Thoughtful Little Ones

Children who learn positive social skills early in life are more successful learners later on and are able to form social relationships successfully. One of the Social Emotional State Standard goals is for children to develop positive relationships with individuals and the community. At a young age, this is a broad, all encompassing concept. We have started a project introducing children to thinking of others. We have brainstormed many ways that we can be thoughtful. The children created "thoughtful kites" that display some of our ideas. The students came up with 7 ideas on how to be thoughtful and now these 7 thoughts have developed into a new classroom motto. The 7 ways we can be thoughtful of others are: Listen when others talk, ask and wait for a turn, include others, use kind words, use polite manners, keep our hands to ourselves and help others? Our classroom kindness kite, reminds us how to be thoughtful of others and helps us to have a positive and safe learning environment. It is our hope that the children will remember to be thoughtful of others not only in school but at home and daily as they interact with others. 

Another activity recently completed at HO4K that displays thoughtfulness towards others, is writing with the purpose to thank another for something they have done. The students above wrote thank you cards to a fellow peers grandmother who had done something kind for the children at HO4K. They were excited to show their appreciation through words and illustrations. It is important at a young age to help children realize that good manners include being grateful for the kind actions of others. Of course the children enjoyed completing the task as they mailed off their cards. What big kids they are to be sending things in the mail!!

Some of the Social Emotional State standards addressed through the thought process and activities listed above are:.

H3.K.4 Demonstrate respect for each other in the classroom and school.

3.PK.1 Identify a range of feelings (e.g., sadness, anger, fear, and happiness).

3.PK.2a Express feelings, needs or wants in appropriate ways.

3.PK.2b Demonstrate awareness of feelings of others (e.g., gets blanket for friend and comforts him/her when he/she feels sad).


4.PK.1a Demonstrate appropriate affection for teachers and friends.

4.PK.1b Express common courtesy to others (e.g., saying "thank you", "please" and "excuse me", or passing a plate of cookies).

4.PK.1c Respect rights and belongings of others (e.g., "It is my turn to use the bike, but you can have the bike when I am finished").