MISSION: Mini Superheroes of Kindness

I’m convinced that the sooner we teach our children the importance (and fun) of kindness, the sooner our world will start to heal itself.  For a preschool in Missoula, Montana, missions of kindness are now officially a part of their days there, thanks to Affiliated Agent K.

And my heart couldn’t be more full.

DATE:
Wednesday, 15 December 2010

OPERATIVES:
Mini Superheroes of Kindness and Affiliated Agent K

LOCATION:
Missoula, Montana

TIME:
during the day

I teach in a preschool – a school type of setting set with progressive methods, best practice and some ideas based in mindfulness. Of course, the children are enthused with superheroes. Whether or not you have seen a movie, Spiderman/Batman/etc. are on lots of children’s products. The problem being that most superheroes need to do good by fighting. In a school that does not allow such things (even if used for good, no guns, pushing, etc.). Our philosophy involves following children’s interests. You can see the dilemma – interest in superheroes, but doesn’t fit with what I can teach.

Upon seeing your website, I decided we would be “Superheroes of Kindness”.  A parent made 12 “capes of kindness” (with a felt heart on the back) for me and my students. (They would like masks, too, which we will make after winter break.) As part of a ‘kindness’ unit, we collected food for the local food bank. Yesterday, my students donned their capes while delivering 377 pounds of food to the food bank. They were so excited to wear their capes and be kind. Our goal (as superheroes continue to do good) is to do a random act of kindness once a week, capes and all, until the end of the school year.

I posted a picture and description on my personal Facebook page. The response was overwhelming, in comments and people who shared the link. I was contacted by friends of friends to see if they could share the idea. Former parents shared it to show pride in their former school. A co-teacher heard people talking about it at Aikido. I said our mission was to “permeate the city with compassion and gratitude”, and after one day it is working.

Although I would love to take credit, it is you that deserves the credit. Without you, I would not have had the idea. Thank you. And I will begin personal affiliated missions next week, with or without any confirmation, and will look at what you have left as notes as an example. My daughter will probably join, too. My mission this last year has been to spread kindness, compassion and understanding, and am thrilled to have a new means to further my mission.