Kindness

Kindness is so important for every child to understand.  A Special Gift Is Kindness and Kindness Begins with Me, p. 145, are both great songs for children to sing often.  They are easy to teach.  Begin by telling the story in the May 2015 Friend, p. 42.  Ask the children if they have ever felt like the boy or the girl in the story.

A Special Gift Is Kindness, you will need:

• a gift wrapped box with the word "kindness" inside
• A heart shape with a musical note on it

Tell the children that inside this present is a special gift that we all can have.  Sing the song.  Ask the children if they can guess what is in the box.  Have a child open it.  Sing the first line.  Have the children sing it with you 2 or 3 times.  Hold up the heart and sing the last line.  Have the children sing it with you 2 or 3 times.  Sing the whole song. 

Kindness Begins with Me, you will need:

• a picture of Christ with little children
• a picture of children playing
• a picture of children helping someone

Sing the song.

Show the pictures.  Ask what is common in each picture.  Help the children see "kindness."

Ask, where does kindness begin?  What should we always remember?

Have the children sing the first line 2 or 3 times.  Then sing the last line 2 or 3 times.  Sing the whole song.

End with the question: "How can I remember to be kind?"