Learning to Be Compassionate: 6 Kid-Friendly Steps Sample

The Ripple Effect of Compassion

The Big Idea: Changing the world through compassion may seem so big. But helping just one person can make all the difference.

Is it really possible for us to change the world? The idea seems so big. How can you encourage your children to be world-changers without setting them up for disappointment?

The key is the ripple effect. If your family helps one person, then that person helps another person, and on and on! The possibilities are endless.

Spend time identifying ways your family can speak up for or show kindnessto the people in your life, from classmates to neighbors to children who live in poverty. These small acts of kindness will take only a few minutes but can literally change the world.

As you stand up for others you know, it’s possible that you’ll find ways to stand up for those you may not yet know.

Being World-Changers

How can you help your children understand that they can change the world in real, tangible ways? Not someday when they’re grown up, but today?

Use this video and the following conversation starters to help your children understand what it means to change the world, one person at a time.

[Video]

Reflection Questions:

• What do you think it means to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves?
• Are there people in your life who can’t speak for themselves?
• Has there ever been a time when you didn’t feel like you could speak for yourself?
• Did it surprise you that someone as young as a teenager could make such a big difference?

Ripples of Change

In this activity, you and your kids will see the possible ripple effect that occurs when helping others. To get started, gather these supplies:

• Paper.
• Markers.

Talk as a family about someone in your life who you can help, such as a friend or family member. Write that person’s name in a small circle on your paper.

Next, create a circle around that circle and write down who that person could help. Whose life could they change? This could be their friend, a family member, a sibling, etc.

Then, draw another circle and keep it going. See how many circles or ripples your family can make! Keep your drawing somewhere you can see it daily and encourage your kids to pray for those whose names you’ve written down.

Scripture: Proverbs 31:8-9