(3 minute read)

As teachers well know, coming back to start a new class can be hectic, to say the least. Amongst seating plans, lesson plans and establishing rules within the classroom, the children are also finding their place in their new environment. Summer was long and free, and returning to the classroom can be quite an adjustment. Understandably, this process isn’t quick or simple, and friction between classmates is often inevitable until things settle into place. 

Establishing good student relationships is one of those things that is important to get right early on. Kindness can reduce stress, improve our mood, increase self-esteem, happiness and life satisfaction, create a sense of belonging (very important for a classroom environment), reduce loneliness and make the world a happier place by motivating others to be kind too!

Fostering kindness in the classroom is definitely a challenge, especially after a particularly fraught playtime! Here we share some tips to help start the year off in the kindest way…

1. Kindness to self
   It’s important that students are reminded to be kind to themselves first. Doing a little something for themselves each day, and giving some self-praise will help them feel good and fill them up with enough energy to be kind to others. Being kind to themselves when it's much harder, such as when they make a mistake in their work, is the most important time to remind them of this. Phrases such as ‘mistakes are proof you are trying’ and positive language like this are examples that language teachers can model to their pupils. 
   
   
2. Kindness to others
   Kindness can be a bit of an abstract concept to small children, so it can be a struggle to see where to start with being kind to others! Encourage them to start small and give practical examples. Acts such as picking something up for someone, opening the door for others, or making sure the classroom is tidy for your teacher are all small acts of kindness that help make someone else's day shiny and happy!
   
   Once they’ve practised a few of these, this can lead to even bigger acts of kindness, such as playing with someone new at playtime, or drawing a picture for someone who needs cheering up. Whether big or small, these acts will make you feel good and make the classroom a nicer place to be. 
   
   
3. Remembering that all things need kindness
   Big or small, old or young, everyone needs kindness. Showing a bit of patience for someone who takes a little more time to walk, bringing a cupcake to your neighbour or helping a trapped spider out of the house with a cup, are all great acts of kindness! 
   

Want to bring more kindness into your classroom or home? Try these thoughtful and fun resources:

• Our cute comic, ‘The Argument,’ is a nice literary way of showing the resolution of an emotional conflict between peers and could be a good jumping-off point for a lesson about kindness.
• Print our ‘Kindness Star of the Week’ display poster (page 5) and put up on the wall or fridge at home, updated weekly with someone’s name who has shown some excellent acts of kindness.
• This beautiful Kindness Activity Pack from the Red Cross has lots of nice activities for older children to work through.
• This video from the Mental Health Foundation is a lovely, poetic introduction to kindness. The Mental Health Foundation also shared this handy kindness guide for School Staff.
• Kindness printables from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. 

Kay Leathers, Ex-primary teacher and freelance consultant for Teach Your Monster