Showing others kindness is a simple idea. Often, the most straightforward ideas can have a potentially lasting impact. Just ask Jessie Hansen. She’s a 7-time children’s book author and motivational speaker who promotes her program, The Kindest Kid in America Award. It’s a school-based initiative designed to encourage kind-heartedness in children through public recognition. This program suggests that a single act of goodwill might change a life.
Jessie Hansen’s Journey to Advocacy
Jessie Hansen experienced bullying as both a victim and perpetrator. Her school principal helped break the “hate cycle” that so many of us fall into. The saying, “hurt people, hurt people,” can often hold true. Her principal decided to try turning her bad behavior around by placing her in a leadership position that he believed might help her feel the power of kindness. That intentional service opportunity gave her a different perspective on life. It became a turning point that set her on a path to her own healing and inspired her to work toward ensuring every child felt seen.
Through her work, Hansen advocates for making kindness a more prominent trait in young minds rather than a sporadic action. She believes acknowledging children’s kindness can reinforce positive behaviors. This transformation may occur when young people internalize kindness as a core value and see themselves as good people. It happened for Hansen; could it happen for others?
The Power of Recognition
The Kindest Kid in America award provides a structured way for schools to promote kindness through recognition. Storytelling is a key aspect of this initiative. A child’s kind act becomes a custom children’s book, which they are surprised with at a school-wide assembly! Community leaders like the mayor or a chief of police are invited to present the child with a gold medal engraved with their name, and news media are also invited to attend. When kindness is celebrated in such a significant way, the experience has the potential to make a meaningful impact on all the students. The award is not just about the kid being honored; the mission of this program is to inspire all the children to be kind.
Above all, this initiative is not a shallow, “warm and fuzzy” program lacking substance. Instead, some neuroscience-backed research supports the idea of celebrating good behavior. When the spotlight shines on children’s positive actions, it may encourage others to follow suit. This public reward could set off a chain reaction of goodwill within schools and beyond.
A Culture of Kindness in Schools
The Kindest Kid in America award has started to create a cultural shift in schools. Its structured recognition system has demonstrated the potential to be a game-changer. Within this paradigm, educators aim to avoid punishing negative behavior as the primary method of discipline. Instead, they take a proactive approach that encourages positive actions.
The initiative’s impact appears to be significant. The program’s framework seeks to make kindness second nature rather than an occasional act. The results? Schools participating in the program have reported noticeable improvements in student relationships, increased cooperation, and decreased bullying incidents.
Photo Courtesy: Jessie Hansen
An Initiative That Stands Out
Many recognition programs offer monetary praise. However, that’s not The Kindest Kid in America’s focus. The aim is to make a potentially lasting impact. That goal matters because schools often struggle to implement long-term behavior modification programs.
Hansen’s connection to the cause makes this initiative more than a curriculum add-on. Unlike other programs, it creates lasting records of kindness through books. Plus, it reinforces positive behaviors through follow-up challenges. The Kindest Kid in America aims to make kindness a visible, celebrated, and continually reinforced value.
Support the Kindness Movement
The Kindest Kid in America award is open to anyone who believes in the power of kindness. Schools can nominate students, parents can advocate for its adoption, and businesses can support it through sponsorships.
The program’s widespread adoption could lay a solid foundation built on empathy, encouragement, and positive reinforcement. Nominate a Kindness Kid today or join the Kindness Movement to help create a culture of recognizing, valuing, and celebrating kindness.
Published by Tom W.
