Preparing for the back-to-school season is about more than just new clothes and supplies. It's an opportunity to instill important values like kindness and empathy in your children. By engaging in kindness activities, fostering meaningful conversations, and introducing books and quotes that promote kindness, you can help your child develop a positive and compassionate mindset.
The Crucial Role of Play in Child Development
Renewing Kindness This September
Back to School Kindness is Around the Corner
As the summer comes to a close and children prepare to go back to school, it's a great time to focus on spreading kindness. One way to do this is to have your child make a list of kind acts that they can do for their classmates, such as offering to carry someone's backpack or helping someone who is having trouble with a math problem.
Spread Kindness by Caring for Animals
Pets offer us companionship, loyalty, and unconditional love. They provide us with an outlet for our affection and can help to reduce our stress and anxiety. In return, they rely on us for their food, shelter, and care.
One way to show our pets how much they are appreciated is to spend time with them. Walks, play, and time spent together lets them know that they are valued members of the family. In addition to providing our pets with the love and attention they deserve, spending time with them can also have a positive impact on our own well-being.
Spreading Kindness Through the Summer
Summertime is a cherished season for kids and adults alike. For children, it is a time of less structure and more play. For adults, it is an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures in life. And for everyone, it is a chance to spread a little extra kindness. Whether you are picking up litter in your neighborhood or smiling at a stranger, small acts of kindness can make a big difference. So, this summer, take some time to enjoy the sunny days and show the world a little bit of love and happiness.
Get Outside & Off of Screens!
Every Day Can Be Earth Day
Spring into Action!
Spring is a time of new beginnings.The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and the world is starting to bloom. It's a time to come out of hibernation and embrace all that life has to offer. It's also a time to spread kindness. Kindness has so many benefits; it increases happiness and energy, and it even provides a brain benefit to those who spread kindness around. There's nothing like a smile or a kind word to make someone's day, and you never know when you might need a little bit of extra kindness yourself. So go ahead, spring into action, and spread some kindness around. The world will be a better place for it.
Music Brings Joy and Kindness to the World
A Year in Review
As we say goodbye to 2022 and embark on a new year, it’s important to remember the things that are most important in life: our family, health, and our community. One small way we can make a big impact is to commit to spreading kindness each and every day. This month, I want to spotlight DGT’s best creations of 2022 in case you missed them, want to revisit them, or want to share them with others. (Yes, please do so!) Be sure to subscribe to our blog, newsletter, and/or volunteer listings so you can easily find all the good we create in 2023!
Celebrate Family This Holiday Season
The holiday season is a time to come together and celebrate the things that matter most. Family, friends, and loved ones can all play a role in making this time of year special. However, the holiday season can also be a time of stress and anxiety. With so much to do and so little time, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle. This year, take a step back and focus on what’s truly important. Embrace kindness and show others gratitude. Give yourself and those around you the gift of your time and attention. These small acts of kindness will help alleviate your stress and will also go a long way in making this holiday season one to remember.
Weave Gratitude Into Your Life
As the leaves begin to fall and the days grow shorter, it can be easy to forget all the things for which we are grateful. However, studies have shown that practicing gratitude can improve our mental and physical health. This November, let's take some time to focus on all the good in our lives. Gratitude is the act of being thankful for the good things in your life. When you focus on the good, you’ll find that your life is filled with more wonder and abundance than you ever realized. Practicing gratitude is one of the best ways to cultivate happiness and make the most of every day.
The Power of Kindness to Counteract Bullying
It's no secret that bullying is a problem in schools. All too often children are teased, excluded, or made to feel inferior because of their appearance, intelligence, or interests. But there is hope. Kindness has the power to change the culture of a school and create an environment where everyone is respected and valued.
Boost Academics, Mental Health, and Connection Through Volunteering
Focusing on academics and achievement gaps are priorities that must be front and center. That is why it is imperative to remind ourselves that academics work best when coupled with volunteering. Research shows that volunteering boosts academic achievement. Volunteers tend to perform better in school and have stronger social skills. Additionally, giving back feels good and helps boost mental health by promoting connection with others. Volunteering is simply a win-win-win.
Embracing the Last Days of Summer
As you are creating your bucket list of things to do before summer is over, why not embrace the last days of summer by spreading kindness? While an instance of kindness can be powerful and even make you feel good, the real benefit of kindness comes from repeating acts of kindness over and again. Let’s help our children embrace the last days of summer with kind acts of service.
The Power of Listening with Your Heart
True listening is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. While we believe we are good at listening, research tells us that we really only listen at about 25% efficacy. Other studies suggest that we are forgetful and distracted when listening 75% of the time. Great listening is something that is trained, honed and practiced. We can practice taking the time to stop, give someone our full attention, let them speak without interruption, ask follow-up questions, and refrain from judgment.
Raising Helpful, Responsible Kids Begins with Chores
Research shows that one of the best ways to help children become successful is to engage them regularly in chores from an early age. Chores are important because they teach children basic skills, provide a sense of responsibility, instill values of hard work and promote the common good! They also can be really helpful for the family unit!