Kindness in Schools: Part 1

There are many challenges of modern-day life that are plaguing the development of children and teens alike. Whether it be within the context of social media or in-person interactions research has shown that young people are lonelier than people over 72 (Grant & Sweet Grant, 2019) and are experiencing anxiety and depression at rates higher than previous generations (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). In one national survey, 74% of teens and young adults said they experience anxiety about their everyday life, 70% wish they had more friends, and 62% experience other people putting them down (Pew Research Center, 2020). In addition to those factors, Oregon teens surveyed said that other stressors include thinking about the future, trying to have a heathy mindset and diet, breaking social media addictions and fearing school bullies amongst others (Pew, 2020). This brief 3 part research summary is written with the intention of not bemoaning the challenges that young people face, instead we’d like to offer a research-based concept and strategy that may not completely eradicate these stressors, but it can help to dissipate some of these negatives. That strategy is kindness! Kindness can be taught and learned, and it can have an impact on our immediate mood, but also on our lives, and on our physiology. 

Research on Positive Outcomes Related to Kindness and Students

Kindness is critical throughout our lives because it is the basis for us to form and keep close caring relationships that bring lasting happiness (Vaillant, 2003[1]). Even young children benefit from delivering acts of kindness. One study demonstrated that toddlers exhibit more happiness when they gave a treat to others than when they received the treat themselves (Aknin, Hamlin, Dunn, 2012). The same is true for school-age students; kindness improves students’ well-being, peer acceptance, and academic performance (Binfet & Whitehead, 2019; Layous et al., 2012). In young children, kindness manifests as an act of emotional or physical support, by including others in activities, and in sharing objects (Binfet, 2015). Some of the links between kindness and benefits to the giver or the person engaging in the act of kindness exist across multiple age ranges, from children to adults (Konrath & Brown, 2012; Post, 2005). The greater the act of kindness, the greater the well-being benefits are for the giver or the kindness initiator (Nelson et al., 2012).

I’m currently providing evaluation services for the Choose Kindness Foundation. You can learn more about their work in schools here. https://bekindr.org/ You can also email me to consult on how to integrate kindness strategies into your school by emailing me at erin@erinchaparro.com

[1] https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/