Kindness is one of those special things in life that is free to give out while bringing so many benefits to yourself and others. Being kind is shown to have positive effects on both people and the world around us. Encouraging and modeling kindness is one of the easiest ways parents, school staff, and other caring adults can help create a positive school environment that prevents bullying.
Top 5 Benefits of Being Kind
Did you know that doing nice or thoughtful acts for others has mental, emotional, and physical benefits for both the person being kind and the person being shown kindness? In fact, the benefits of kindness even increase as you do more nice things for others. This means that being kind isn’t just good for building a safe environment, but it’s literally good for your health! Below are some of the ways kindness can help you and your overall wellbeing.
Kindness helps with relationship-building and increases social connectedness.
Kind acts are shown to decrease depression and anxiety, improving overall mental health.
Being kind and receiving kindness are shown to give you a boost of energy and increase happiness.
People who regularly show kindness report greater life satisfaction.
Kindness promotes higher life expectancy by improving heart health and decreasing stress levels.
This list is only the beginning of all the benefits thoughtfulness and compassion can bring to kids’ lives. All adults in the community, including parents and caregivers, educators, school staff, and health care practitioners can encourage kids to be kind and model positive behaviors for them. Plus, kindness is contagious! That means that when you encourage kids to be nice, you can reap the benefits, too. It’s a win-win!
