Imagine if every Primary student shared one act of kindness each week?
Imagine if every Primary student shared one act of kindness each day over one week?
Imagine if every Primary student shared one act of kindness each day of the week for a term?
What would happen? Three thousand acts of kindness!

This has been the challenge put to our Primary students this term. Now into the seventh week, a tangible difference is noticeable as children delight in identifying, acknowledging and celebrating acts of kindness demonstrated by their peers each week.

Here are just a few of the many benefits children experience from learning the value of kindness:

• Happy children – Study shows that kindness activates the joyful area of the brain. Pleasure resulting in kindness activates the need to replicate those feelings either as a receiver or a giver.
• Pleasure resulting in kindness activates the need to replicate those feelings either as a receiver or a giver.
• Improved health and less stress – Being kind increases happiness and decreases stress.
• A greater sense of belonging and improved self-esteem – Even small acts of kindness create feelings of self-worth and belonging. Acts of kindness increase energy and give a wonderful feeling of optimism.
• Increased feelings of gratitude – Children learn to appreciate what they have when helping those less fortunate.
• Better concentration and improved results – Kindness is a key ingredient that helps children feel good. Having a positive outlook increases attention spans and enables more creative thinking which can produce better results at school.
• Less bullying – Research has documented that the effects of bullying can be significantly reduced by integrating kindness based programs.
• Reduced depression – Research has discovered that an act of kindness increases levels of serotonin (a natural chemical responsible for improving mood) in the brain. Serotonin levels are increased in both the giver and receiver of an act of kindness, as well as anyone who witnesses that kindness, making it a wonderful natural antidepressant. (Marine Corps Community Services)

It is important for us to teach the importance of kindness. Children learn acts of kindness when they see this in action and showing kindness helps to promote emotional and physical well being. Let us always try to “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven us.” Ephesians 4:32 

Gail Mitchell, Head of Primary