Raising kind humans
CompanyRaising kind humans
Kindhumans Co-Founder Suzi Wilkenfeld thinks the best gift we can give our children is teaching them to be kind.
Becoming a parent is undoubtedly one of the most life altering shifts humans go through in life. This is the moment you become more than just you – but you plus one, or two, or however many little humans you decide to create. Caring for another human being is the ultimate act of kindness. But of what importance is it to make teaching kindness a lesson we give our kids? To me, it is the most important thing I can instill in my children.
Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate. While kindness can sometimes be perceived as weak or naïve, that is not the case. Being kind often requires strength, courage and maturity. A lot of people want to get ahead and be successful, but to deeply impact people requires a different set of skills. Kindness is one of those skills.
It all starts with being kind. Kindness has the power to multiply and positively affect you and the people around you, which is why it is important to realize the benefits that kindness can produce in our lives. Kindness can increase happiness and promote a healthy heart. It slows down the aging process and improves relationships and connections, which indirectly boosts your health. But perhaps the most profound effect, is that it can provide someone with a sense of pride by acting kindly to others, while having the potential to boost confidence and provoke bliss in those around us! In college, I earned my degree in Psychology, where I studied the effects of kindness. It is deeply linked to happiness and contentment on both a psychological and spiritual level. I’ve seen these effects take shape in my children as they learn to interact with their friends and adults in a kind way.
Children especially need to be marinated in kindness and love. It is through our interactions with them that they learn how to behave and navigate the world. By teaching them kindness and compassion as a pillar to success, we teach our kids the vital skill of happiness. After that, success in other shapes and sizes will follow. So how do we do this? Exemplifying kindness for our kids is the best way for them to adopt the practices themselves. I believe kindness is contagious. When we see others being kind to one another, it inspires us to act that way. Speaking kindly to others, refusing to gossip, opening a door, helping to carry a heavy load are all acts of kindness. Donating clothing and things you don’t need or simply donating your time are all great kid-friendly ideas on how to practice kindness.
We all want our kids to be happy and successful. As we navigate through the world of parenthood, let’s put emphasis on teaching kindness by exemplifying it for our kids. With this motivation we established Kindhumans to support a movement that celebrates kindness as a core value.
Be the one to make someone’s day, be the reason that someone has a smile on their face. Kindness is truly one of the greatest gifts you can give someone. There really is nothing more rewarding.
Author Profile:
Suzi was born and raised in Chicago and currently lives with her family in sunny Encinitas, California. Suzi is passionate about her family and giving them the happiest and healthiest lives possible. You can find Suzi in her happy places; the garden, at the Farmer’s Market and in the kitchen. She loves to teach her two young daughters to have a connection with their food–where it comes from, how it makes them feel, and the benefits of whole foods.
Suzi’s health and wellness journey has lead her to become a trusted resource for family and friends. Through her dedicated research, she has become an advocate for health and wellness, and an expert on purpose driven brands she hopes to share with the Kindhumans community.
“Kindness is happiness. An act of kindness can bring joy to the one who is giving and those receiving.”
– Suzi Wilkenfeld Kindhumans/Co-Founder & CEO