I’ve experienced firsthand how a simple poem can ignite a spark of kindness in a kid. Remember that time little Timmy wrote a poem about sharing his toys? The whole class was touched!
Poems help kids understand big feelings like empathy and compassion in a way that sticks with ’em. Kindness poems for kids are like little seeds planted in young minds. They help ’em blossom into caring, compassionate humans. Imagine tiny hearts soaking up words about sharing, helping, and being kind to everyone. It’s like magic, watchin’ these poems spark their imaginations and inspire acts of kindness.
Let’s create something that’ll make a real difference in their lives.
I just wrapped up It’s Okay to Be Different, and I’ve got to say—it’s such a treasure! It beautifully teaches little ones about embracing differences in the kindest, most playful way. The bright and fun illustrations are perfect for toddlers, and the message of kindness and inclusivity shines throughout. My only tiny critique is that some of the artwork feels a bit retro, but honestly, the heartwarming message completely makes up for it. This is a must-have for parents looking to spark meaningful conversations with their kids!
A big shoutout to the amazing teachers and parents from India who visit our blog! It means the world to have you here and be part of this community!
Here’re the 6 kindness poems for kids
Kindness Poem by Naomi Shihab Nye (USA)
Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.
Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.
Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you everywhere
like a shadow or a friend.
Read more about Naomi Shihab on poets.org
How this poem helps kids
Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem “Kindness” is like a treasure trove of lessons for kids. It digs deep into understanding loss and feeling empathy, which are super important for young ones to get. For teachers and parents, this poem is a fantastic way to show kids why being kind matters, by making them think about how others feel.
It’s got this way of making abstract ideas like kindness and empathy feel real and relatable. Reading this poem together can really boost a kid’s emotional smarts and compassion. Plus, the vivid imagery and relatable situations help kids see the impact of their actions, making kindness something they can truly grasp and practice every day.
Kindness Poem by Sylvia Plath (USA)
Kindness glides about my house.
Dame Kindness, she is so nice!
The blue and red jewels of her rings smoke
In the windows, the mirrors
Are filling with smiles.
What is so real as the cry of a child?
A rabbit’s cry may be wilder
But it has no soul.
Sugar can cure everything, so Kindness says.
Sugar is a necessary fluid, Its crystals a little poultice.
O kindness,
Kindness
Sweetly picking up pieces!
My Japanese silks, desperate butterflies,
May be pinned any minute, anesthetized.
And here you come, with a cup of tea
Wreathed in steam.
The blood jet is poetry,
There is no stopping it.
You hand me two children, two roses.
Read more about Sylvia Plath on allpoetry.com
How this poem helps kids
Sylvia Plath’s poem on kindness really nails the idea of those small, everyday acts of compassion that kids can totally get. It’s about those little things, like a kind word or a comforting hug, that can make someone’s day.
For teachers and parents, this poem is gold—it shows kids that kindness doesn’t have to be a big deal. It’s the simple, everyday gestures that matter. By talking about this poem, adults can help kids see that everyone can be kind and that their actions can spread a lot of good vibes.
The poem’s vivid images and relatable scenes make kindness something real and doable for kids, something they can weave into their daily lives.
Kindness Poem by Edgar Guest (USA)
One never knows
How far a word of kindness goes;
One never sees
How far a smile of friendship flees.
Down, through the years,
The deed forgotten reappears.
One kindly word
The souls of many here has stirred.
Man goes his way
And tells with every passing day,
Until life’s end:
“Once unto me he played the friend.“
We cannot say
What lips are praising us today.
We cannot tell
Whose prayers ask God to guard us well.
But kindness lives
Beyond the memory of him who gives.
Read more about Edgar Guest yourdailypoem.com
How this poem is useful to the children
Edgar Guest’s poem on Kindness hits home with its message about how far a little kindness can go. It’s perfect for kids because it shows that even small acts of kindness can ripple out and make a big impact.
For teachers and parents, this poem is a fantastic tool to teach kids that their actions matter. It reminds them that a simple smile or a friendly word can brighten someone’s day, even if they don’t see the immediate effect. Discussing this poem can help kids understand that kindness is powerful and lasting.
Plus, the poem’s easy language and relatable ideas make it a great way to inspire kids to be kind in their everyday lives, spreading positivity wherever they go.
Little Deeds of Kindness – kidsandquotes.com
Little hands, little feet,
Make the world a place so sweet.
Little smiles, little hugs,
Fill our days with sunshine bugs.
Little words of love and cheer,
Make the darkness disappear.
How this poem helps culture kindness in kids
Having read so many poems and being inspired by great poets and writers, I tried writing a few, hope you’ll like these.
This little ditty? Oh, it’s a gem! Perfect for those wiggly kiddos just learning about the power they hold. See, those “little hands” and “little feet” aren’t just for making messes, they’re for making the world a better place. And those “little smiles” and “hugs”?
Pure sunshine, chasing away the blues faster than you can say “recess!” This poem reminds our little ones that even the smallest actions can light up a room, a heart, a whole day. It’s like a secret recipe for spreading joy, one tiny ingredient at a time.
Kindness Garden – kidsandquotes.com
In a garden of the heart,
Kindness seeds we sow.
With a smile and gentle word,
Love and friendship grow.
Watered by a helping hand,
Blooms of joy we see.
A kindness garden, bright and grand,
For all the world to be.
How this poem inspires kids
This poem – Kindness Garden, it’s like a little gardening lesson for the soul! We’re not just planting flowers here, we’re planting the seeds of kindness, right in the heart. It paints this beautiful picture, see? A smile is sunshine, a gentle word is water, and a helping hand?
Well, that’s the good ol’ fertilizer that helps love and friendship sprout. Kids get it, you know? They understand how things grow. And this poem shows them that kindness isn’t just something you do, it’s something you cultivate. It blooms into joy, not just for them, but for everyone around.
This poem, it’s like a little blueprint for building a brighter world, one kind act at a time.
The Rainbow of Kindness – kidsandquotes.com
A rainbow shines so bright and fair,
With colors sparkling everywhere.
Like kindness spreading joy and light,
Making all the world so right.
Red for love, orange for cheer,
Yellow for sunshine, green for near.
Blue for trust, indigo for peace,
Violet for hope that never cease.
How this poem motivates kids to be kind
This poem – The Rainbow of Kindness, it’s a technicolor explosion of good vibes! Kids love rainbows, right? All those bright colors swirling together, it’s pure magic. And this poem takes that rainbow magic and turns it into a metaphor for kindness. Each color represents a different good deed, like sunshine-yellow for sharing or peaceful indigo for forgiving a friend.
Now, we’re not just talking about colors, we’re talking about feelings. Kids start to see how kindness isn’t just one thing, it’s a whole spectrum of actions that make the world a better place. It’s like we’re painting the world with kindness, one color at a time, and that’s a powerful image for those little imaginations to hold onto.
Keep the kindness growing
There you have it! Six little poems packed with enough kindness to fill a classroom… heck, maybe even a whole school! But remember, it doesn’t stop here. These poems are just the spark. It’s up to us, the grown-ups, the teachers, the parents, the aunts and uncles, to keep that fire burning.
Read these poems, talk about them, live them! Because let’s face it, a little kindness goes a long, long way. And who knows, maybe those little hands and feet will grow up to change the world.
