Teaching Kindness - Setting an Example for the Next Generation
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
-Ephesians 4:32
Kindness in Action
The world can be an unkind place. Sometimes, we may find ourselves adapting to the same behaviors. But, as parents and Sunday School teachers, we are responsible for setting the right examples and teaching kindness to the next generation. Children learn more from what they see than what they are told, so we must embody the values we want to instill in them.
When you find yourself modeling the unkind behaviors of the world, I hope you remember this verse.
Why Are People Unkind?
Before we can teach kindness, it's helpful to understand why people may act unkindly. Some common reasons include:
Hurt and Pain - People who have experienced trauma or rejection often project their pain onto others. There's that saying, "hurt people, hurt people."
Insecurity and Low Self-Esteem - When individuals feel inadequate, they may tear others down to feel better about themselves.
Lack of Empathy - Some people struggle to see things from another person's perspective.
Jealousy and Envy - Feelings of comparison can lead to resentment and unkind behavior.
Cultural and Environmental Influences - If kindness was not modeled in someone's upbringing, they may not know how to practice it.
Lack of Emotional Control - Frustration, stress, and anger can cause people to lash out instead of responding with patience.
While these reasons don't excuse unkindness, they help us understand that unkind actions often reflect someone's inner struggles rather than a personal attack.
The Power of Example
As adults, we can shape how children perceive and practice kindness. Children may mirror those responses in their interactions if we react with frustration, impatience, or harshness. However, when they see kindness consistently displayed, they learn that treating others with love and respect is the norm.
Setting the right example for children should start as early as you can. They grow up to be kind humans when you do. This past week, I received an unexpected phone call from my son’s counselor. The one-hundredth day of school was here, and teachers were tasked with nominating 100 students. Nominated for what exactly? I can’t remember why because I was very confused by the call. Was it a good call or a bad call? What is going on? It turns out that two teachers nominated my 14-year-old son. One said he is a great kid, never causes trouble, is a hard worker, and a kind person. Each day he gets to his math class, he grabs a calculator for his friends and himself. They think he’ll go far in life no matter what he chooses to do.
The other teacher said that even when she is having a bad day, my son always brings a smile to her face. While the call was unexpected, the kind words I heard back were not surprising. Both of my kids have always been very empathetic. Since they were little, they were always aware of how others felt.
My kids were always observant, and I often asked them questions to get them thinking about what they were seeing so that they could try and understand what was going on. When I picked up my son that afternoon, I told him about this phone call, how proud I was of him, and that I had hoped he was proud of himself. He was proud of himself and I know he will continue to exemplify these behaviors.
⬆️ Just two kind boys posing for mom's camera. 😊
Biblical Foundations of Kindness
The Bible is filled with teachings on kindness, reinforcing that it is not just a good habit but a reflection of our faith.
Teaching children these verses and modeling them in our daily interactions helps reinforce that kindness is not just a choice but a biblical calling.
Practical Ways to Show Kindness Daily
Teaching kindness doesn’t require grand gestures; small, consistent acts of love can make a lasting impact. Simple things like my son getting a calculator at the beginning of class and handing it to his friends. Here are some practical ways to model kindness:
Use Gentle Words – Speak with kindness and encouragement, even in correction.
Serve Others – Show children that kindness is active by helping those in need.
Encourage Gratitude – Gratitude fosters a heart of kindness and appreciation.
Respond with Grace – Teach children to react kindly, even when others are unkind.
Acknowledge and Praise Kindness – Recognizing and celebrating kind behavior reinforces its importance.
Here’s a fun activity to help your children practice kindness during the week. Download this free Kindness Bingo card. Have your kids mark off every time they complete an action on the card. Have them bring it back the following Sunday and talk with them about what they did and how they felt. The goal is to get them to think more about kindness without the bingo card.
Teaching Children to Be Kind Even When Others Are Not
One of the greatest challenges in teaching kindness is helping children navigate situations where others are not kind to them. Here’s how we can guide them:
Teach Them to Pray for Others – Jesus taught us to love and pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44).
Help Them Set Boundaries – Being kind does not mean allowing mistreatment. Teach children that kindness also includes standing firm in the face of negativity.
Encourage a Christlike Response – Remind them they are called to reflect Jesus’s love, even in difficult moments.
A Question to Wonder About
Kindness is a powerful tool that can change hearts, strengthen relationships, and reflect Christ’s love. As parents and Sunday School teachers, we must lead by example. By understanding why people are unkind, modeling biblical kindness, and equipping children to respond with grace, we can help raise a generation that chooses love over cruelty, compassion over judgment, and kindness over indifference.
My question for you is, how have you shown kindness and compassion lately? Could you be better? Let’s commit to being the kind of people we hope our children will become. The world needs more kindness, and it starts with us.
