Happy New Year! Last year we were so touched by R.J. Palacio’s best-selling book Wonder, the theme of kindness (woven beautifully throughout the book) has become a priority in our own lives this year.

We must be kinder to ourselves and one another. And as mother’s, it’s so important to teach our children to be kind. If we can show them by example that kindness, even a small act of kindness, can change lives, they will choose to be kind. Maybe they will have courage to stand up for that one child who is being bullied. Perhaps they will be a friend to that one child who feels forgotten, and show him/her love. Or, hopefully they will have the opportunity to remind a child who looks different from them, that he/she is beautiful.

Just as R.J. Palacio said, “Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.”

We all have different stories, and we were all made to be different. But, everyone can be kind. We have good and bad days, so some days it may come be more difficult than others (especially when others hurt and deceive us), but if we try to remind ourselves about the power of kindness, it may just make our hearts feel lighter, and let more love in in 2018.

To remind our kids about the small acts of kindness they can show their friends at school, we made Choose Kind keychains. They are made from a somewhat unconventional material from Oriental Trading Company, but with our free printable by Jenna, the discs were easily transformed.

Materials:

• DIY Unfinished Wood Circles, Oriental Trading
• Acrylic paint, blue
• Choose Kind printables (with a bonus GRL PWR printable)
• Mod Podge
• Keychain hooks or key rings
• Drill

Directions:

Step 1: Drill a hole into the top of the wood circles.

Step 2: Paint the front and back of the circle blue.

Step 3: Print the free printable, and cut out the paper circles on card stock paper. Once the paint is dry, add Mod Podge to the back of the printable and press it down in the center of the wood circle.

Step 4: Apply 2-3 thin layers of Mod Podge over the printable and the wood circle.

Step 5: Add the keychain loop on top, and add it to your kids backpacks.

If you haven’t read Wonder yet, do yourself a favor and read it. There are so many life lessons to take from it and apply to your daily life. Here’s a quote from the book that will give you something to think about as you make your resolutions, or goals for the year.

“It’s what you’ve done with your time, how you’ve chosen to spend your days, and whom you’ve touched this year. That, to me, is the greatest measure of success.” ~ Wonder