While we’ve been taking this month to focus on love, we want to remember the important responsibility we have to teach our kids about kindness and compassion.A recent study from the University of British Columbia has found that children who perform small acts of kindness tend to boost their own happiness, and that may help counteract bullying. “We show that kindness has some real benefits for the personal happiness of children, but also for the classroom community,” said Schonert-Reichl, a professor in UBC’s faculty of education. Doing good is one of the greatest ways to infuse happiness in our kids and others.By helping our children create a habit of kindness through simple acts, we are also teaching them respect, responsibility, acceptance, confidence, empathy, fairness, courage and many other character traits–all of which are strengthened by doing good things for others.One of our board members’ sons, who is only 10 years old, created a game to make this happen: Doogoods Trading Cards.It’s a trading card game with 30 different characters and Doogoods challenges that encourage kids to look for opportunities to give back in their homes and schools and to make a positive impact through easy-to-do acts of kindness.
Some challenges include: “Tell five people something they’re good at” and “Greet someone nicely.” With each completed challenge, the player collects strength points. But the real reward comes from knowing they did something kind for someone else.
The concept is simple, but the effect is powerful. This game makes kindness fun and will create an army of do-gooders in our homes, schools, and communities.
Would you like your very own copy of Doogoods Trading Cards? We have four copies to give away! Two winners will receive classroom packs and two winners will receive regular packs.
Click here for a Rafflecopter giveaway
You can connect with Teagan, the game’s inventor, and learn more about Doogoods at www.doogoods.com or on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/doogoodstradingcards. Watch for Teagan’s pitch on the hit TV show, Dragon’s Den which will be airing again on Monday, March 11, 2013 at 8:00pm on CBC Television.
What a brilliant idea! One thing that makes me smile is watching my 5 year old son open the door for his younger siblings and me as well as everyone around us at the gym each morning. I call him my gentleman because he rarely forgets. The elderly comment the most and tell him how impressed they are and how thankful they are for his kindness. Deliberate mothers are conscious about raising respectful and kind kids, right? I love it!
My kids often “trade” chores with a sibling if they have to be gone for an evening. Occasionally they just take over some duties for “free.” Love that.
This is something we have been working to put into place in our home and at our school to counter act the bullying and mean girl spirit that are so common place these days- l love the trading card idea. I know my kids have been changed by taking time out to help each other instead of condemn each other when things aren’t going as planned.
My daughter has been trying to serve her brothers more, in the hopes that it will help her love them more–and be less annoyed by their crazy antics. I love it!
My son just yesterday knew that my daughter was having a rough morning. So before his own morning chores, he did his sisters.
One kind thing I have seen a child do is my 3 year old noticed his 7 month baby sister had a runny nose and he carefully wiped it for her. Now that’s love! 🙂
I saw a child distract another child from being sad by giving her a toy and pulling her over to play with him.
What a great idea! Kids do feel good when they show kindness to others. My youngest loves to open the door for others at our church building, it really makes his day!
We are always working on kindness in the home. Recently I noticed a kind child at a church activity. One girl was hurt and she ran over to comfort her and change the subject to help her stop crying. The little girl walked away smiling because of the kindness of the older child.
This may seem simple, but it really helped me to see how my sons are growing into caring people: My son was struggling to put on a Spiderman costume and came to me to ask me to zip it up. My other son (his twin) came running up and said “I’ll help you zip it! I will!”
My son did his brothers chore because his brother was having a rough day. It’s when I see things like this that it gives me hope that what I’m trying to teach is sinking in.
my 3 year old offered me a pretzel that was dipped in ketchup, I said no thank you I dont like catsup , he then proceeded to lick it off, again he offered it, here mommy I cleaned it off for you…so sweet 🙂 lol
Very clever indeed. Would love these.
Tonight my older daughters helped their little sister get out of the tub, they combed her hair and helped her get her jammies on and surprised Dad!
What a wonderful idea! Something I’ve seen: My daughter asked her brother if she could help him clean his room. They worked together and it was great! When they were done my son was so happy and he said, “Mom, Margaret just did service!”
What a brilliant idea. I would love to share these with my family.
I can see us using these!!! What a great way to teach about getting outside yourself.
One of my best friends has a daughter who is so amazing. At only 7 years old, she organized a fundraiser for an orphanage in Guatamala that specializes in special needs children. She spent hours upon hours sewing fleece hats and collected more than $500 in profits! She is amazing!!!
What a great idea to help encourage children to look out for others. With a special needs child my other three children are amazing at helping him out and I could not be prouder of them.
Love things that promote kindness and what we should be doing instead of focusing on negatives or things kids shouldn’t do. My 4 year old son can often be found helping his 2 year old sister without anyone telling him to do so. My favorite is when I see him wipe her nose! He does it without any help from me or my husband and she always says, “Ank u, bubba!” 🙂
My boys always share their treats with each other. They’re concerned when they’ve gotten something and the other one hasn’t.
I love watching my daughter share things with her siblings or friends to cheer them up.
Last year at our Little League Home Run Derby, my son encouraged a friend who didn’t think he was going to do very good. I was so proud of him and the friends parents still talk about it.
Every now and then my son will be amazingly encouraging to others. It warms my heart to see little ones help other little ones.
My 3 year old just emptied her older sister’s dishwasher tonight. Although she could not reach to put them in the cupboard, she did her best to stack them on the counter. You could tell it made her feel special to do something nice for her sibling!
It is wonderful to hear about all the simple yet wonderful acts of kindness that you are witnessing! Teagan truly believes that with more kindness we can start a new trend and put an end to bullying. But we all know that kindness is at the root of so many other character traits that we want our children to develop and live; respect, responsibility, empathy, selflessness, confidence, courage and resiliency.
Doogoods is a perfect to use each week in family night activities or in the classroom. It helps kids develop a very important habit and to help them look outside themselves and then see the positive impact they can have in another person’s life!
Thank you for all of your comments!
I love watching my kids share and nice to each other and those outside our family – Thanks for the chance to win! 🙂
One of my lovely Kinderboys went to get a chair for a girl who had her hands full – so sweet!
I love to see my children help others. My favorite is to see my 4 year old run ahead of people to open doors and then say “cheonman-eyo” (you’re welcome in Korean.) She has such joy when she does it.