Ms. Sandor is a director at an early childhood center in Michigan who said, "my motivation has been to promote kindness among young children--providing information and guiding children at a young age encourages lifelong caring and kindness." 

 

Just over 30 pre-K students and 13 college students participated in the service-learning project Big and Little Being Kind. Ms. Sandor infused the lesson Intergenerational Friends with some momodifications to fit her pre-K students, as well as the books Buzzy the Bee and The Little Red Hen to promote discussions about helpfulness and confidence. The children were paired with college volunteers who then engaged the children and talked about the characters' feelings and how the characters could have made better or more kind choices.  

 

"My students enjoyed the visits from the College volunteers each week; and they looked forward to sharing time and thoughts with them," said Ms. Sandor. "In return the volunteers brought smiles and changes in play to the classrooms--bridging that gap of big and little!" 

 

The mini-grant helped purchase the books and other materials. Each child was able to take a book home to share the story, as well as what they learned, with their family.  

The college volunteers visited the students for a semester and as a thank you, the students made cards and t-shirts complete with their hand prints to give to each new friend!