Teaching Kindness: Setting the Tone for a Great School Year

The start of the school year isn’t just about pencils and notebooks — it’s also about relationships. A few simple reminders at home can help kids walk into the classroom ready to be kind, confident, and respectful.

🗣 Remind Them: Words Matter

Encourage your child to think before they speak. Jokes about clothes, food, or looks can stick with classmates longer than they realize.

🧡 Teach Them to Notice Others

Help kids recognize when a peer might be struggling:

• Sitting alone at lunch

• Looking upset or left out

• Struggling with schoolwork or supplies

A smile or invitation to join in can make all the difference.

✋ Role‑Play “What Ifs”

Practice responses to situations:

• “What if someone makes fun of another kid?”

• “What if you see someone sitting alone?”

• “What if you feel nervous too?”

🏡 Model It at Home

Kids watch what we do more than what we say. Show kindness in your words and actions — even small things, like holding the door or saying thank you.

🌟 FGO's Back to School HQ

Academic success matters — but so does raising kind, compassionate kids. A few reminders at home set the stage for a positive school year for everyone.

👉 Find more back‑to‑school resources, including supply lists and parenting tips, in our FGO Back‑to‑School HQ: https://www.lubbockfamily.org/blog/categories/back-to-school