By BEST Childcare Consulting
In early childhood education, every gentle word, every shared smile, and every act of inclusion builds the foundation for a kinder, more tolerant world.
World Kindness Day (13 November) and the International Day for Tolerance (16 November) remind us that even the smallest gestures—helping a friend, saying thank you, inviting someone new to play—can grow into powerful lessons about empathy, respect, and belonging.
Children learn kindness not from words alone, but from the everyday examples set by the adults who care for them. When we model compassion, fairness, and open-mindedness, we teach children that everyone deserves to feel safe, valued, and heard.
By embracing the principles of Be You, which promotes wellbeing, resilience, and positive relationships, and drawing on the Building Belonging Toolkit from the Australian Human Rights Commission, services can intentionally create environments where diversity is celebrated and inclusion is lived every day.
Together, these frameworks guide educators to nurture children’s hearts as well as their minds—helping them grow into empathetic, confident individuals who understand that kindness and tolerance are not just special events, but lifelong ways of being.
Educational Programming Ideas
With Children
- Kindness Tree: Children decorate leaves or hearts with their kind acts and display them on a shared tree.
- Read and Reflect: Read All My Friends and Me from the Building Belonging Toolkit and discuss what inclusion and fairness mean.
- Role-Play for Respect: Use dramatic play to act out scenarios of helping, listening, and sharing.
- Diversity Exploration: Celebrate cultural music, art, and greetings—helping children recognise that everyone belongs.
- Kindness Coupons: Children create and gift “kindness cards” (helping clean up, inviting someone to play).
With Educators and Families
- Facilitate a Be You staff reflection using the Wellbeing Learning Module to discuss how kindness and empathy strengthen team culture.
- Encourage families to read All My Friends and Me at home and share how they show kindness within their family or community.
- Partner with local community groups for a “Kindness in Action” day—donation drives, thank-you notes, or acts of service.
- Discuss Building Belonging’s message of acceptance—how educators can affirm every child’s identity through words, environments, and programming.
QIP Write-Up Ideas – Embedding the Exceeding Themes
QA1 – Educational Program and Practice
Goal Achieved: The educational program embedded kindness, empathy, and inclusion into intentional teaching and everyday routines, promoting deep social and emotional learning.
- Embedded Practice: Educators integrated kindness and tolerance through play, discussion, and reflection, guided by Be You wellbeing modules and Building Belonging resources.
- Critical Reflection: Teams reflected on their language and interactions to ensure inclusive practices honoured children’s diverse backgrounds.
- Meaningful Engagement: Families shared stories and traditions that celebrated kindness and cultural connection, enriching learning experiences.
QA2 – Children’s Health and Safety
Goal Achieved: The service promoted emotional safety and wellbeing by modelling respectful relationships and inclusive behaviour expectations.
- Embedded Practice: Emotional safety was fostered through kindness discussions and consistent behaviour guidance.
- Critical Reflection: Educators explored Be You’s framework on belonging and wellbeing to support emotional regulation and resilience.
- Meaningful Engagement: Families collaborated on social-emotional strategies supporting empathy and self-regulation at home and in care.
QA3 – Physical Environment
Goal Achieved: The learning environment reflected inclusion, cultural diversity, and collaborative spaces that encouraged kindness and belonging.
- Embedded Practice: Displays and resources represented diverse families and promoted positive social messages.
- Critical Reflection: The team evaluated learning spaces to ensure they invited cooperation, respect, and shared play.
- Meaningful Engagement: Families contributed artefacts and images to celebrate identity and connection.
QA4 – Staffing Arrangements
Goal Achieved: Educators worked collaboratively and respectfully, fostering a team culture of kindness and mutual support.
- Embedded Practice: Staff modelled empathy and positive communication, supported by Be You’s Mentally Healthy Workplace principles.
- Critical Reflection: Leaders facilitated reflections on the impact of team wellbeing on children’s learning and relationships.
- Meaningful Engagement: Educators celebrated acts of kindness and collaboration through recognition initiatives.
QA5 – Relationships with Children
Goal Achieved: Educators built authentic, respectful, and trusting relationships with children, embedding kindness as part of daily interaction.
- Embedded Practice: Warm, empathetic communication was consistently modelled to support belonging and connection.
- Critical Reflection: The team reflected on intentional teaching of empathy and fairness using Be You’s Connect framework.
- Meaningful Engagement: Children’s voices were documented in stories, drawings, and group reflections about kindness.
QA6 – Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities
Goal Achieved: The service strengthened partnerships through shared acts of kindness and celebration of cultural diversity.
- Embedded Practice: Families and community members participated in kindness and tolerance events.
- Critical Reflection: Educators discussed how authentic partnerships build inclusion and shared wellbeing.
- Meaningful Engagement: Collaborative community projects and family contributions enhanced collective belonging.
QA7 – Governance and Leadership
Goal Achieved: Leadership championed a culture of empathy, equity, and respect, ensuring these values guided all decision-making.
- Embedded Practice: Kindness and tolerance were embedded in service philosophy, policies, and leadership practice.
- Critical Reflection: Leaders reflected on how governance supports emotional safety and inclusion for all stakeholders.
- Meaningful Engagement: Staff, families, and community partners were engaged in continuous improvement aligned with Be You and Building Belonging frameworks.
Links and Resources
World Kindness Movement https://theworldkindnessmovement.org/
Be You Be You – Learning Modules and Wellbeing Tools
Building Belonging Toolkit – Australian Human Rights Commission https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/education/building-belonging-toolkit-early-childhood-educators
Read the storybook: All My Friends and Me, https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/education/building-belonging-toolkit-early-childhood-educators
UNESCO UNESCO – International Day for Tolerance
Early Childhood Australia – Be You: Inclusion and Wellbeing https://beyou.edu.au/resources/tools/inclusion
BEST Childcare Consulting
At BEST Childcare Consulting, we believe that kindness and tolerance are cornerstones of quality education and care. By using frameworks such as Be You and Building Belonging, educators can embed inclusion, empathy, and respect in ways that truly transform everyday practice. As always, use these inspirations to lead your service throughout the whole year in your everyday practices to truly earn an Exceeding rating.
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