The 21 Day Kindness Challenge nurtures the social and emotional well being of students.  The attached article Teaching Peace in Elementary School by Julie Scelfo in the New York Times illustrates how important teaching kindness, empathy, and problem solving can be for students today.  Our efforts today will pay off tenfold tomorrow.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/15/sunday-review/teaching-peace-in-elementary-school.html?_r=3

​The 21 Day Kindness Challenge’s proactive approach to developing positive school culture has been proven to be an effective deterrent to bullying.  According to a report recently released by researchers assembled by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the punitive measures that many schools adopt to address bullying are ineffective and in some cases may even make the problem worse.  Rather, the researchers recommend a “broader, social-emotional approach that focuses on issues like forming healthy relationships, responding to conflict, and making decisions.” 

The 21 Day Kindness Challenge is designed to promote an inclusive and compassionate school climate.  By encouraging students to do at least five acts of kindness every day, and working with their fellow students to make a difference on campus and in their community, the 21 Day Kindness Challenge helps young people become compassionate leaders.   The 21 Day Kindness Challenge focuses on desired behaviors and gives schools the tools they need to emphasize the positive interactions they want on campus.  The 21 Day Kindness Challenge emphasizes respect for others, promotes responsible decisions, creates a positive atmosphere, develops empathy, strengthens the school community and increases positive behaviors.

Read the whole report via National Academies Press here.