A new study shows that kids are happier when they perform kind acts
Children who make an effort to perform acts of kindness are happier and are more socially comfortable and accepted suggests a new study published by PLOS ONE. Greater social acceptance prevents bullying, which tends to increase in fourth and fifth grade and is a critical problem in schools today. There’s also no reason why this wouldn’t translate to adults: performing kind acts makes everyone happier and more accepted!
In the study, elementary school tudents reported on their own happiness and identified which of their classmates they would like to work with on school activities. Half of the students were asked by their teachers to perform acts of kindness—like sharing their lunch or giving their mom a hug when she felt stressed—while the other half were asked to keep track of pleasant places—like the playground or a grandparent’s house.
After four weeks, the students again reported on their happiness and identified classmates they would like to work with. While both groups were happier, kids that had performed acts of kindness selected higher numbers of classmates to work with on school activities. “We show that kindness has some real benefits for the personal happiness of children but also for the classroom community,” says Kimberly Schonert-Reichl, lead researcher.
Again, kindness could have real benefits for adults and for their communities—be it your office or workplace, the coffee shop, or the gym. Do something kind for someone today!