Inside: When we purposefully raise kind kids, one simple way to do it is to read books with messages about kindness and friendship. These are the must-have books you need to raise kind kids plus discussion starter questions about friendship and how to be a kind person.
Kindness needs to be explicitly taught. It needs to be modeled and praised and discussed.
We can’t cross our fingers and hope our kids turn out to be kind.
It takes a conscious effort to raise kind kids
One way we do it is we make Being Kind one of our only two family rules. Because in our family, we expect our kids to show kindness.
RELATED: How to Raise Kids Who are Kinder
One other simple way we make sure we’re intentionally raising kind kids is by stacking our family’s bookshelves with books that encourage our kids to be the best versions of themselves.
And we love books that encourage and celebrate kindness and being a good friend.
Books that teach, model, and praise kindness.
Books that showcase main characters who are kind and treat others with respect and fairness.
These are my family’s favorite books you need to raise kind kids.
Books Celebrating Kindness Inspire Great Discussions:
Books are a great way to talk through tough things in life that may be hard to start a discussion about.
When reading kindness and friendship books, we can start to ask our kids:
- What makes a good friend?
- How can you show kindness to your friends? to the new student? to the kid who is sitting alone?
- Has anyone ever been unkind to you? How did it feel?
- When were you kind to your siblings? How did it feel?
- How do you know someone is kind?
- How do you know someone is a good friend?
- How can you show more kindness at home?
- How was the main character kind? What did they do that you showed you they were kind?
- Why is being kind important?
MORE Great Book Lists:
Books to Encourage Emotional Intelligence
Books to Help Kids Be Includers
Books to Celebrate Differences
Books That Celebrate Kindness:
Need a few great books to fill out your bookshelf that celebrates kindness?
Here are a few of our favorite books you need to raise kind kids:
How Full is Your Bucket?– Bucket Filling is a simple metaphor for “filling” people up and improving the lives of the people around us through kind words and actions.
The Big Umbrella- Anyone can be helpful to those around them.
Because Amelia Smiled– One small smile can have a ripple effect of kindness that carries all around the world.
ABCs of Kindness- Simple, Normal, Everyday Acts of Kindness ideas, from A to Z
Each Kindness– Kindness, or a lack of it, can have lasting effects on the people around us. But a simple change can make all the difference in the world.
Kindness Quilt– Acts of kindness are easy for us all to do, and this book has some great ideas for kids
The Lion and the Mouse– An Aesop Fable that shows when we’re kind, it often comes around to benefit us later.
The Kindness Book– Preorder it now, launches in October 2019
The Golden Rule- What if everyone followed the Golden Rule again? How magical would that be???
Be Kind- Can these two simple words change the world? It can change one person’s world.
One Drop of Kindness– see how kindness can ripple and kind words and actions can help someone see kindness is the way to go.
One Caring Kid- Simple ways kids can be kind by showing they care about those around them.
I Walk With Vanessa– One simple act of kindness towards someone who is being bullied can inspire others to stand up too.
What if Everybody Said That?– Saying something unkind might not seem like a big deal, until you start to imagine what if everyone said the same thing?
Manu the Kiwi– Helping other animals find their gifts is Kiwi’s gift. He spreads kindness all over the island to all the animals.
The Green Ladybug- Kindness prevails when someone is different.
Pay It Foward
(Bonus: It’s also a movie you can read after you’ve read it with or to your kids).
Kindness is my Superpower-Lucas learns how being kind is way better than teasing others.
Books That Encourage Kids to Be a Good Friend:
Being kind and being a good friend go hand in hand. These books showcase what it takes to be a good friend.
Strictly No Elephants – Being left out of a group is no fun. Good friends invite you to join in, no matter what. Even if you have a pet elephant.
Pink Tiara Cookies for Three- It’s hard to invite a new friend into a friendship to make the group a trio. But including new friends to join in is important.
How to Be a Friend- Practical how-to ideas for kids to be a good friend and find good friends
Nothing Rhymes with Orange- It can be super tricky when you feel lonely when you’re left out. But being an includer is a great way to be a friend.
My Friend is Sad– What would cheer up a friend? Sometimes, it’s the simplest of things.
Friends– True friends are never really apart, even when they have to be apart.
Two– It’s super tricky when a new friend is friends with your best friend and suddenly you’re left out.
Enemy Pie-When kids have an “enemy” the quickest way to turn them into a friend is by serving Enemy Pie
Peanut Butter and Cupcake– It can be so hard to find a friend to play with. When Peanut Butter asked, “Can I play?” he doesn’t always get the kindest response.
Stick and Stone– True friends stand up for each other, even when it feels scary to do it.
You are Friendly– This showcases how simple it really is to be friendly
Rainbow Magic Fairies– Esther the Kindness Fairy and Florence the Friendship Fairy are just two of the Friendship Fairies that two best friends help (early chapter book/series)
The Invisible Boy- This boy feels invisible because no one will play with him. When a new boy comes to class, he knows just what to do to not feel invisible anymore.
Bear Feels Sick– Bear doesn’t feel well and his friends know just how to show they care about him
Nirali Dave says
Hi!
I am Nirali Dave. I am running my NGO, for underprivileged kids and it would be a help if i can get one copy of each book mentioned above. I think my 200 kids will enhance moral values and you can contribute it.
looking forward
Best,
Nirali Dave.