1.) Find pockets of time to individually connect and help children identify their feelings (happiness, sadness, anger, frustration) and tell you where in their bodies they feel those emotions. Teach children how to breathe through the more difficult emotions (breathe in the roses for 3 counts and blow out the candles for 6 counts and then repeat three times).

2.) Take a genuine interest in their day (What was your favorite part of the day? Least favorite?)

3.) Encourage kids to pursue kind acts in or out of the community (visits to the elderly and to the home-bound, toy, food or clothing drives, giving to charities of their choice, volunteering in soup kitchens, etc.)

4.) Coview TV shows and read books with children and discuss acts of kindness and caring. Allow them to role-play scenarios, as well.

5.) Create a Kindness jar (place slips of kind words in a jar or coins, whenever they do something kind).

6.) Challenge kids to “catch people in acts of kindness.” Did you see anyone do something kind today? What did they do? Did you say anything unkind? What could they do better?

7.) Point out heroes to children (those who work at fire houses, police stations, hospitals, etc.)

8.) Encourage children’s independence and helping behaviors (cleaning dishes, putting toys away) and enforce limits on screen-time and on social media

9.) Model and encourage positive language to all (from close friends to waiters, cab drivers, etc.). Encourage the 5:1 ratio of five positive overtures (compliments, kindness, etc.) to only one negative.

10.) Practice gratitude via a gratitude journal, jotting down three positive things that occur each day, writing thank you letters to those who have been kind or have taught you something, etc.