**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with World Kindness Day. World Kindness Day is an international observance on November 13th, introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement. It aims to highlight good deeds in the community, focusing on the common thread of kindness that binds us together. For official information and to learn more about global kindness initiatives, please visit the World Kindness Movement website (www.theworldkindnessmovement.org).
Understanding World Kindness Day in EYFS & KS1
Let's sprinkle kindness everywhere! š World Kindness Day is an international observance on November 13th, introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement. Its core purpose is to highlight good deeds in the community and to focus on the common thread of kindness that binds us all together. It's a day to celebrate and promote acts of kindness, both big and small, encouraging individuals and communities to embrace compassion and empathy.
For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a profoundly important and positive theme for exploring kindness, friendship, empathy, social responsibility, and personal, social & emotional development. It's about teaching children the power of their actions, how to make others feel valued, and the positive ripple effect that kindness can create. This day offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about emotional intelligence and community spirit both heart-warming and transformative.
Why Is Teaching About Kindness & Empathy Important for Young Children?
Integrating kindness and empathy into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) is important for fostering positive social behaviours, emotional intelligence, and creating a harmonious and supportive learning environment. These foundational social skills are crucial for children's well-being and future relationships.
Promotes Positive Relationships: Teaching kindness encourages children to interact positively, build strong friendships, and resolve conflicts peacefully. Our 'Kindness & Friendship' resources are designed for this.
Emotional Literacy: Helps children recognise and understand their own feelings and, crucially, the feelings of others, leading to greater empathy. Our 'Feelings & Emotions' page is highly relevant.
Builds a Safe Environment: When kindness is prioritised, children feel safer, more respected, and more willing to participate and learn.
Encourages Inclusivity: Kindness helps children appreciate differences and treat everyone with respect, fostering an inclusive community.
Boosts well-being: Both giving and receiving kindness have been shown to boost happiness and reduce stress for everyone involved.
Develops Social Responsibility: Children learn that their actions have an impact on others and that they can actively contribute to a positive community.
Engaging Kindness & Empathy Activities for World Kindness Day (0-7 Year Olds)
Make World Kindness Day a truly compassionate and uplifting experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on spreading warmth, understanding feelings, and celebrating good deeds! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by the extensive range of printable resources we have available on our 'Kindness & Friendship' and 'Feelings & Emotions' pages.
Here's some inspiration for nurturing kindness in your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)
Kindness Challenge Board: Create a challenge board with simple acts of kindness children can do throughout the day (e.g., "Help a friend," "Share a toy," "Give a compliment"). Use our 'Let's Show Kindness - Activity Prompt Poster' and 'Let's Show Kindness - Activity Prompt Cards'.
Acts of Kindness Display: Document acts of kindness children observe or participate in. Use 'Acts Of Kindness' Activity And Display' to showcase these good deeds.
Thank You Cards: Encourage children to write or draw cards for people they appreciate (friends, family, staff). Use 'Thank-You For Being My Friend!' Cards' and 'Thank-You For Being Kind!' Cards'. Our 'Friendship' Card Templates' are also a great starting point.
What Makes a Good Friend?: Discuss the qualities of a good friend. Use 'Kindness And Friendship - 'What Makes A Good Friend' Mark Making' and 'Kindness And Friendship - 'My Lovely Friend' Mark Making'.
Emotional Check-in: Begin the day by asking children how they are feeling and encouraging them to articulate their emotions. Use 'Emotion Of The Day' - Display', 'I Am Feeling...' - Emoji Cards', 'How Are You Feeling Today? Playdough Mats' and more!
Empathy Scenarios: Present simple scenarios where someone is feeling a particular emotion and ask children how they might show kindness or help. Use 'Emotions - 'What Happens When You Feel...' - Prompt Cards', 'When I Feel Worried - Prompt Templates', and 'When I Feel Angry - Prompt Templates'.
Celebration of Self & Others: Help children appreciate what makes them unique and value the differences in others. Use 'All About Me - 'Make It' Challenge Cards', 'All About Me - Feelings Station Display', 'Self-Portrait Display - Hearts' and āAll About Me - Decorate A 'Patchwork Person'.
Connecting Activities: Promote positive social interactions through games and prompts using 'Let's Connect - With Each Other - Activity Prompt Cards'. Include movement activities to foster group cohesion with our 'Let's - Get Moving - Activity Prompt Poster'.
Kindness Story Time: Read books about kindness, sharing, and helping others. Use 'Emotions - 'This Story Makes Me Feel...' - Mark Making' to encourage reflection on story characters' feelings.
Music and Emotions: Explore how music can convey feelings and encourage children to consider how different sounds make them feel. Use 'Emotions - 'This Music Makes Me Feel...' - Mark Making'.
Certificates for Kindness: Recognise children who show kindness with 'Kindness And Friendship - Display Certificates/Notes' and 'Kind To Me' Display Certificates/Notes'.
Explore More: Please visit our 'Kindness & Friendship' page to browse our entire collection of educational materials on this theme, and our 'Feelings & Emotions' page for additional empathy resources!
These activities offer great inspiration for making World Kindness Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering empathy, compassion, positive social behaviours, and a lifelong commitment to kindness.
To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.
A selection of Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: āWorld Kindness Dayā
Resources to help foster āKindness & Friendshipā amongst EYFS & KS1 children
Please visit our āKindness & Friendshipā page to browse our entire collection of educational materials on this theme.
Resources to help foster āEmpathyā amongst EYFS & KS1 children
Please visit our āFeelings & Emotionsā page to browse our entire collection of educational materials on this theme.
Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes
More Early Years Event Pages for November
Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children
Browse our āSpecial Dates Calendarā page using the link below. Youāll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!
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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'World Kindness Day'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the World Kindness Movement, which introduced this day. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information and to learn more about global kindness initiatives, please visit their website at www.worldkindness.international.
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