Back-To-School Prep – Add Kindness To The List

Rule 1: Do not say anything unkind to or about the person 

Explain to your child that they will say nothing negative about their person (either to their face or behind their back.) You might need to establish a code with your child in case they slip up. Remember Carol Burnett tugging on her ear at the end of her show as a secret message to her family? Go ahead and tug your ear, pat your head, or do a leprechaun kick if you hear your child falling into the old habit of saying something unkind. They can stop themselves mid-sentence, and say, “Whoops, that wasn’t kind. Sorry!”

Let your child know that the more they practice refraining from saying unkind words, the better they will feel. Keep track on a calendar or notebook to mark the progress. It’s amazing how seeing the momentum build – and starting to notice how their person responds – can encourage your child to keep the kindness train moving.