When you ask kids about kindness, without fail, at least one kid will talk about the playground. Maybe it’s the “if you see someone standing by themselves, without anyone to play with” example. The kids proudly tell you the kind thing to do is to invite them to join in your game and have fun. Or perhaps it’s the “game of basketball gone awry, where someone is being made fun of for missing a shot” example. The kids will tell you the kind thing to do is to tell the person to shake it off or share a story of how we’ve all missed a similar shot. Sometimes the act of kindness even goes a step further and the kids describe confronting the teasing as not kind and telling the bully to back off. But there’s always a story from the playground. Why is that?
In part, I suspect it’s because recess is a treasured time of day when kids get to play, run, be outside. But the answer might be a bit more complex: Listen to adults when they talk about kindness with kids. Adults frequently use the playground examples in their illustrations of how to be kind. Perhaps for the same reason, because it’s recess, a fond childhood memory of early school years. But I wonder if it isn’t also because we all have those memories of being the kid waiting to be picked for a game, of dreading the wrath of your fellow classmates if you mess up on the court or the field, or if not ourselves, seeing it happen to a classmate. Was it a one-time occurrence? What if it becomes a pattern? The absence of kindness can be cruel.
Kindness resonates with kids because it’s simple and it comes naturally to them. Encouraging kids to think about kindness and to practice kindness allows this powerful tool to flourish. Its power is not only seen in the outward expression toward a fellow classmate or peer, but in the inward act as well. Kids will tell you they feel good when they recognize they’ve done something kind. And with the power kindness can bring, it does not matter what school you go to, how much money your family has, or the color of your skin.
I joined the 17YOK Steering Committee to help bring the year of kindness to the schools. I see the power of kindness play out daily at my children’s school. Statistically, it is a school where kids are facing challenges many adults would find overwhelming. But it is a school that has seen tremendous positive growth by focusing on positive behaviors and on being kind.
It’s not too late to join in the year of kindness. Consider volunteering at your neighborhood school. Be inspired by the acts of kindness from fellow Juneauites by following the Juneau Police Department’s “Kindness Alerts” on Facebook. In April, we look forward to kindness surge weeks brought to us by Maritime District Boy Scouts &Cub Scouts (April 2-8), Riverbend Elementary (April 9-15), All Fun No Guilt Book Club (April 16-22), and Congregation Sukkat Shalom (April 23-29).
I’ll close by sharing a poem from Leora Murray, a 6th grader at Floyd Dryden, who won a national competition sponsored by the non-profit Think Kindness for these words to describe kindness.
What is Kindness
Kindness is an ocean of warmth crashing over everything, and nothing is left dry.
Kindness tastes like a well-baked cookie; sweet and soft.
Kindness spreads like a cold, but it is the best illness.
Kindness feels like a warm spring day.
Kindness is like an invisible fire, warming everyone’s heart.
Kindness elevates everyone’s spirit, sending it past outer space and into infinity.
Kindness is the glue that holds us together.
•Jennifer Weinman Lanz is a member of Juneau’s 2017 Year of Kindness Steering Committee.
