When communities place kindness into this spectrum: from kindness to sympathy to empathy to compassion, it presents a set of goals for community reinforcement in the school. Compassion is a complex feeling, one that requires but goes beyond empathy - even adults wrestle with how to express compassion.

Help students express themselves in a safe space, so that they can begin to reflect with others. Such reflection is the foundation for self-reflection, a prototype of being mindful, and a solid foundation for their personal social emotional development and learning. SEL.

Teaching kindness can boost students’ mood, academic performance and lead to gratitude.

Teachers, shake up your morning routine with this quick social emotional learning checklist for your students. Easily reference-able categories across SEL can help your students engage and feel empowered.

A century ago, a nice Swiss psychologist sat silent as he watched children in schoolyards generate rules for various unsupervised games. He was fascinated at how they would come to their decisions, and what they would do if someone was not following the agreed upon rules.

EDAP - emotional development awareness program by The Happy Sad Company. Image credits: Lidya Nada