February is National Kindness Month!

Tips for teaching your children to treat their siblings with kindness:

Teach mutual respect. Do not allow your children to insult one another. Words are extremely powerful, and rude comments can damage deeply. Experts say that for every negative comment there needs to be at least five positive remarks to even out. Teach your children to be kind and to appreciate each other.

Do not play favorites. Recognize and praise each child’s individual skills, strengths and accomplishments without implying that one child is somehow better.

Teach conflict-management. Do not deny your child’s feelings, but help him learn to express emotions in an appropriate way. If you see your child acting jealous, encourage him to identify the emotion by saying, “I understand that you feel bad because …” or “I know you hurt because.…” Helping your children figure out the causes of their actions will help them learn how to deal with problems in the future.

Do not ignore good behavior. To attention-starved kids, negative attention is simply attention. Notice your children interacting respectfully and working out conflicts peacefully and reward them with praise. Be sure each child receives adequate parental interest and quality time.

Show appreciation for who your child is, not what he does. When a child feels valuable merely for his performance, he will feel the need to prove his worth. Instead, praise your child for his traits such as compassion or a tender heart. By fostering their self-esteem, children can learn to respect themselves and others.

Community Activities for Families

Parks and Rec

Experience Sioux Falls

Downtown Sioux Falls

Tea Events

Family Home Activity

Paper chain of kindness

Link to activity