One day when I was still teaching, I had the kids all ready, dressed in their winter gear, backpacks on, and in line to get on the busses. Then I found out the busses were running late. To fill time I asked the kids how they had helped someone that day. A couple of students were able to give an example of how they helped someone (help them pick up toys, tie their shoes etc.). Most of the students did not have an example of how they had helped someone that day. The busses arrived and I sent the students on their way. I didn’t think much about it.

On the following day when were getting ready to leave, a student asked if we were going to share how we helped someone that day. I asked and several students shared examples such as helping someone when they tripped on the playground, saying hi to the new student in the other class, pushing in all the chairs in the library etc.

This became an end of the day routine. I noticed students rushing to help each other when something was dropped, holding the door open for someone, waiting for the last student in line to catch up, making sure everyone was included in a game, helping each other zip their winter coats, offering to share their school supplies, picking up scraps of paper etc. so they could share about it later in the day. https://www.timeforkids.com/g56/help-others-help-yourself-g5/

We even made up different ways to applaud good deeds (The ketchup clap is still my favorite). The students seemed to genuinely enjoy finding ways of being helpful. When we take time, even just a minute, to help someone else we feel better about ourselves. Children feel empowered because they are big enough to be helpful. Instead of teasing the kid who dropped their pencil box, the other students would stop and help pick everything up.

What would happen if it became an evening routine to tell each other how we helped someone that day? Would you find yourself looking for extra ways to help others? What do you think that would do to your mood?