Imagine a world where kindness is as fundamental to education as subjects like math and science. What if teachers dedicated time to help children navigate their emotions, alongside the usual curriculum? This vision is now a reality, thanks to a free “Kindness Curriculum” developed by the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It’s a mindfulness-based program tailored for preschoolers, designed to instill kindness within the classroom setting.
The Center’s mission is clear: “In the face of global mental and physical health challenges, we conduct rigorous scientific research to discover insights and tools that enhance the wellbeing of individuals from all backgrounds and ages.” But how does this curriculum achieve its goals?
Key Components of the Kindness Curriculum
According to reports from Education Week, the kindness curriculum emphasizes positive conflict resolution, encouraging acts of kindness, and teaching children to manage their emotions effectively. Here are some of the engaging activities that it includes:
Peace Wands
In this exercise, children use peace wands to facilitate conflict resolution. One child holds a heart wand and shares their feelings, while the other, holding a star wand, listens attentively and repeats back what they’ve heard. The aim is to foster understanding and help them resolve conflicts through open communication.
Kindness Gardens
When a child performs a kind act or receives kindness from a classmate, they place a sticker on their kindness garden poster. This visual representation reinforces the idea that friendship, like a seed, needs nurturing to thrive. As Lisa Flook, an associate scientist, explains, this activity encourages discussions about the positive effects of kindness and how to cultivate friendships in the classroom.
Belly Buddies
In this calming activity, children lie on their backs with a small stone on their stomachs while listening to music. They focus on the stone rising and falling with their breaths, fostering mindfulness and a sense of internal calm, according to Flook.
Mind Jars
Children create jars filled with water, glitter, and a touch of soap. After shaking them up, they observe how the glitter settles, drawing a parallel to their own minds calming down after being upset. This visualization helps them understand emotional regulation.
Impact of the Kindness Curriculum
Initial testing of the kindness curriculum, implemented twice a week over 12 weeks, showed significant improvements in sharing, attention, and empathy among preschoolers in six different schools. Participants also displayed enhanced academic performance compared to a control group. The curriculum is readily available for free, having already been downloaded over 7,000 times—a promising indication of its impact.
The Importance of Kindness in Education
Promoting kindness in school is crucial, and it complements the lessons taught at home. After all, we all share the goal of raising compassionate children who understand the importance of empathy. If you’re interested in exploring more about parenting resources, check out this excellent blog for additional insights.
Conclusion
In summary, the Kindness Curriculum is a valuable tool that can transform the educational landscape by integrating emotional intelligence with standard learning. It encourages children to be more empathetic and aware of their feelings, shaping them into kinder individuals for the future.