5 Ways To Make Kindness a Family Activity
By Sandi Schwartz
Why do you help others ? Yes , it ’ s the right thing to do – but did you know that it also makes you happier and healthier ? It may seem a bit selfish to look at how being kind to others is beneficial to us personally , but the recent science surrounding kindness is so fascinating that we can ’ t ignore it . Plus , it ’ s important for parents to understand why we want to instill kindness in our children so that we can provide all the reasons to them when they question it .
What Happens When We Are Kind ?
Kindness is a win-win for both the giver and receiver . Our brain chemistry actually changes when we do something nice for another person . Studies show that thinking about , watching or practicing kindness stimulates the vagus nerve , which is linked to the production of oxytocin in our brain . Oxytocin is a hormone that soothes us , making us feel calmer and happier . Kindness also triggers the production of dopamine , the hormone responsible for positive emotions and that natural high feeling we get . As a result , we experience positive health changes including :
• Increased life expectancy
• Feeling less lonely
• Stronger immune system
• Fewer aches and pains
• Decrease in stress and anxiety
• Less depression
How Kindness and Stress Are Connected
How can helping someone else reduce our stress level ? A study published recently by UCLA and Yale University School of Medicine linked acts of kindness to stress reduction . For 14 days , a group of adults was asked to report stressful events they experienced each day from several categories ( e . g ., interpersonal , work / education , home , finance , health / accident ). They were also asked to report whether they participated in various helpful behaviors ( e . g ., held open a door , helped with schoolwork , asked someone if they needed help ) that day .
Results showed that on any given day , helping others controlled the effects of stress on overall health .
Researchers concluded that volunteerism can be an important way of coping with stress . According to the Association for Psychological Science , study author Emily Ansell of the Yale University School of Medicine said , “ Stressful days usually lead us to have a worse mood and poorer mental health , but our findings suggest that if we do small things for others , such as holding a door open for someone , we won ’ t feel as poorly on stressful days .”
Ways To Expand Kindness in Your Family ’ s Life
Now that you know all the amazing benefits of kindness , don ’ t you just want to get out there and make someone smile ? There are so many simple ways you can incorporate kindness into your family ’ s daily routine .
• Find a local volunteer project to do as a family .
• Do random acts of kindness with your kids and talk to them about the experience . How did it make them feel ? Some ideas include leaving a treat on a neighbor ’ s doorstep , giving a very generous tip to restaurant staff , opening a door for a stranger and helping the elderly with groceries .
• Send a thank-you note to someone who has done something special for you .
• Join a kindness challenge . I encourage everyone to sign up with KindSpring . The site offers kindness challenges and an online community of people who practice small acts of kindness , share stories and support each other .
• Bring kindness programs to your child ’ s school . Check out the following wonderful resources :
ς Ripple Kindness Project : Provides a kindness school curriculum and an interactive community with stories and inspiration . They also offer kindness cards and other products .
ς Random Acts of Kindness Foundation : Encourages the spread of kindness in schools , communities and homes through inspiration , ideas , stories and school curriculum .
ς Kindness Matters 365 : This program connects children with philanthropic organizations so they can learn firsthand what it means to be a good Samaritans – through acts of charity and kindness .
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