Kindness & Empathy
Kindness is a “benevolent and helpful action intentionally directed toward another person. Kindness is often considered to be motivated by the desire to help another…” (APA Dictionary of Psychology, 2014). Working from this definition, we can see that kindness takes action, and it often takes courage. As an action, kindness may show up as a comforting hug, encouraging words, a helpful or generous act, or a friendly smile. Ironically, although kindness is all about giving to others, the givers of kindness often benefit the most.
Children who are kind will develop empathy, connectedness, and resilience. By modeling and teaching kindness, students will know that it matters to us and it will lead to a healthy and compassionate culture in the classroom and beyond. Research shows that adult actions promoting kindness in a school help increase students’ motivation for engagement and learning. Acting with kindness sparks children’s physical and emotional well-being. Bodies and brains become stronger through kindness by stimulating the vagus nerve, promoting a stronger sense of calm, connectedness, and purpose. Additionally, kindness activates specific regions of our prefrontal cortex – the same brain regions associated with emotions. Students who are kind can better manage their emotions to navigate the ups and downs of life.
Empathy is essential for children as it helps them understand and relate to the feelings of others, fostering kindness, cooperation, and positive relationships. Empathy promotes stronger peer connections, reduces conflicts, and creates a more inclusive and supportive classroom environment in a school setting. Students who develop empathy are more likely to engage in helpful behaviors, resolve disagreements peacefully, and contribute to a positive learning atmosphere, all of which support both social and academic success.
Help your students develop empathy with this engaging three-lesson bundle, packed with over 20 worksheets and activities designed to explore what empathy is and why it matters. Using an Empathy Quiz, students will reflect on their experiences and discover how understanding others’ feelings can lead to kind and compassionate actions. Through individual and small-group activities, students will learn to recognize visible and invisible characteristics in themselves and others, encouraging deeper self-awareness and connection.
This low-prep resource includes Google Slides and Fillable PDFs, making it easy to use in digital and print formats. With detailed teaching instructions and discussion-friendly worksheets, these lessons are perfect for general education and special education teachers, counselors, occupational therapists, and parents looking to foster emotional intelligence. By teaching students to “step into someone else’s shoes,” this resource lays the foundation for kindness, perspective-taking, and positive social interactions—skills that will benefit them in the classroom and beyond!