http://picasion.com/gl/8VSh/
http://picasion.com/gl/8VSh/     by Barb Bellesini

It was Random Acts of Kindness Day on Feb 17th. What did you do??

Have YOU performed an Act of Kindness today? Have YOU shown kindness to someone else today??

Each child from grade one to six, chose an Act of Kindness to carry out over FOUR weeks. They were expected to do it at least once a day. Some have chosen actions that can be performed more than once a day.

The idea is to make them more aware of how they are treating others and how they are being treated. We read a book about ‘Filling’ each other’s ‘Invisible Buckets’ and how doing acts of kindness to others, actually helps to fill our own bucket as well. When our bucket is full, we are happy, when it is empty, we are sad.

Some of the Acts of Kindness, how the children FELT doing the action and how the recipients felt are listed below. Some of my favourites are: Act: give a hug a day even when I feel angry How they felt: I felt like I am good! Recipients feelings: ‘Phew, I don’t have to nag her!’  (This child did her homework without being asked and imagined what her mum was thinking!)

The grade 6 children made some posters to put around the school to remind people to be kind to others.
http://picasion.com/gl/8VSi/
http://picasion.com/gl/8VSi/

Some of the ACTIONS
Make my bed; smile more; help people; help set the table; help cook dinner; get up when the alarm goes; go to bed when I’m told; get ready on time; give a compliment; do the dishes; empty the dishwasher; clean my room without being told; play with my brothers and sisters, don’t fight with them; clean my room; spend more time with my family; put my clothes in their place; give a fruit salad massage; listen;  fold the socks; help tidy the house; do my chores without being asked; fed the dog or cat; or clean up after the dog; play with people; help people with problems; pray for people; give a hug a day even when I feel angry; help parents around the house.

How does it FEEL?

Juniors: Happy;  bored (they didn’t like making their bed!!); great; OK; I enjoyed it; helpful; terrible (When they forgot and fought with their sibling!); normal; good about this activity because people liked it!; like I am good!; nice and helpful; it was really easy but it was hard!; I was happy when I did it; disappointed because I didn’t do it much (I forgot); very happy; really tired but happy; it was fun; I was a bit busy; really great; tired and very, very good;  I liked this activity because I like doing chores sometimes; this activity made me less tired (I went to bed when mum said!); I felt like helping everyone; I felt like I loved everyone; good doing this activity because I helped my mum and it helped her a lot; good because I’m used to it (Now gets out of bed with the alarm!); I felt happy and I care about people; really happy and it was easy; I loved it; it made me feel good; it was fun

Middles: My bucket filled up every time; good because my mum praised me; happy because I saw everyone smile; good because I got to help my family; that I should listen; I felt weird; good and happy playing with my cat; playing with my brother was hard; happy when I got to talk to them again; fantastic; really happy to make people feel nice and happy; confident to do what I chose; weird and helpful; better and I also felt like I was making my family happier;  mine could have been better; I forgot to do it;  caring happy; happy to know my sister and brother were happy; terrible because I didn’t do it much; dumb; very, very, very, very, VERY happy!

Seniors: Very pleased with myself; I feel better; I wasn’t late for school; really helpful; sometimes I didn’t want to help but I did; a bit confused; I don’t see the point; really good to help others; I felt I could do a more meaningful action; happy for the challenge ahead of me; good because I was helping mum; like I was making mum work not as hard; it was hard at some stages; I was kinder to my brother; better and happier and I got along with people better; pretty good sometimes I didn’t want to do it but I pushed myself; happier because my mum was happy; good because I’m making someone happy; cheerful; A little proud I felt like I filled someone’s bucket; happy because I am encouraging my peers and family; tidy and organized; good when I was complimenting others; like I was helping instead of doing my own thing; proud of myself; good because I did it for the family;  easier because you get used to it; I thought it made other people feel good; happy to help my parents; very happy when my bucket got full; not very well I think I could have done better.

How did your family / others feel?

Good because they don’t have to do it for me; Happy because they all gave a laugh and a smile; I think my family felt happy; happy because I’m going to bed;  my brother is thankful and so is my cat;  I think they tried to keep up the good work which was making them happy; good that I made my bed in the morning and say goodnight.
“Phew; I don’t have to nag her!’ shocked; they felt happy because I was doing it; OK; pleased; happy and shocked.
Happy because they felt encouraged; relieved, less stressed; good because it took off the amount of work mum had to do; good because my parents didn’t have to tell me to do it every day;  I think everyone was very excited; like they didn’t have to do much; good because they could relax; happy because other people get compliments; relaxed more; 100% good inside! I think when I was quiet they enjoyed it; good because she was getting a hug from me every day.
They smiled when I helped them; Good because they didn’t have to wake me up and my brother and I wouldn’t be late for school; they felt relaxed; not as rushed and thankful!!!; helped happy and not stressed as much; grateful; confused like me; Good because I don’t usually play with her; I’m sure they liked my little idea; the other person felt brilliant; like they had more time to rest; pleased with me; I think other people would enjoy being with me more;

 Fill someone’s bucket today!!