INDIANAPOLIS, June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Children today face a steady stream of bad news. From the Boston bombings to Sandy Hook to the kidnappings in Cleveland, children even far away from the events can be deeply and permanently affected. It is becoming increasingly important that we work with our children to balance this bad news. We don't want our children to develop a fear that leads to a narrow and pessimistic view of the world as adults.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130605/PH26436)
One start-up company has created a way to help children overcome this fear. They are helping children to be brave and empowering them with the courage to go out into the world and make positive changes. They are doing it through stuffed monsters called Promise Monsters.
Promise Monsters (www.PromiseMonsters.com) are monsters that each come with a Monster Mission – a random act of kindness for the child to complete. The child goes out into the world (with a parent's help) and completes a safe and fun random act of kindness. These kind acts range from baking brownies and sneaking them onto a neighbor's porch, to smiling at every person the child sees for a day. When the child completes the act, they get a reward.
"There is so much good in this world, but it tends to get buried under all the tragedies," says Kate McGormley, author of the Kindness365 blog and a Promise Monsters customer. "As a parent I think it's critical that I show my boys how to be part of the good. That they can make a difference by simply being kind. Promise Monsters have given me a tangible way to do this."
Through the Promise Monsters and their kind acts, children learn that a small act of kindness can make a big difference. They also learn that both giving and receiving kindness creates lasting happiness, and that kindness can overcome fear.
"Kindness is fundamental to human experience and is essential to the success of human relationships," says the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. "We all need kindness shown to us, and we all need to express it … To be kind is to call forth the best of our humanity."
Other ways that kindness can be used to balance bad news include:
– Limit children's time in front of the news. Instead of time in front of the TV or Internet, encourage children to read, listen to music, play outside, or volunteer.
– Seek a balance in your family life. Find slow, family activities, such as hiking, game night, art projects, or planting a family garden. Spend this time talking about good things that happened during the day.
– Take the time to talk to children about the bad news that they hear in the media. Ask what they know, correct misunderstandings, and reinforce that the world is full of kind people. As examples, use kind acts that appear in the news – such as the 26 Acts of Kindness movement that grew from the Boston marathon bombings.
Contact:
Michael Bogan
Email
8263 Indy Court
Indianapolis, IN 46214
Ph: 317-698-1545
About Promise Monsters
Promise Monsters is based in Indianapolis, Indiana, where they make all of their monsters. They are currently in the last week of a Kickstarter project to raise funds for the creation of Albert, their newest monster that spreads kindness all over the world. You can find out more about their project to spread kindness at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/promisemonsters/spread-kindness-with-usa-made-stuffed-monsters