Today’s Play of the Day is inspired by our I’m GREAT program which uses sport-themed activities implemented by female mentors and coaches to address issues unique to girls. This lesson stresses the importance of treating everyone with kindness and respect, as we would like to be treated in return.
Goal
For kids and parents/adults to discuss the importance of treating others they way you want to be treated after seeing the “scars” harmful words and deeds can cause someone.
Materials
- Paper
- Pen or pencil and markers/colored pencils, if available
Instructions
- Grab one or multiple partners for this activity.
- Give each participant a piece of paper. Each person now will write their name and draw a portrait of themselves on their paper.
- Next, each participant exchanges their portrait for someone else’s.
- Crumple your partner’s paper, which you now have, and return it to your partner, still crumpled.
- Once you have your own portrait again, try to flatten it as much as you can.
Questions
- Were you able to make your paper look exactly as it did before?
- What do you think the creases or “scars” on your paper represent?
- How did it feel to see your paper get crumpled?
- How did it feel to crumple someone else’s paper?
Discussion
Each crease remaining on the flattened portrait represents the impact a hurtful word or deed can have on someone. When we are “crumpled” by an unkind word or deed, we then try to “flatten” and heal, but often "crumpling" can still leave permanent “creases.” Even though unkind words and deeds do not create actual “creases” on our bodies like they do on paper, they can leave invisible "scars" on someone which can be just as harmful. This is why it is very important to treat everyone with kindness and respect, the way we would like to be treated in return.
At-Home Challenge: The Rule of One
In order to practice treating others the way you want to be treated, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation challenges you to practice "The Rule of One" everyday. You should strive to do three things to improve the lives of those around you:
- Perform one random act of kindness
- Say thank you at least one person
- Compliment at least one person
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more Plays of the Day from the Ripken Playbook.