Plant Kindness, Watch It Grow

The simple magic of noticing good things

A few months ago, my kids and I taped this poster to the fridge. I told them we were going to fill each leaf with something kind to say about someone we knew.

At first, they hesitated. Then came:

“To my sister: thank you for helping me find my Lego.”
“To my teacher: thanks for not laughing when I said the wrong thing in math.”

Ten minutes later, I was at the printer getting all four kids their own copy.

That’s when I knew for certain:

When kids take time to write and reflect on kindness, they begin to see kindness—and even better, to create it.

What experts say about kindness (and why it matters for families like ours)

Research keeps showing what you and I already know in our hearts: kindness and gratitude change people, especially kids.

Studies from the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley and Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program have found that children who regularly express gratitude and kind words:

• Develop stronger empathy and fewer aggressive behaviors
• Experience higher happiness and life satisfaction
• Build closer friendships and stronger classroom communities

And kindness spreads. Psychologists call it “prosocial contagion”—when one small act of goodness inspires another, and then another.

I like to think of it as planting seeds that keep growing, one kind word (and one leaf!) at a time.

A simple way to grow those kindness seeds

This printable kindness poster is one of my favorite pages from We Are So Thankful—a guided gratitude journal for kids and parents to fill out together.

This poster isn't so much a craft; it’s a doable reflection. Each leaf gives kids space to write kind words for someone they appreciate and color it as they go.

✅ Print now—no prep required
✅ Encourages gratitude, empathy, and social-emotional learning
✅ Created by the author of journals loved by 750,000+ families

“My students loved being part of this collaboration and the message is great.” — Dawn, 7th-grade teacher

“We placed these all over the school building and had to replenish them several times!” — Tracie, 8th-grade teacher

Try it at home, in your classroom, or in your club

Here are a few easy ways to use this free poster:

• Morning reflection: Write one leaf before the day begins. Who could use kind words today?
• Class kindness garden: Fill leaves with classmates’ names and kind messages, then hang them together.
• Family gratitude wall: Write on a new leaf each night as part of your bedtime routine.

As we fill in each leaf, we’re not just writing. We’re helping kids develop empathy and gratitude. It's growing a habit of seeing good in others. And kids get that!

Conversation starters while you write together

Some of the best talks happen when our kids' hands are busy. Try asking a few questions as you color and fill in the leaves:

• What’s something kind someone did for you this week?
• How did it make you feel?
• What’s something kind you could do for someone else today?
• How do you think your words could change someone’s day?
• If kindness were a superpower, what would yours be?

Sometimes my kids get silly (“My power would be giving people more ice cream!”), and other times they surprise me with something deep. Either way, we’re talking . . . and that’s what matters.

Why this kindness printable matters for adults, too

Gosh, the world can feel so heavy sometimes.

And while we don’t always know how to steer kids’ questions about the hard stuff, I do know this: when we help our kids notice good things, we remind them the world is still full of them, too.

We can keep modeling what it means to speak gently, lift others, and create hope from words.

And I’ll bet you’re already doing more of that than you realize, just by showing up the way you do.

Before you print, take a quick breather and ask yourself:

• Who has shown me kindness lately?
• What small act could I offer someone today?

You're planting something bigger than a lesson.

You’re planting light.

Grab your free Kindness Poster

Join my community over 1,000,000 parents who use my toolbox of serious and silly ideas to bring their families closer.

You'll get this Kindness poster right now.

Then each week you'll receive a free printable activity + conversation starter to grow the family bond you've always dreamed of.

“My kids loved filling this with kind words for each other!” — Danielle, homeschool mom

“A perfect way to build kindness in our classroom and home!” — Tracey, teacher grades 3–5

P.S. If you'd like more family bonding activities, you'll also love the weekday family boredom buster, this paper robot craft, and these serious and silly conversation starters.