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Share tips on how to raise a kind child to win £50 of John Lewis vouchers and copies of Wonder by RJ Palacio

58 replies

RachelMumsnet · 26/05/2015 10:53

When RJ Palacio's Wonder first hit bookshelves in 2013, it was featured as Mumsnet children's book of the month and became an instant classic.

So what is it that makes this title so special? As one Mumsnetter aptly put it: "This is a beautiful book - funny and heartwarming with a lesson we all need to remember: be kind". The story teaches children about friendship, kindness, bullying and being different, an issue that becomes increasingly important as children hit secondary school and follow their friends' example, rather than their parents'.

We're asking you to share your tips on how parents can instill values of kindness in their children. Post up your tips before 12th June, which is antibullyingpro.com Kindness Day 2015, and you'll be entered into a draw to win £50 vouchers for John Lewis. 5 runners-up will also receive copies of Wonder, plus a copy of 365 days of Wonder, a book of collected words of wisdom.

RJ Palacio has also written three short stories from different characters whose voices we didn't hear in Wonder - Julian, Auggie's school bully; Christopher, Auggie's oldest friend; and Charlotte, who sees Auggie's story unfold as a bystander. Head to Amazon or iBooks to check them out.

to find out more about Wonder.

This competition is now closed. Winners will be contacted shortly.

Share tips on how to raise a kind child to win £50 of John Lewis vouchers and copies of Wonder by RJ Palacio
OP posts:
Nottheshrinkingcapgrandpa · 26/05/2015 13:24

Being a role-model so that the children copy and it becomes second nature.

kpdchudleigh · 26/05/2015 13:18

There's an old saying that goes something like "Children learn what they live". I hope my children will learn kindness through my own example. We've cooked Christmas dinner for the elderly in our village, left groceries on the doorstep of someone in need, helped a neighbour search for their dog on Dartmoor............... although giving a lift to the 'sick' lady who turned out to be roaring drunk was perhaps a little off the mark.

CheeseEMouse · 26/05/2015 12:55

My 21 month old does some really kind things and I try and encourage that through praising the behaviour I like to see. An example is when her 1 month old brother is crying she goes to find his comforter and gives it to him (without me having prompted her) which I always tell her is a kind thing to do and thank her for it.

Tamar86 · 26/05/2015 12:51

My daughter is one of the kindest, gentlest children I know. I'd love to take the credit for my great parenting Grin, but I think it mostly comes from within.
I do always encourage and praise kind behaviour.

Theimpossiblegirl · 26/05/2015 12:51

I have teenage girls and we have discussions about this as it can be an unkind time. Both are pretty popular in school and I have always tried to instill the importance of kindness (using Mean Girls as an example of how not to be.

It doesn't hurt to be nice to people and you never know what they are going through. A little kindness could mean the world to someone going through a rough time in private. I have always done my best to model kindness and consideration of others, balanced with a bit of self assertion- I want them to be kind but not walk-overs.

Clawdy · 26/05/2015 12:49

As a mum and as a teacher I always found what worked best was being very positive - praising little things a child did that showed kindness to others, saying things like "That was so kind, Sam looks really happy now." If they did something a bit nasty, I'd say "That's such a shame,you're usually so kind. Sam looked sad,didn't he? " Worked well most of the time anyway!

dragonfly63 · 26/05/2015 12:45

Be a good example and let them follow your lead - the easiest and moct effective way to teach children.

hanliying · 26/05/2015 12:44

I encourage my son to share whatever snacks he get with his sister and reward him with more. He loves it and now forms a habit to share whatever he has with his sister.