Developmental Interest Group (DIG)

How Do We Become Kind?

Why do some children harm others while other children show concern for others from an early age? My talk will provide new insights into research on the development of children’s kindness. I explain how children become caring and why kindness matters in practice. Early childhood is a time of transformation and growth, which makes it crucial to promote caring and commitment during this time period, as well as to reduce aggression, victimization, and exclusion. Drawing upon diverse samples, I will describe research findings on how dimensions of kindness develop across the early years, how kindness is affected by adversity, and what the impact on health and learning outcomes are. Lastly, I will elaborate on the implications of these lines of work for intervention practices.

We encourage in-person attendance but if you are unable to attend in person, please join us via this Zoom link.