Adventures in ING: PlannING

ELVES with RESOLVE

Adventures in ING

ING is a wonderful world where kindness is important. In fact, kindness is the most important thing in ING and all the elves, sprites, fairies, and gnomes who live there celebrate kindness every chance they get. They celebrate small kindnesses like when someone smiles at them and they smile back. And they celebrate big kindnesses like...well...like when someone smiles at them and they smile back.

One of the best things about ING is that everyone knows that there are countless ways of being kind and countless ways of celebrating kindness. The tricky thing for humans to learn is how to notice kindnesses. Humans have to learn to notice when other people are being kind to them just as much as the need to learn to notice when they are being kind to others (and themselves). (Yes! You can practice being kind to yourself!)

But...once someone learns how to notice kindness, many wonderful things happen. First, they start to see kindness everywhere. Then they are able to be kind wherever they go. And the funny thing about being kind - the more you do it, the more you want to do it, and the more ways you imagine to do it!

Those are the Adventures in ING. Noticing kindnesses. Being kind. Imagining new ways of being kind.


January is for Planning
The elves from ING take turns inviting humans to practice being kind. Every once in a while a couple of experts from ING offer ideas about how little humans can learn about giving, sharing, caring, loving, laughing, and living in kindness.

In January the Planning Elves, named M.O. and Iwill, like to explain that by planning to be kind we are more likely to be kind. Then they imagine all the ways to Plan to be kind.

A Letter of Introduction
When they arrive, M.O. and Iwill like to introduce themselves because that is the kind (and polite) thing to do.

Dear Little Humans, 

Our names are M.O. and Iwill. We are elves from ING, Planning elves to be exact. We like to visit little humans, like yourselves, in January. 

We've noticed that you are often kind without even meaning to be kind! What an excellent skill. However, we find that when we make plans to be kind we find new ways to show kindness to ourselves and to others. 

We look forward to doing this fun and important work with you! Sincerely,  

M.O. & Iwill

What is Planning?
After introducing themselves, M.O. and Iwill like to explain a little about Planning.

Planning is how you make ideas come true. By planning to be kind, you can make being kind important. 

Four Weeks of Planning - Some Ideas

Then M.O. and Iwill suggest some ways to practice planning. Once a week, they ask the children to notice when other people planned something special for them and when they plan something for others.

WEEK ONE: PLANNING TO BE KIND TO YOURSELF

Dear Little Humans,  

It is important to be kind to yourself because if you feel good then you can share your goodness with others.  

There a many ways to be kind to yourself. You can make a plan to say something kind to yourself every day. Some people say, "I love myself." Others say, "I am strong." or "I am beautiful." or "I am smart." or "I am funny."   

You can even do something nice for yourself. You can make something beautiful to decorate your room. Or you can go outside to smell nature. Or listen to your favorite song.

We think Planning for Yourself is important! Do you think you can Plan to be Kind to Yourself today? Tomorrow? Every day this week? 

M.O. & Iwill 

WEEK TWO: PLANNING TO BE KIND TO YOUR FAMILY

Dear Little Humans,  

We think Planning to be Kind to Your Family is fun! Certainly your parents make plans to eat good food, go fun places, and read good books with you. What other things do you notice your parents planning for you?

What about you? Do you think you can Plan to be Kind to Someone in Your Family today? Tomorrow? Every day this week? What is your plan? 
You can start by saying, "I plan to ___ for my mom."

M.O. & Iwill 

WEEK THREE: PLANNING TO BE KIND TO YOUR FRIENDS

Dear Little Humans,  

Have you ever noticed something special your friend has done just for you? Maybe she asked to hug you or made a special gift. He might have invited you over to play. Sometimes hugs and gifts and playdates are spontaneous but sometimes they take a bit of planning, right? 

We think Planning to be Kind to Your Friends is easy! Do you think you can Plan to be Kind to a Friend today? Tomorrow? Every day this week? You can start by saying, "I plan to ___ for my friend."

M.O. & Iwill 

WEEK FOUR: PLANNING TO BE KIND TO YOUR COMMUNITY

Dear Little Humans,  

We think Planning to be Kind to People in Your Community is tricky! Sometimes you have to wait for a special day at church or in the town to work. But sometimes it is simple enough to say, "Today, I'm going to pick up any litter I see in my neighborhood and throw it away." (Don't forget to take a trash bag along with you and to wash your hands when you're done.) 

Do you think you can Plan a Way to be Kind to someone in your community today? Tomorrow? Every day this week? 

M.O. & Iwill 

Saying Goodbye
Before departing, the Planning elves say goodbye because that is the kind thing to do.

Dear Little Humans, 

We have had great fun with you. Thank you for practicing planning with us. You had many clever ways of planning big and planning small. And every kindness counts! 

M.O. & Iwill

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