This column about caring is the first in a series based on a book called
What Do You Stand
For? A Kids’ guide to building
Character
by Barbara A. Lewis. The book shows kids how and helps parents teach and build strong character. It’s based on the positive traits of caring, fairness, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
Caring is an emotion that is felt and shown through action. Four important ways are through kind words, actions, thoughts, and gifts. If you care about someone and want to show it, doing nice things, helping out without being asked, listening to a friend in need, saying kind things and simply spending time with someone are all ways to show you care.
Caring is about how we treat each other. There are many, many ways to show that you care and one of the nicest things about showing care is that others will return care by being kind to you.
Children are naturally kind and want to show that they care. Encourage and help them show kindness, even if it takes some time and effort. Think of each act of kindness as a building block to a positive character.
No act of kindness, no matter
how small, is ever wasted.
Aesop’s Fables
Caring Gifts
You can buy gifts, but often the ones you make are an even better way to show that you care. Making gifts and cards for your friends and family is a wonderful way to show that you care. Giving time visiting a neighbor who is lonely and likes to have visitors is another. Giving to others that you don’t know shows that you care about your community. Giving the clothes that don’t fit anymore to the Salvation Army or giving of your time to help serve food at a shelter are other ways.
Stories about caring
There are many wonderful stories about caring. Here are just a few…
Charlotte’s Web
by E.B. White The Music of Dolphins
by Karen Hesse
The Happy Prince
by Jane Ray
My Friend Rabbit
by Eric Rohmann.
On a visit to the library, browse around and see how many stories you can find that show caring between people.
Kelly Dupre of Grand Marais is an artist, children’s author, and educator
with over 20 years teaching experience with all age groups in a variety
of settings. The activities in this once-a-month column are spin-offs
and combinations of ideas she has used and learned from teachers,
parents, kids, books, and workshops. Only some of the activities has she
actually thought of herself!
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