An A to Z of enhancements: K is for Kindness

Some of the enhancements that we have added to the environment have had a special focus on promoting and valuing kindness. Development Matters states that children aged 3-4 years should ‘understand gradually how others might be feeling.’ Our kindness enhancements support this and encourage children to think about how their acts of kindness can make an impact on other’s feelings.

COMPLIMENT LANYARDS

The children had been enjoying a book called ABCs of Kindness by Samantha Berger. We read a little of it each day and it sparked conversation about how we could be kind in the ways that the book suggests.

The nursery classes took part in an adult-guided activity to make a ‘compliment lanyard’ for a friend. We talked about what a compliment was and how it might make the receiver of one feel. The lanyards were made from wool and a cardboard tag with a single hole punched in. After having the adults model some compliments to each other the children came up with some kind things to say about their friends including ‘I like you because you share with me’, ‘I like you because you are a kind friend.’ The children did their own writing on one side of the tag and the adults scribed what they had said on the other side.