for their family? Looking for practical ideas I can try at home. Thanks!
I hear you on the positive reinforcement! We started using a ‘kindness jar’ at home. When the kids did something nice, they got to add a marble. It was simple, but they loved seeing it fill up.
We also made a point to talk about kind acts we saw others do, not just the kids. It opened up some good conversations about how kindness affects people. My son actually started noticing more kind things his sister did after that.
One thing that really seemed to click was having the kids come up with their own ideas for being kind. They surprised me with some creative thoughts! It took time, but gradually kindness became more of a habit. Hang in there – you’re on the right track just by thinking about this! 
I’ve been wondering about this too. My little one can be sweet sometimes and not so much at other times. I try to praise her when she shares or helps out, but I’m not always sure if she really gets it.
I have tried reading books about kindness before bed and talking about the characters afterward. It often sparks a gentle conversation about kind actions.
Have you noticed any particular moments where kindness really sticks, or do you think it’s more about setting an example consistently?
We started asking the kids to notice kind things others did. It got them thinking about kindness more.
Also tried praising specific actions, like sharing toys or helping clean up. Seemed to work better than general praise.
Takes time, but they’re slowly getting it.
In our home, we’ve found that a ‘kindness chart’ works well. The kids get stickers when they do something nice, which they really enjoy. We also talk about kind actions at dinner time, sharing examples from our day.
One thing that’s been helpful is role-playing different scenarios. It gives them a chance to practice being kind in different situations. We make it fun, almost like a game.
Modeling kindness ourselves has probably been the most effective though. The kids pick up on how we treat others and often mimic it. It’s not perfect, but we’ve seen improvement over time.
Lastly, we try to point out how their kind actions make others feel. Seeing the positive impact seems to motivate them to keep it up.
We’ve been playing a ‘kindness detective’ game lately. My kid gets to spot and report kind acts they see during the day. It’s been eye-opening how much they notice now.
I also try to point out when I see them being kind, even in small ways. Like thanking them for holding the door or asking how a friend is feeling.
It’s not perfect, but I’ve noticed my kid thinking more about others lately. Sometimes they even remind me to be kinder too!