what is kindness rocks?

Kindness Rocks is an International grassroots initiative to spread kindness & cultivate greater community connections through the simple act of painting inspiration for others on a rock.

These rocks are then left randomly in communities for people to find or they are purposefully placed in organized inspiration gardens where people are encouraged to. “Take one if they need it, share one with a friend who needs some inspiration or join us and add one to the pile” to cultivate kindness. The simple, yet profound idea, is to connect people to one another through random acts of kindness because…one message at just the right moment can change someone’s entire day, outlook or life! We call it the Art of Connection.

Why do we need TKRP in our Schools?

Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) is critical to a child’s development & can prepare children to become active members of a classroom, a school and a community, and when incorporated in the classroom in can transform a schools culture! Developing stronger social emotional skills is proven to iproe the academic performance of students, foster better behavior, and help students handle stress. The Kindness Rocks Project is a global kindness initiative that introduces the students to the importance of kindness and compassion through participation in paining a simple rock and sharing it with others.
To cultivate social and emotional intelligence with children, we must find innovative ways to include them in the process and Kindness Rocks aim is to do just that!

What is SEL and why is it important?

Social and emotional learning (**SEL**) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for one another, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.Students’ ability to succeed academically, personally and down the road professionally is strongly correlated with their social & emotional intelligence. Social-emotional learning is not happening as consistently in the home (or elsewhere in society) as it did in the past. Much of this has to do with the pressures presented in today’s society including but not limited to the increase in social media usage, teachers being asked to teach a curriculum geared towards standardized test taking, and increasing competition for entrance into colleges and universities.
**Self-awareness:** Know your strengths and limitations, with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a “growth mindset.”
**Self-management:** Effectively manage stress, control impulses, and motivate yourself to set and achieve goals.
**Social awareness:** Understand the perspectives of others and empathize with them, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
**Relationship skills:** Communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed.
**Responsible decision-making:** Make constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on ethical standards, safety, and social norms.