The dust has settled on the start of this new year.
We’ve brushed the confetti from our shoulders, packed away our party hats, and set off in the direction of our goals.
Or – if you’re like me – perhaps you’ve just managed to get the gears of your life’s regular clockwork turning again after too many days without winding. (Yep, that’s a clockwork reference in the age of virtual reality. The holiday break really set me back!)
Either way, now is the perfect time to take action on the goals you’ve resolved to live toward.
This post is for you, the big-hearted parent who has set the earnest but seemingly sprawling intention to live more compassionately in the coming year.
Judging by the questions and suggestions in my inbox, you are multitudes, part of a growing movement of big-hearted parents whose resolutions included one of these variations.
Raise your kids to grow into kind, compassionate people.
Be more kind and compassionate yourself.
Worry less, and make a difference more when it comes to the world’s problems.
Or maybe you chose a one-word resolution like kindness, compassion, connection, or love.
These are all lofty resolutions for family life. And the evidence supports your ambitions.
Scientists have discovered that living generously can have a profound impact on our sense of well-being. According to this wonderful article synthesizing the health benefits of a kindness habit, people who regularly share kindness and compassion experience a wide range of mental and physical benefits, including lower stress, stronger friendships, a more positive outlook, and yes, even strong hearts (the actual muscle).
But these resolutions are rather vague. They could easily be lost in the day-to-day shuffle, tossed on the compost heap of forgotten goals.
This is where Doing Good Together comes in.
Doing Good Together’s Big-Hearted Families Program was created specifically for you, parents seeking the tools, inspiration, and expertise to practice compassion and engagement as a regular part of your busy lives.
The Big-Hearted Families Program is like a well-stocked toolkit for raising kind kids.
Our resources are broken down into four essential categories. Allow me to introduce you to our most popular tools from each category, perfect for kick-starting your year of kindness.
Volunteer opportunities come and go, but everyday lessons in generosity are as essential to your family life as teaching your child to brush their teeth or stay hydrated.
After all, compassionate habits are as important to our family’s physical and emotional health and well-being as the others we’re trying to instill.
This menu of habits was created with your family’s daily routine in mind. Start with one, and you’ll be on your way to a successful resolution by bedtime.
Also check out these tools:
Click here for DGT’s project instructions, addresses for your cheerful cards, and reflection tools.
Make Time for Big-Hearted Projects
Check out our growing collection of creative service projects, like our popular instructions to Create Greeting Cards.
We recognize that family volunteer opportunities and meaningful kindness activities can be difficult to find. That’s why we compile our monthly volunteering listings, along with an extensive collection of projects you can do on your own.
Most of these can be done anywhere, anytime. Most can be adopted to work for any age from around age 2 to adult.
Every project is sure to make a difference while you make memories.
Try our other favorite resources for beginners:
Studies show that conversation is an undervalued but hugely critical tool parents can use to nurture compassion. This makes intuitive sense. Grappling with big ideas requires kids to consider diverse perspectives, which is fundamental to developing empathy.
DGT has created a series of reflection tools to guide your family through conversations about difficult subjects that may arise as you volunteer and share kindness with the world around you.
Also check out these projects:
Emerging research is demonstrating what book lovers have always known instinctively: reading is an incredible tool for developing empathy, compassion, and insight into the world of others. Enjoy this set of conversation starters to help your family explore any picture book or chapter book you share together.
You may also want to explore these book lists:
These four tools are just the beginning. Our collections are always growing, so be sure to subscribe to our newsletter, blog, and volunteer listings to stay up-to-date on new opportunities to make a difference.
Are you ready to do more? Our Big-Hearted Families Membership Circle is perfect for any family looking to move more deeply into their kindness practice. We can help you find the right project for your family or offer ideas to take your service projects even further. Plus, you’ll receive exclusive access to additional resources, like book-specific conversation cards and all of the e-books for sale in our store.
NEW THIS YEAR: Members will also receive a Welcome Kit featuring a series of resources to walk you through Doing Good Together’s most high-impact, evidence-based recommendations.
Discover more projects in our growing collection below.
If you like our free resources, you'll love our membership program! Join today and we'll help you keep kindness on your family calendar all year long
Disclaimer: Doing Good Together™ is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
The recommendations we offer are based solely on our mission to empower parents to raise children who care and contribute.