Caring:

To be kind and forgiving of others. To respond to people in need with compassion and generosity.

“I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life the deepest significance.” Pablo Casalas

A caring person is one who:

• Treats people with kindness
• Gives to others unselfishly
• Responds to the needs of others
• Encourages people

Activities:

Do Something Nice: Discuss what it means to be a caring person. Tell your children that caring people don’t need to be asked to help–they offer to do nice things on their own. Encourage your child to show an act of kindness towards someone in your family.

Caring Coupons: Create a list with your kids of things they could do to show that they care about someone. Take two pieces of blank paper cut them into eight pieces and staple along the edge to make a coupon book. Have your kids write down tasks on the coupons and give as a gift to someone they care about.

Puppet Response: Have your students make two simple puppets one with a smile on its face and the other with a sad face. Help to develop the character trait of caring by asking your child a series of questions about how people treat each other. Allow your child to answer the questions through the use of the puppets.

Caring Cookies: Have a baking day with your student. Let them choose the recipe and who they would like to share the cookies with. Have them make a card to accompany the cookies that expresses kindness.

Service Learning Activities:

Valentine’s Day Cards: Review a lesson on how to write friendly letters and put the skill to use by creating Valentine’s Day cards to give to elderly members of the community or veterans. Show them you care by thanking them for their service to the community.

Be Kind to the Earth: Design and make flyers with recycling tips on your computer. Post in a local park on their information board.

Give the Gift of Art: Design and and paint a mural of a floral garden. Donate it to a local retirement center so that the members can enjoy a beautiful garden year around.

Typing Resumes: Offer your time, skills and services to type resumes for those who are looking for jobs but do not have a computer.