Is 2009 the year for teaching kids to be kind?

This morning I read the brief stories of 20 children and young teenagers who had migrated to Australia from all parts of the world. Some were refugees, and most were from developing countries. Being kids they were honest. In fact, it seemed the younger they were the more honest their responses. Something that they all seemed to focus on was the kindness or lack of kindness shown to them by others.

Kindness, which is shown through a million different behaviours is at the heart of the matter when it comes to relating to each other. It is at the hearty of acceptance. It is at the heart of being happy. People can put up with a lot of stuff if they experience some kindness. Kids are no different. They can put up with a lot if they experience some kind words or are on the receiving end of some acts of kindness.

The parenting industry, of which I am part of, is very good at telling parents what to focus on when raising their kids. It has created a vast language and set of concepts that many parents are very familiar with, including; managing kids behaviours; how to communicate with their kids so their messages stick, how to help their kids achieve and be happy; how to help kids cope with some of the difficulties they face and how parents can negotiate the various tricky life stages kids go through. Communication, confidence, competence................

In 2009 we need to add kindness to this mix . Not only should we be kind to kids but we should help them be kind to each other.

The next year or so will be a lot tougher on all of us as the economy is still to bottom out. It seems more jobs will be lost and more people will do it 'tough'. We'll all need to be a little kinder to each other. It may be that the coming tough times will mean that people will turn to each other more to help them get through. The sense of community will be needed. Tough times always brings out the sense of community in people. This is a good thing - the silver lining behind the dark clouds so to speak.

I encourage you to focus a little more on kindness this year than you have in the past. Focus on kindness in your dealings with your family,colleagues and friends, and to those people around you. Kindness is not a quality or behaviour we have focused on in the last few very self-centred years. 'Look after NO. 1' can now be replaced by 'look out for each other'. It's time focus on being kind!