Our News

A quiet first-day moment can teach more about kindness than a lecture ever will.

On a school morning in Wichita, one elementary student noticed a classmate who was overwhelmed and crying. He sat with him, held his hand, walked him to the front door, and stayed with him into the school. They became close. No big speech. Just care in action.

KAKE News shared the story, and it spread because parents recognize what they hope their own kids will do when someone is struggling. (National outlets also covered this moment when it first drew wide attention; see CBS News.)

We will not print the children’s names here. We will not use their photos. The lesson belongs to every family, not only one pair of classmates.

That moment is the spark behind something new from Lettuce Valley: the Rainbow Rabbit Kindness Award of the Month.

What the Kindness Award Is

Each month, Rainbow Rabbit will shine a light on a real act of kindness between kids. The goal is simple:

• Celebrate noticing, not perfection
• Give parents and teachers language for “this is what kindness looks like”
• Invite families to share stories (anonymous is welcome)

We prefer public news stories and parent-approved tips. When we feature a moment, we keep details high-level unless a parent clearly says first names are okay. Private photos stay off our channels unless we have rights and permission.

Submissions are always welcome. Reply on social, or email [email protected]. You can keep the story anonymous. First names only if a parent says yes. We will treat every story with care.

Why This Kind of Kindness Matters

Young children practice social-emotional skills the same way they practice tying shoes: in real moments, with real people.

A first day of school is loud, bright, and full of new rules. Some kids bounce in ready. Others freeze. The child who notices a classmate in distress and offers a hand is practicing:

• Empathy (I see how you feel)
• Inclusion (you belong next to me)
• Courage (I will go first, even if it feels awkward)

Parents often ask how to prepare kids for classmates who learn, move, or communicate differently. Honest, age-right talk before school starts helps. Guides for families stress teaching kids about neurodivergent classmates with respect and curiosity, not fear (Scary Mommy). The point is not a lecture about labels. The point is: different is not less, and kindness is something you do with your body.

Backpacks fill with pencils. Hearts need practice too. A Cook Children’s child life specialist put it plainly for back-to-school season: kids need help seeing what kindness looks like when they do not already feel kind (Checkup Newsroom).

Stories help. When kids watch characters notice someone who feels left out, they rehearse the same choice. That is why Rainbow Rabbit’s world centers on belonging and empathy, not fear-based messages. For more on that link, read How Storytelling Builds Empathy in Young Children.

A Five-Minute Talk Before School

If you want a concrete script, try the conversation we share in The Back-to-School Talk Every Parent Should Have. Keep it short:

1. “Who might feel new or nervous tomorrow?”
2. “What could you do if you saw someone alone or upset?”
3. “You do not need a perfect speech. Being nearby counts.”

Then at dinner, ask how it went. Curiosity beats a quiz.

Small Ways to Practice Kindness at Home

You do not need a trophy shelf to grow the habit.

• Name the notice: “You saw your brother was stuck on his zipper. That was kind eyes.”
• Practice the hand-hold of ordinary life: hold the door, sit closer on the bus bench, share crayons without being asked.
• Use storytime questions: “Who needed a friend in this book?” “What would Rainbow Rabbit do?”
• Keep it screen-light when feelings run high: calm bodies hear better. A steady screen-free bedtime routine gives you a nightly window for one kindness question.
• Stack tiny gratitude with kindness: noticing helpers and saying why you appreciate them builds the same muscle. See Teach Kids Gratitude With Simple Daily Habits.

For more at-home ideas, browse 5 Simple Ways to Teach Kindness at Home and 5 Screen-Free Activities That Grow Emotional Intelligence.

How We Will Run the Award Each Month

1. Collect sparks: news stories, teacher tips, parent emails.
2. Choose one moment that shows noticing and care.
3. Share it on Instagram and Facebook with illustrated Rainbow Rabbit art (not private kids’ photos).
4. Highlight it in Letters from Lettuce Valley when the monthly newsletter goes out.
5. Keep the door open for new submissions year-round.

This month’s spark is the Wichita first-day hand-hold. Full report: KAKE.

A Gentle Invitation

If your child (or a class you teach) did something kind, we want to hear it. Submissions are always welcome at [email protected]. Anonymous is fine. We will never pressure a family to go public.

Kindness is a habit. We are glad to cheer it on, one small hand at a time.

When you want a story that helps kids practice belonging at bedtime, the Rainbow Rabbit storybook on Amazon and the Storytelling Coloring Book are ready for calm, screen-free connection. More tools for families and schools live at therainbowrabbit.com.