Daniel Tiger and Teddy share a ride on Trolley

Credit: Image courtesy of PBS KIDS

Kindness grows when we nurture it. Just like learning to read by reading more or getting better at a sports through effort, children can grow their ability to make kind choices by practicing every day. With a little guidance, small acts of kindness become lifelong habits. When we help kids notice someone who needs care and encourage compassionate responses, we give kids tools that last a lifetime. When kids take kind actions such as watering flowers for an injured neighbor or inviting a sibling into a game, they learn empathy in action.

One way to help young children learn kindness is by exploring feelings together. Start by naming and talking about emotions. What does happy look like? What does sad look like? When kids can recognize how someone else feels and understand why, they begin to develop empathy.

Help your child name emotions by making a feeling faces chart or use this pre-made feelings poster.

Kids love to move, pretend, and act things out. Why not use that energy to help them learn about feelings? Feelings charades is a fun way to show what emotions look like and feel like in our bodies. When children scrunch their brows to show anger or fling their arms boisterously to act out joy, they are learning to notice the clues that tell them how someone feels. They are also tuning in to their own body signals, which helps them understand and manage big emotions.

A daily feelings check-in is a simple way for families to show that everyone’s feelings matter. By sharing how each person feels and noticing similarities or differences, kids learn empathy and the importance of emotional support.

Practicing Kindness 

Showing kindness at home can be playful and creative! Even young children have ways to help and care for others, and a kindness coupon book is a great way to encourage those acts. Work with your child to make coupons for things like “I’ll help set the table,” “I'll give a big hug,” or “Let's play a game together.” They can give these coupons as gifts to family members or friends, turning kindness into something tangible and exciting. It’s a simple activity that helps kids see how their actions make others feel cared for.

Pretend play is a fun way for kids to learn how to care for others. When children feed a stuffed animal, rock a doll to sleep, or comfort a plushie, they practice empathy and patience in a playful, hands-on way. These moments build the foundation for kindness and compassion.

Learning to “make up” after someone gets upset is an important social skill and a big part of practicing kindness. Role-play can help kids understand what to say and do to repair after feelings are hurt. They can practice offering an apology. Read picture books together, such as Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney for younger kids or I'm Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff for older kids, or watch shows, like "Arthur" and "Carl the Collector", to point out examples of conflict resolution and talk about what made those moments work. These conversations teach children that kindness isn’t just about being nice; it’s about caring enough to make things right.

Big feelings often show up when kids lose a game. Learning how to be a good sport starts when emotions are calm. Practicing what to say and do in neutral moments helps children handle wins and losses with kindness. Talk about how it feels to win and lose, and brainstorm encouraging phrases like, “Great game!” or “Let’s play again!” These simple conversations prepare kids to handle wins and losses with empathy for others and compassion for themselves.

Find more ideas at PBS KIDS for Parents. Watch your child's favorite PBS KIDS characters work out challenges on GPB or PBS KIDS!