Discover Kindness Connections!

Play-based curricular enrichment that supports preschoolers
in learning essential emotional and interpersonal skills

Designed with educators’ needs in mind

Circle image of a teacher reading to three students

Designed with educators’ needs in mind

Trusted, timeless, and wholesome: Kindness is a launchpad for developmentally appropriate social-emotional learning (SEL) that respects and celebrates the short, sweet season of childhood.
Easily plugs into existing themes and routines: Intuitive, easy to use, and made to fit into any curriculum and common themes, units, routines, and rituals.
Loved by educators of all experience levels: Kindness Connections is detailed enough to direct teachers where needed and flexible enough to inspire creativity and personalized learning where preferred.
Promotes a harmonious classroom: Children learn and practice basic respect for self and others, promoting harmony so that more learning takes place in the classroom.
Family resources built in: Family Newsletters and Tell-Me-More wristbands, make it easy for families to keep the learning going.

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Overview
10 Themes

Here's what you'll receive:

- A portable box that’s easy to transport and store

- 10 themes with 3 play- and experience-based lessons per theme, including connections to math, science, fine and gross motor development, problem-solving, mindfulness, and creativity.

- Lessons include activities for Circle Time, Learning Labs (centers/stations), read-alouds, projects, and family engagement.

- Items are reusable and consumable:

Reusable:

A teacher’s guide for each theme, which makes planning simple and implementation a breeze
An intuitive planner pad, that makes planning fast and easy
Student-facing activity cards that incorporate music, movement, art projects, puppets, and opportunities to chat with friends

Consumable for up to 24 students:

Student journals to encourage kids to apply, reinforce, and demonstrate their learning and to share it with caregivers
Tell-Me-More wristbands (3 per theme) to spark conversations about kindness at home
One full-color family newsletter per theme to engage caregivers in reinforcing kindness concepts, and showcase the great work happening in the classroom
Success stickers to help recognize and celebrate the acts of kindness that happen in a classroom every day

The 10 Kindness Themes

Core activities are organized around 10 themes, including:

Mindful Bodies and Movement: Teaching children to be aware of their bodies and engage in activities like stretching, yoga, and breathing exercises.
Understanding Emotions: Helping children identify, label, and express emotions like happiness, sadness, anger, or fear in healthy ways.
Building Friendships: Fostering friendship, cooperation, and teamwork through activities that encourage social interaction.
Empathy and Compassion: Teaching children to understand and care about the feelings of others, including animals.
Problem-Solving Skills: Introducing basic problem-solving skills to help children navigate conflicts and challenges in their daily lives.
Gratitude and Appreciation: Encouraging children to express gratitude for people, pets, animals, and the natural world around them.
Communication and Listening: Developing communication skills and teaching children how to be good listeners in conversations.
Caring for Animals and Pets: Teaching children about caring for animals, showing compassion, and understanding the needs of pets and wildlife.
Responsibility and Accountability: Encouraging children to be responsible for their actions and accountable for their choices, especially when it comes to caring for pets and the environment.
Environmental Awareness: Introducing simple concepts of recycling, reducing waste, and taking care of the planet.

Play-based kindness lessons that are easy for educators and fun for students

Simple and flexible to use

Teachers can use Kindness Connections in the sequence suggested or can adapt it to their calendars and the needs and interests of their students.

Supportive of foundational learning

This straightforward curricular enhancement provides all that educators need to teach essential interpersonal and emotional skills. Research shows these skills prepare preschoolers for success in school and beyond.

Helpful tips support teachers and deeper learning

Simple suggestions for effective instruction and ideas to go deeper into a topic are embedded throughout.

30 play-based lessons children enjoy

Kindness Connections brings 10 key themes to life in 30 thematic lesson concepts children understand, connect with, care about, and—importantly—can have fun and be creative with!

Learning reinforcement at home made easy and fun

A Family Newsletter for every theme and Home Connections ideas for every lesson give families conversation topics and simple activities to achieve vital learning reinforcement at home.

Celebrate all children and capture their curiosity

Child-informed, play-based learning through kindness: Kindness Connections turns insights learned from Highlights' readers into joyful, play-based learning that connects kindness to the well-being of self, communities, creatures, and the world.
Fun activities weave in movement, art, math, literacy, and conversation: Learning moments uncover fascinating ideas, ecosystems, places, and people to underscore life’s wonder, promote gratitude, and foster compassion.
Honors how preschoolers learn and what they love: Lessons meet children where they are with concepts and characters that stoke their imaginations, spark curiosity, and build their confidence.
Welcomes every child’s uniqueness: Activities invite all children to share their experiences and creativity, enriching learning for all students.

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