Last year around Christmas time, 3 neighborhood boys came to my door to sing Christmas carols. I knew right away they were just bored and wanted something to do. I also know that when I was a kid I loved exploring my neighborhood and truly appreciated adults that didn’t give me a hard time. Long story short, I befriended the boys, met their moms, and they are at my house or in my yard hanging out with me every week at some point. But that got me interested in writing a post about why kids deserve kindness. So here goes nothing….
They’re Just Kids
They are truly just kids. It may be frustrating to see them run through the foot of your yard as a shortcut to get home, or to be loud and banging around in the streets on their skateboards and bikes but they are just little humans and it’s their first time living too. I feel like as adults sometimes our instinct is to think WHAT ARE THEY DOING OVER THERE! But I try and see things from their perspective.
They Don’t Know Any Better
Numerous times I’ve had to scold the boys for doing things like picking up our little landscaping stones and tossing them in the yard or playing wall ball against the screens for our screened in porch but when I get frustrated I always remind myself to explain my reasoning to them. And of course I remember that they aren’t expected to know what it’s like to be a homeowner. Instead of just scolding a behavior or correcting it, let’s stop and explain why.
They’re Bored
Life can be boring as a kid so when you see kids having fun, just remember they could always be doing something worse. The shouts and screams and giggles as they frolick in a nearby yard may disturb your peace but what do you expect – they just want to have fun .
These Experiences Shape Their Minds
Being nasty to kids for no good reason makes them start viewing all adults that way. Instead, they will thrive on safe spaces created by adults, like if you allow them to use your basketball hoop. Rather than think every single adult is the enemy and out to ruin their fun, these positive experiences help them understand that us adults are just people too!
We Were All Kids Once
Finally, I always say…we were once kids too. Stop and think about how resentful you felt about the random grouchy lady down the road that didn’t like you riding your bike past her house. And then remember the neighbors that were friendly, or even that just left you be. We ALL were kids once and we need to remember that we’re ALL just humans living on this planet in the solar system.
Kids don’t have it easy these days….be kind. Change the world one interaction at a time.
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