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11/1/22 blog post

how kindness boosts mental health

encouraging kindness with your kids

We've shared about bullying and how children who are bullied or feel excluded are at a higher risk for negative mental health outcomes. Now, we’re focused on improving children’s mental health through kindness.

Teaching kids about kindness and modeling it can build mental wellness. Kindness can build a sense of unity in a group and help develop healthy relationships. Strong relationships help protect mental health.

Research shows that kindness, whether toward others or ourselves, can:

  • Lower stress
  • Improve friendships
  • Help build self-esteem
  • Raise feelings of happiness

One way to start is by teaching kids to be kind to themselves.

Take time to talk at a meal or during a drive with the kids in your life about what they like about themselves.

  • Encourage them to come up with at least three things.
  • Feel free to say things that you like about them as well.
  • And be prepared for them to challenge you to come up with a list about yourself.

free journal download!

Consider making this a daily or weekly practice! It can help challenge negative thought patterns. Download our journal page to help practice.

Once you have pages filled out, looking back through the journal with your child may help remind them of the many ways that they are awesome.

 

 

take the kindness challenge

\Want to practice kindness more? Take the On Our Sleeves 5-day kindness challenge in celebration of World Kindness Day November 13.

because kids don't wear their thoughts on their sleeves

join the movement partner with us

Kids don’t wear their thoughts on their sleeves. Help us break the stigma and gives kids a voice. Join the movement for children’s mental health.

join now

Are you interested in partnering with Dayton Children's On Our Sleeves to help spread the movement for children's mental health? Send us a message and we will be in touch! 

email us