Kids learn about compassion from the models around them.

The benefits are that feeling and acting with compassion makes the doer feel good as well as helps someone in need - a social skill that benefits all around.

Kids at home, kids at school or anywhere grow stronger in their ability to be compassionate the more they see and practice compassion.

When an older kid helps a younger kid out in some way - whether on the playground or home ground they are both learning about compassion. The recipient and the giver both come out ahead.

Practicing compassion is good for developing self esteem, because kids feel good about their kind actions. And for someone who struggles academically this is a boon to developing feelings of self worth.

Encouraging a positive outlook on life sets the ground for feeling good within and in turn spurs kids into trying to help others, too. Practicing compassion is a lot easier to act on from a positive attitude.

We are actually benefiting ourselves first by caring actions, because our mind is peaceful and our body feels full of energy while being kind.

Two ways to help kids develop compassion

1. Adopt a positive attitude with the task at hand. A positive mental attitude energizes us for action.

2. Follow the 'golden rule'. Act in the best interest of the situation in the same way you would ideally want to be treated in a similar circumstance.

Taking time to develop compassion rewards us with feelings of joy while acting. Compassion for ourselves while we become more loving develops self esteem and the peace and joy that go along with it.

Good self esteem gives a kid confidence to take the next step in their learning, with the self-assurance they will be able to master it. And good self esteem is helped along by practicing compassion. Definitely a win-win way to go in growing and learning.

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The entire series is in this book:
Yoga for all Kids - With illustrations and descriptions, how to teach 4 styles of meditation and 15 gentle moving yoga poses that can be used as a basic motor skills lesson plan, plus 12 how to live chapters and a dictionary of 40 definitions of happiness in 83 pages. For kids of all ages and abilities - for teens and adults, too! Available as an Ebook or Print Book


Article by Susan Kramer