Resources and Links

In today's increasingly complex and intolerant world, it is more important than ever for us to nurture kindness, empathy and compassion among our children and communities. Sometimes, the biggest challenge is just knowing where to start. Below are a variety of different public resources, including books, videos, research and stories of kindness in action, that may be helpful or inspirational.

Upworthy Partner Series

Want to make the world better but don't know how? Take a lesson from these amazing kids. (Upworthy.com/ December 21, 2017)
He didn't know anything about disability. But what he learned would make a lasting impact. (Upworthy.com/ December 19, 2017)
The moving reason a mom and daughter teamed up to tackle bullying in schools. (Upworthy.com/ December 18, 2017)
A man fleeing a wildfire begged her for help. That's when this kid sprang into action. (Upworthy.com/ November 20, 2017)

Kindness In Action

Empathy: Most Important When It Is Most Difficult (HUFFINGTON POST / January 31, 2017)

Dr. Michelle Borba provides insight on 10 Ways to Raise a Charitable Kid (US NEWS / January 16, 2017)

These 6 Kids’ Drawings Of Kindness Nail The Best Thing About It (HUFFINGTON POST / January 16, 2017)

Children's Books

Master of Mindfulness: How to Be Your Own Superhero in Times of Stress
Angelina Alvarez, Laurie Grossman, Mr. Musumeci's 5th Grade Class

Those Shoes
Maribeth Boelts

We All Sing With The Same Voice
Sheppard M. Greene, J. Philip Miller

Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed
Emily Pearson, Fumi Kosaka

The Invisible Boy
Trudy Ludwig

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids
Carol McCloud

Enemy Pie
Derek Munson

The Three Questions
Jon J Muth

Last Stop On Market Street
Matt de la Pena

The Giving Tree
Shel Silverstein

A Sick Day for Amos McGee
Erin E. Stead, Philip C. Stead

Horton Hears a Who
Dr. Suess

Rude Cakes
Rowboat Watkins

Each Kindness
Jacqueline Woodson

Parenting Books

UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World
Dr. Michele Borba

Building Emotional Intelligence
Linda Lantieri

The Kindness Diaries: One Man's Quest to Ignite Goodwill and Transform Lives Around the World
Leon Logothetis

Tomorrow's Change Makers
Marilyn Price-Mitchell, Ph.D

Research/ Articles

How Parents Can Cultivate Empathy in Children
This white paper by Richard Weissbourd, Child & Family Psychologist and Harvard Professor, and Dr. Stephanie Jones, Associate Professor in Human Development and Urban Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education, from the Making Caring Common Project at Harvard Graduate School of Education walks through best practices and tips on how to cultivate empathy in their children.

10 Ways to Raise a Grateful Kid
PBS Parents; by Homa S. Tavanger

Teaching empathy: Evidence-based tips for fostering empathy in children
ParentingScience.com, by Gwen Dewar, Ph.D

Be Fearless Be Kind Tools

Mindfulness

Be sure to review our series of mindfulness videos, which were developed specifically to connect mindfulness to empathy & compassion.

Toolkit
The team of experts at Ashoka Start Empathy have produced a toolkit that is focused on empowering educators teaching elementary school children with a variety of activities and lesson plans that demonstrate and encourage empathy/kindness in action.

VIDEOS

Raising Caring, Respectful, and Courageous Children, and Preventing Cruelty and Bullying
In this clip, Richard Weissbourd (Child & Family Psychologist) coaches parents on expressing their commitment to kindness and building kids' capacity for care and kindness. It speaks to enlarging children’s “circle of empathy” and modeling behaviors for our kids.
Source: Harvard Education: Making Caring Common Project

6 Steps to Build Kindness and Resilience in Children
Dr. Dan Siegel, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, offers strategies to developing the child's mind including 6 steps to build kindness and resilience in children. (Follow the links at the end of each video to view the next step)
Source: The Dalai Lama Center, March 2012

Raising Kind Kids
Dr. Christine Carter, UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, speaks to 3 simple, everyday steps for parents to teach their kids to be kind.
Source: UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center

Daniel Goleman on the Importance of Cultivating Focus (Video Playlist)
Best-selling author and social-emotional learning expert Daniel Goleman explains how parents naturally teach their children how to focus and manage emotions.

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