Hello My Fabulous Fixers!
It is another GLOrious Friday, so let’s kick off another “Fix It Friday” with my favorite subject: Radical Kindness.
We live in a world that often feels like it’s spiraling out of control. With the constant barrage of disheartening news and social upheaval, it’s easy to lose sight of the smaller, more intimate battles we fight every day — especially in our homes. That’s why Mr. Wizard and I decided to take a step back and focus on what truly matters: teaching our children to be kind, not just polite but radically kind. Because in a world full of chaos, kindness can be revolutionary.
What is Radical Kindness?
Kindness, by itself, is an act of showing understanding, compassion, and generosity to others. But what makes kindness “radical” is the intention and the scope. It’s about pushing boundaries and going beyond social norms to show empathy and compassion where it’s least expected.
Why Radical Kindness?
Being kind is not just about holding doors open or saying please and thank you. Radical kindness is about actively seeking out opportunities to be compassionate, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s about teaching our children to stand against injustices, not just for themselves but also for those who don’t have a voice.
How to Teach Radical Kindness to Your Children
- Lead By Example: Show them how it’s done. If they see you showing radical kindness, they are more likely to mimic it. You can start by showing kindness to your children when they least expect it, when they make a mistake. If they expect you to yell, and you throw a kindness grenade, boom, their minds will be blown. That’s how we started in our house.
- Open Dialogues: Encourage open and honest conversations about feelings, empathy, and the effects of kindness and unkindness. Teach them that feelings are valid and important. Children need to know that they matter and their feelings matter in a big way. Validating their feelings can help lead them to being able to validate the feelings of others.
- Storytelling: Share stories that exemplify kindness, especially those that demonstrate its power to change lives. For our family, it was Mr. Fix It and the Most Important Tool. Find a story that resonates with your family and read it together.
- Community Involvement: Get your children involved in community service from a young age to instill a sense of empathy. It is important for children to understand that all lives have value. Teaching them to be of service to others early might help them to be able to avoid becoming bullies later in life, and additionally will give them better life skills to understand that all people have struggles and challenges.
- Teach Empathy: Use daily occurrences to teach empathy. When someone is upset, talk your children through how that person might be feeling. By learning about feelings, we decode them and make them less intense. Preparation helps them understand what they are going through and gives them a better chance to develop resiliency to bounce back from their own challenges.
- Positive Reinforcement: Always praise acts of kindness, however small, and discuss them openly to reinforce their importance. Kindness is, afterall, our Most important tool.
Case in Point
We decided to bring the concept of radical kindness into our family discussions and daily routines. I adopted the hashtag #KindnessnCake as my personal moniker and even integrated it into my social media to spread the message further. I constantly remind the children that “Kindness is our Most important tool.” It has been transformative in our interactions not just within the family but also in their interactions in our community. My kids are actively kinder, and people are noticing! And the discussions it has sparked between us and the kids? Absolutely enlightening.
Conclusion
Radical kindness isn’t just a catchphrase; it’s a lifestyle. It’s about shaping our future generation to be more empathetic, conscious, and humane. In a world that often seems bleak, teaching our children to be radically kind could be the ray of light that tips the scales.
Tags: #RadicalKindness, #kindnessncake, #Empathy, #TeachingKids, #SpecialNeedsParenting, #MentalHealth, #GLO-Getters, #FixItFridays
As always, my friends, enjoy the GLO!
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