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 teach empathy whenever I get the chance.

For example whenever there are adverts on TV of children walking miles for water in Africa I talk to him about it, how hard their lives are and how they don't have the luxuries that he/we have.

I try to get him to understand that just having clean water coming from the tap is a massive luxury to many people in the world.

I think empathy breeds kindness

It's about talking more. Being honest. Really trying to make your child see things from a different perspective. Talking about how it feels when people don't treat you nicely. And treating others how you want to be treated yourself. Understanding we are all different, that we all have different strengths and weaknesses, and respecting that.

Always treat others how you wish to be treated yourself.
Also, everyone is different and unique.

For me it's about modelling everyday kindness and explaining it afterwards to children. For instance, I always try and stop and chat to people in the street when they obviously want to talk and ds would say 'come on mummy' and I'd explain later about how some people don't have many people to talk to in their lives, and tiny bits of our time make a difference.
It's obviously worked somehow, as last week I found him chatting to an elderly lady about the dog he was walking (he's 11) and really engaged with her. He's also incredibly kind to his friends, several of who have autism and he makes things like his birthday work around their needs rather than just what he wants

Teach by example is the best way. Children will follow your lead and act as you do.

I have two kind boys. A mother of another child once told me that her ds said that my ds2 was 'the kindest person in the year.' To be honest, I think a lot of that is down to them having a disabled parent and having developed empathy and the ability to care because of that. I do stress the importance of kindness though. It's part and parcel of having a positive attitude in life and putting out there the stuff you want to have come back to you.

Mine choose treats at Poundland for the food bank. I ask them to think about what a child their age would like.

DD is only 2 but we practice "kind hands" and sharing :) I also try to model kindness so she can see

I've always asked my sons to treat people as they like being treated themselves. My son loves taking the new kids at school under his wing as he started a new school partway through a year and there were a few people who were really good to him.

It’s important that as a parent you show kindness to them and others so they see it as the norm. I also encourage my kids to think about how others might feel if they’ve done something a bit mean by imagining how that would feel if it were them

Surely this is by example, my son is only 14 weeks but I will teach him the same things my parents taught me, to consider others, to share, to smile. I will also teach him to do charity when he gets old enough, so it's a part of who he is

My ds is just 3 but we are working towards that goal. Lits of positive praise for kind behaviour. Also really helps to have a big clumsy annoying puppy in our house. Although he can drive us nuts we all are kind and gentle with him 😍

I think kindness is so important and am drawn to kind people. I really praise my four year old when she is kind.

Talking to them openly and honestly about feelings and how they think other people might feel in different situations seems to help

In our family, we don't do blame, finger pointing or exclusion - it's all about inclusion, and sharing.
If something happens, we ask how, not who
If an action is put into place, we ask how that might make another person feel, or how it would make you feel
Generally, we take time to listen and talk and guide and the reward is a happy child, who shares her happiness with others and seeks to involve others

I think it's a lead by example thing. My parents were kind and always helped others, and I try to be the same.
My children get a lot of joy from making other people happy, and that's part of it too.

I praise my kids for being kind. And we model kindness. We do voluntary work with our church community at older folks' homes and a soup kitchen, and the girls are 1 and 4. I can't wait for ten to get older and get involved in their own ideas and things to share love. I always think of what Obama said about his children. That they were kind.

My daughter took her old toys to the charity shop and invited a child who was being bullied round to dinner to make her feel better. Very proud mummy!

“Treat other people how you would like to be treated” is my mantra with my two. My parents drilled that in to me and I pass it on down the generation.

Demonstrate kind behaviour and praise any that you see

Praising kindness and rolemodelling. And when the child is not being particularly kind talk to the child about feelings

I try to lead by example. All my children know that I was bullied terribly at school...I have been able to give a blow by blow account on what its like NOT to be pretty and popular or clever, and therefore left out of every clich schools seem to have. So far, I think I have raised (so far!) four kind hearted and happy kids, who are gentle and kind to each other & others, no matter their colour, creed, differences....they know everyone is the same in one way, we all need someone to be kind to us, and pick us up when we're down!

Dd, 7, has always been kind, thoughtful and caring. She recently had over 35 cms of hair cut off to donate to the Little Princess Trust, and she collected over £700 for the charity. She actively seeks out ways to help others. I think it is probably partly because we’ve tried to bring our DC to think of others and do what we can to help those who could do with help, in a variety of ways, but both kids are genuinely thoughtful and keen to help where they are able.

Treat your child with kindness like you want to be treated and give them little hints like "that old lady is struggling to open the door with her stick do you think we could help her" things like that taught from as young as 3yrs old are then natural to them as they grow older and they are more intune with being kind and thoughtful

Always praise good behaviour and when having to tell them off, highlight that it's their behaviour that's bad and not them being a "bad child".