As parents, mentors and teachers, we know we can use kindness to better our own lives, but what about when it comes to children?

Recent research has proven that kindergartners with strong social and emotional skills, including kindness, were more likely than their peers to succeed academically and professionally, according to a 20-year study that followed more than 750 children until age 25.

Clearly this is worth discussing and implementing for all children, but think of the extra advantage for kids at risk, ones who live in poverty, violence or neglect. They need to feel and see kindness at every turn to overpower extremely negative influences that are often out of their control. We constantly have the opportunity to positively influence our children through kindness, even in the direst of circumstances.

““We have the opportunity to proclaim our hope that goodness matters. I want goodness to triumph in my children’s lives, and the one thing I know that I can do in a proactive way is to teach my children kindness.””

— A woman who experienced the violence at Sandy Hook Elementary schoo

There are three initial benefactors of an act of kindness:

The one performing the kind act
The recipient
The observer

If a child was observing you today, think about the impact that your actions can have on their lives long-term? Choose the kind road.