“She was at the point where she didn’t want to go to school anymore, and my daughter loves school.”
Bullying isn’t always so obvious, and as a parent it can feel impossible to protect your children from the dangers lurking in the school hallways. Melissa Nelson found herself wondering how she could help her 2nd grade daughter facing bullying on the playground.
“We didn’t know what the school was doing about it and we thought what can we do so I researched bullying not knowing what to do,” said president of Community Kindness Movement Melissa Nelson.
Her research led her to an article about the virtues of kindness, which became the Community Kindness Movement.
“So many stories out in the community and I thought I experienced it myself and found a solution,” said Nelson.
The movement started with her anonymously giving out yellow roses to the kids at her daughter’s school. Four years later, more schools in West Ada School District have joined the movement… and dedicate a whole week to practicing kindness.
"When you experience anonymous kindness you focus on the action on the reason," said Nelson.
High school senior and ambassador for Community Kindness Movement Logan Denen is bringing the kindness to his high school.
"I took someone to lunch that I didn’t know very well and got to know them and that was really cool.,
And even the smallest acts can have a big impact.
"Its hard to see that kindness all the time especially at school but yeah seeing kindness every once in a while is really cool," said Denen.
Bullying is still a big issue in the country but steps can be made towards a safer school environment.
“Spreading more awareness that kindness is the answer," said Nelson.
