Our Kindness Jar {via Teach Preschool} (2024)

We are spreading kindness this month through our100 Acts of Kindness project. We are challenging our readers to perform 100 acts of kindness between Jan 16th and Feb 14th. You can read more about our kindness challengehere. Many of our blogging friends have joined the challenge and will be sharing ways that you can spread kindness here and on their blogs.Today we are privileged to have Deborah fromTeach Preschoolas our guest blogger. Welcome Deborah!

I am so pleased to take part in this special celebration of 100 Acts of Kindness. Kindness can and should be promoted in the preschool classroom (or at home) all throughout the school year but with Valentine's Day just around the corner, it is a great time of year to consider different ways to celebrate kindness...

Promoting kindness

Acts of kindness can be simple things children say or do that demonstrate a concern or care for others. Promoting kindness is an important part of helping children build a sense of empathy for others...

The Kindness Jar

A kindness jar is a fun way to promote acts of kindness. The kindness jar is simply a clear jar that you can decorate and add a label. I have included a pdf of "Our Kindness Jar" for you to use if you would like to make your own jar. Simply click on the label shown below....

What to do...

At the beginning of your day, invite each child to fill out a kindness note (shown above) by completing the sentence, "I am kind when I....".

• Print the child's answer on the kindness note.
• Have the children fold their kindness notes and place in the kindness jar.
• At the end of the day, reach into the kindness jar and pull out a kindness note.
• Read each kindness note out loud to the entire class.
• As you read each note, ask the children to raise their hand if they saw someone doing this act of kindness.
• Invite the children to elaborate on their view or story of each Act of Kindness.
• If you have a larger class, this process can be spread out over several days.

Notice that I didn't add a child's name to each kindness note. The notes should be used to promote the children's understanding and awareness of being kind rather than as a tool for accountability...

Celebrating kindness

If your students enjoy this process, why not do it all week then finish off the week by having an Act of Kindness celebration!

About Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed

Deborah has served in the field of early childhood education for over 25 years as a teacher, director, curriculum developer, consultant, and speaker. Deborah currently owns her own private preschool called the Teach Preschool Children's Studio. You can learn more about Deborah and enjoy the experiences and insights she shares on teaching young children over at her Teach Preschool Blog.

Thanks for such great ideas Deborah! You can find many ideas for promoting kindness in addition to other phenomenal teaching ideas over at Deborah's blog Teach Preschool and over on the Teach Preschool Facebook page. My favorite Teach Preschool posts include the Magnetic Marble Tube Runand M&M painting, since I am a big M&Ms fan!

If you've missed any of our kindness challenge posts so far, you can catch up by clicking the links below:

100 Acts of Kindness Project 2012 Intro post

Kindness Challenge #1: Saying Thank You

Whoopie Pie Love{via Red Ted Art}

Jar of Hearts {via The Outlaw Mom}

Rainbow Painting Surprise {via Glittering Muffins}

Winter Warm Up {via Kitchen Counter Chronicles}

Week 1- Kindness Round Up

Kindness Challenge #2: Show Love to Relatives{via Living Montessori Now)

Pop the Top for Kindness

Five Easy Ways to Show Love for a Working Parent {via Dinosaurs and Octopuses}

Stayed tuned for a guest post by Allison McDonald from No Time for Flashcardstomorrow!