Author name: Afrikindness

Mindful kindness is key and should be taught in schools and at home. It is more than an awareness campaign or one-day PHSE class but requires a continuous reinforcement of this core value and practice. It is one that requires intentional action to fully realize its potential and benefits.

As parents and guardians, we put more energy into teaching our children how to behave properly by monitoring the type of activities they are exposed to on the internet, television, cartoons, and books they read amongst other things. Perhaps the question that silently plagues the mind of caregivers is: “are these limits enough to raise a kind and responsible child in today’s world?”

A report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) says the environment plays an essential factor in the health and well-being of children. ‘More than 1 in 4 deaths of children under 5 years of age are attributable to unhealthy environments. Every year, environmental risks – such as indoor and outdoor air pollution, second-hand smoke, unsafe water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene – take the lives of 1.7 million children under 5,’ says two new WHO reports.