Share your tips for raising a kind child with the new Wonder film: chance to win £300 NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

The team behind the new Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay movie, Wonder, would love to hear your top tips for raising a kind child. The film really showcases how - as one MNer who has seen the film - says “a little bit more kindness in the world would be no bad thing”. Another Mumsnetter who saw a preview screening said “the issues raised are really important for all of us to [be] reminded of. Standing up to things that are wrong (even when it makes us unpopular), and always being kind - how many of us always live up to that?” here

Here's the synopsis: “starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay and based on the New York Times bestseller, WONDER tells the story of August Pullman. Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. As his family, his new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to find their compassion and acceptance, Auggie's extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can't blend in when you were born to stand out.”

Wonder is rated PG & open NOW

Watch the trailer here:

So how do you encourage your child to be kind to others? Please share your top tips and experiences of kindness from your child...has your child received a reward for kindness, have they gone out of the their way to show kindness to other children or have they had a period of not being kind but have come through it and learnt how important kindness is.

Add your comment to this thread and you will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will get a £300 voucher for the store of choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight T and Cs apply

WONDER stars ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER JULIA ROBERTS (Eat Pray Love), ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINEE OWEN WILSON (Midnight in Paris), JACOB TREMBLAY (Room), MANDY PATINKIN (‘Homeland’)and IZABELA VIDOVIC (Homefront). Directed by STEPHEN CHBOSKY (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) the screenplay is written by STEPHEN CHBOSKY (Beauty and the Beast) and STEVEN CONRAD (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty) and JACK THORNE (‘This is England ’90’) based on the New York Times bestseller WONDER by R.J PALACIO

I think as a parent you have to set a good example, so you show kindness yourself, treat people with respect etc and encourage your child to do the same.

Do unto others as you expect them to do unto you.

Be kind to yourself that's the first thing. They copy you.

My youngest daughter (7 months) has a birthmark on her face. It will disappear in time, but for now it is quite obvious.

I have never had a child be unkind about it. They ask what it is and are usually concerned about it hurting her. They move on immediately when I explain and usually tell me she’s cute/smiley/has lots of hair.

I’ve had adults say some things which could have caused real upset had I been sensitive about the issue.

Unkind behaviours are learned. As most people have said, modelling kind behaviour is the key.

Cultivating kindness in children is simply showing by your own behaviour and giving them ways they can be kind to people - so we talk about acts of kindness or ways we could be kind or things we’d like to do for others as a topic of convo...

Show them kindness and when they are being mean, ask them how they would feel if someone did that to them.

I think if you're constantly making suggestions for kindness they eventually pick it up and do it themselves because it becomes instinctive. Suggesting sharing or giving something or "why don't you play with that person who seems lonely". They learn how to pick up on situations where a kind gesture can make a difference! It doesn't need rewarding but acknowledging it is good because you can confirm that the gesture had a good positive effect and that it was a lovely thing to do!

I think you just instill it into them from being a good role model more than anything

I encourage them to share. Play nice. and always involve people if they look like there left out. :)

I celebrate kind behaviour from my kids and others, even if it's tiny things (today, ds aged nine gave some of his tissues to a girl with a sniffy nose and told his sister that she was good in the nativity)

I also make my parting words as they go into school "work hard and be kind".

I try to understand why they haven't been kind as well, and assume that there's a reason. I start from the position that everyone will be kind if they can and it's seen as important, but that we try to be empathetic as to why people haven't been. We don't talk about unkind people but unkind behaviour

This does not always work. This morning, ds was brutal in the way he said I was rubbish and that he wanted dh to go to his nativity not me. Behind that though, was him being sad that dh has had a lot of late work nights.

I try to talk about acts of kindness that are free. Visiting a neighbour who lives alone, taking food to the food bank. I take my toddler and we talk about what we are doing and why

get them to learn the art of empathy, ask them to consider how they would feel if it were them

We always encourage ds to think of how others would feel in a situation. I think that's generally a great way to live life.

My children develop kindness by seeing it in action. I have always got them involved in my charitable activities and they now volunteer with local charities and every Christmas they take some of their toys to local children's wards in hospitals.

I point out little things he can do like help one of the boys in his class at play time who is very shy and explain why/how he could help. I always tell him mummy will be very proud if he helps others. We also always pass his old toys on and he understands that someone else will be playing with it now and never gets upset when we give his old toys away. I agree with others that children copy so be kind yourself.

Always praise kindness, and demonstrate it yourself whenever possible!

i lead by example but im lucky that my son is naturally very kind hearted. His teacher recently rewarded him for being so kind. My little boy offered to give up his play times in school to keep another child company who had just had surgery and wasnt allowed to go out to play! I'm so proud of him x

I involve the whole family in fund raising events and other voluntary work....we go litter picking on the beach and have fun with up cycling too

Ever since my son stopped needing a story at night and read himself, I instead cuddle up and ask him to tell me 2 things;
Something he has done that was kind, and something he is looking forward to the next day.

I tell him every night how proud I am of him. He literally squirms with joy and smiles.
Now at 11 he asks me how my day was, tells me how he takes to someone who was sad at school, and offers to make me a cup of tea.

Proud mum.

Lead by example. Kids always mimic the behaviour of the people around them so if they see you being kind it, will rub off on them.

As grandma hare taught me, it's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice. I dearly hope it sticks the same.

Embrace difference.

My youngest daughter has been victim to unkindness through all her school years and not just from other kids! It's taught her about having a face that fits and how it feels to be left out so imagine how proud I was when she talked all her friends into inviting another girl to come out with them, a girl who's moody and difficult and the others don't really get along with, but she talked them all into asking her to come ice skating with them so she didn't get left out. She's lovely like that, at 14yrs old they can be really unkind to each other but she seems to stay out of all the nastiness and is friends with (mostly) everyone.

My DCs are so kind-hearted. They "adopt" any kid who is playing in the vicinity of them and let them join in and share their toys with them. They struggle more with sharing their toys with each other though! :) They also can sense when I have had a bad day and need a massive bear hug.

I think a lot of it is learning by example, although some of it is nature. Kindness comes naturally to my youngest daughter, she is caring and empathetic. My eldest has always been a little less aware and sometimes needs a gentle nudge in everyday kindness. Having said that they both love to help other people and have been buddy's at school.