Help Kindness Grow in SD83

SD83 schools will join thousands of others across Canada and the world recognizing Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. Students and staff will be showing their support for the anti-bullying movement by wearing pink, as well as by taking part in activities in SD83 schools. This year’s provincial themes are “Let Kindness Grow” and “Choose Kindness” and both are all about cultivating a sense of belonging – whether at home, school, or work.

K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl’ecw School District No. 83 Vice-Principal of Student Wellness Tanya Harrington notes that the underlying goals for Pink Shirt Day also are part of SD83’s Strategic Plan, particularly Human and Social Development and the goal that each student will feel welcome, safe, and connected to peers and adults in their school.

“Teaching children about kindness and empathy is essential for their social and emotional development,” says Harrington. With the Pink Shirt message for 2025 being “Let Kindness Grow” or “Choose Kindness”, Harrington offers some suggestions to parents about effective ways to instill these values:

• Model Kindness: Children learn by observing adults. Demonstrate kindness in your daily interactions, whether it’s helping a neighbour or showing appreciation for others.
• Read Books About Kindness: Choose children’s books that focus on themes of empathy and kindness. Discuss the characters’ actions and feelings to help children understand different perspectives.
• Encourage Sharing and Cooperation: Create opportunities for children to work together on projects or share resources. This can help them learn the importance of collaboration and consideration for others.
• Role-Playing: Use role-playing scenarios to help children practice responding to various situations with empathy. This can include how to comfort a friend or resolve a conflict peacefully.
• Community Service: Involve children in community service activities. Helping those in need can foster a sense of empathy and responsibility towards others.
• Discuss Emotions: Teach children to identify and express their feelings, as well as recognizing emotions in others.
• Praise Kind Behaviour: Acknowledge and praise acts of kindness when you see them. Positive reinforcement encourages children to continue those behaviours.
• Create a Kindness Jar: Have a jar where family members can add notes about kind acts they witnessed or performed. This can serve as a fun reminder of the importance of kindness.
• Use Media Thoughtfully: Discuss the media children consume, including TV shows, movies, and games, focusing on how characters display kindness and empathy. Encourage critical thinking about these themes.
• Encourage Problem-Solving: Guide children in resolving conflicts among peers by discussing how their actions affect others and brainstorming kinder alternatives.

By integrating these practices into daily life, you can effectively teach children the values of kindness and empathy, helping them grow into compassionate individuals. Looking for more information? Check out the SD83 Health and Wellness links!

Inspired by a simple act of kindness in a small Nova Scotian town, Pink Shirt Day has bloomed from its humble origins in 2007 into a global movement against bullying. The tradition is now being practiced in over 25 countries and has been recognized by the United Nations. Pink Shirt Day has become a global call-to-action as schools, communities, and workplaces are flooded with pink; uniting in kindness and in solidarity against bullying.