Each Kindness
“This is what kindness does, Ms. Albert said. Each little thing we do goes out, like a ripple, into the world.”
“Each Kindness,” by Jacqueline Woodson looks into the consequences of the choices we make. Whether we choose to show kindness or not will have an impact on others that ripples out into the world.
Maya is a new student. The students in the class ignore and tease her for wearing second-hand clothes and eating food that is not like theirs. Chloe, the main character, goes along with what her friends do. When Maya smiles at her, Chloe turns away. When her friends whisper and make fun of Maya, Chloe joins them. By the time Chloe decides to be kind to Maya, it is too late.
Maya’s only transgression is being different. And although it is difficult to accept about ourselves, it happens often that we decide from first impressions how we will treat someone. Even more so, it is likely that we will do what our friends, family, or society model for us.
We love this book because when teaching about kindness and bullying, we don’t always consider how it feels when we are the ones doing the transgression. We don’t talk about missed chances to do better.
We typically focus on the victim and why we should treat each other well. But what does it do for everyone when we choose to kind? What does it feel like to be the only one to go against the grain to show love to someone else?
Read this story. Talk about the good AND the bad choices you’ve made with friends. Talk about how it feels to be Maya AND Chloe. Hopefully through these honest conversations, we will choose to do better.
Some things to think about…
When have you had a hard time being kind?
Is it easier to be mean or kind when your friends are behaving that way too?
Have you ever been treated like Maya? How does that feel?
Activity Idea: Make a kindness jar to celebrate random acts of kindness! Decorate a clean jar or cup. Every time you do something kind, write it down on a little piece of paper and put it in the jar. The same can be done every time someone else is kind to you. If you can’t write, draw a picture or collect cotton balls instead.
illustration by E.B. Lewis
