Generosity and Kindness

 

The writer Henry James believed, “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” Toddlers are only beginners at showing kindness and generosity. But they’re learning, and the most valuable lessons come from those who love them.

 

 

In this issue of BABYBUG, Daddy involves Kim in creating a special surprise breakfast for Mommy. One way children learn to be generous and kind is by participating, with caring adults, in experiences that show them how to reach out to others. Such activities can be as easy as mailing a drawing to Grandpa to thank him for a gift or helping to pick up toys so that nobody trips. 

 

 

Children also learn about generosity when they are treated generously themselves. Whenever you can share something that your toddler seems to long for, you are modeling generosity. And it needn’t be expensive. It might be as simple as a taste of the graham cracker you’re eating or a turn with the broom as you sweep the kitchen floor. Being generous with your time means a great deal, too. Try a leisurely walk around the block, just the two of you. Occasionally take time for some extra pushes on the swing or an unusually long story time at night.

 

 

Perhaps you’ve noticed that your toddler already seems aware of others’ feelings. However, when another person is distressed, a toddler considers only what would make her feel better. If you seem sad, she might bring you her teddy bear. If another toddler is crying, she might drag her Daddy across the playground to comfort him. These are the roots of kindness. Nurture them and they’ll grow into a larger understanding of others’ needs.

 

 

Although toddlers are still rookies when it comes to showing kindness and generosity, the basics are there. It’s your willingness to demonstrate comfort, thoughtfulness, and sympathy that gives your child a lifelong bank of experiences to draw on when helping others.

Playing Together

 

In “Green In-Between” three young elephants explore color. All children, even infants, delight in clear, true colors. Don’t worry, however, if your toddler doesn’t name the colors. That’s a complex skill. Matching comes first, and even that usually isn’t until well after a child’s second birthday. 

 

 

In the meantime, here are some ways to support your child’s growing interest in colors:

• Casually use color words in everyday conversations. Talk about digging with the green shovel in the sandbox, buying a loaf of brown bread at the bakery, or coloring with a blue crayon.
• Toddlers can easily mix colors when playing with play dough. To make play dough, mix together 1 ½ cups flour, ½ cup salt, 1 tablespoon cooking oil, and ½ cup water tinted with yellow food coloring. Then make another batch, but this time tint the water with blue food coloring. A new color will emerge as your child plays with, pokes, rolls, and squeezes the two doughs together.

• Go on a color hunt with an older toddler. Show him a bright red toy. Then search the pages of BABYBUG to find pictures of as many red objects as you can. If your child is still interested, play the game again with another color. 
• Play Musical Scribbling. (Toddlers need to scribble before they learn to draw.) Scribble together on a big piece of paper, in time to music. Use the same color crayon or marker. When the music stops, switch quickly to another color. Talk about the colors, “Oh, you chose a green crayon this time. I will, too. See, they match.”

• Using clean watercolor brushes, paint on slices of bread. Use milk tinted with food coloring for paint. Toast the bread and enjoy eating colorful toast together.
• Admire a sunrise or sunset together--truly a canvas of colors spread out for you and your child to savor.