Children at Palmerston North’s Riverdale School are lapping up lessons in kindness.

For teacher and Kind Hearts Club leader Lynette Kenyon, the idea of involving children in doing things to help others was born out of her being on the receiving end of a random but well-considered good deed.

An unexpected stay in the children’s ward at Palmerston North Hospital a few years ago was made easier for her when she found a collection of emergency toiletry kits in the family room.

In the course of setting up a plan to pay back the gesture, she was introduced to the Manawatū-based Kind Hearts Movement, which provides a range of resources and ideas to encourage the culture and practice of kindness.

“It’s good that the children are exposed to what we do in a positive way, to know that it’s a happy place where we encourage living and quality of life.”

The club has grown in popularity, encouraging the children to think of ways they can be kind to others and themselves.

Their latest focus in Arohanui Hospice, a connection inspired by the school’s late teacher Drew Pouniu​, who died three years ago after receiving a great deal of his care from Arohanui.

The main gift is baking.

Palliative care nurse Kara Montgomery said it was fantastic to receive little treats that made staff, families, volunteers and sometimes patients themselves feel valued.

She said it was part of the process, that the people who cared for the patients needed to be looked after as well.

“It’s good that the children are exposed to what we do in a positive way, to know that it’s a happy place where we encourage living and quality of life.”

When Covid-19 lockdowns restricted opportunities to get together for baking sessions, the children have made cards.

Kenyon said the children were encouraged to do whatever kindness they thought of, from Easter cards for retirement village residents, to love hearts for nurses and police, to washing teachers’ cars.

“Generally it makes them feel good, and they get so excited.”

Kind Hearts manager Robyn Tootill said the trust’s role was to support teachers to build a culture of kindness, and to help children understand its importance.

“It doesn’t have to cost money. It can be a smile, or opening the door for someone.”

Tootill said it gave children ways to manage their own feelings, to be kind to themselves as well as others, and know that a small thing could make a big difference.

This story was originally written by Janine Rankin and published on 4 November 2021 on stuff.co.nz. Photo credits to David Unwin.