Kind or Unkind?
Read what someone says, notice the voice and how the other person might feel, then choose what you could do.
About 5 to 10 · Telling friendly words from hurtful ones, and knowing what you can do.
Answer your way. Say it, point to it, sign it, tap a picture, or show a card or device. Every way counts the same.
Where does it happen?
More for grown-ups about this game
- This is a conversation starter. It is not a social-skills program and not an anti-bullying program, and it does not replace one from a qualified educator, school, psychologist or speech pathologist.
- Kindness here is about three things together: the words, the voice, and how the other person might feel. It is often subjective, so “It depends” is a real answer.
- Being left out or teased is never the child's fault. If it happens, a grown-up should be told. A child can tell more than one grown-up and keep telling until someone listens.
- Telling a grown-up, asking someone to stop, walking away, playing with someone else and taking a break are all fine. There is no single line to say.
- Some children find tone hard to read, and a joke can feel different from the inside. Talk about what each child noticed rather than who had it right.
- The lines are mild on purpose. If your child has had something harder happen, listen first and follow up with their school or a professional you trust.
For grown-ups
Away from the screen: Say the same sentence in a friendly voice and a sharp voice and talk about the difference.
This game is a conversation starter. It is not a personal-safety, anti-bullying, social-skills or wellbeing program and does not replace one from a qualified educator, school, psychologist or speech pathologist. If a child tells you someone is hurting them, or that they feel unsafe, listen, believe them, tell them they are not in trouble for telling, and get help from a trusted professional.
- Sit beside them for the first few goes and say the words as you tap, so they hear the sentence as well as see it.
- Wait a little longer than feels natural. Quiet thinking time is part of it.
- Any answer that works is a good answer. If they pick something you did not expect, ask them to tell you about it.
- Pointing, signing, a device or a picture card are all real answers. Speaking is never the test.
- Stop when it stops being fun. A few minutes, often, is better than a long sitting.
- These are games, not assessments. If you have concerns about speech or language, talk to a speech pathologist.
A game and a starting point, not therapy or an assessment. All Words and Talking games