Students at Bright Beginnings Child Care Center aim for a happiness ripple effect
By Eric A Thomas
It seems that everywhere we turn these days, there is a shortage of one thing that truly makes everything better — and that is kindness. Whether it is done in an action or something that is said, let’s face it, we can all benefit from an injection of kindness. One local daycare organization has started what they hope will be a spark to light a flame.
Bright Beginnings Child Care Center was approached a few months ago by one of the parents with an interesting idea. “She wanted to start a “Kindness Club” and after she explained the concept, I didn’t even have to think about it to say yes,” reports Crystal Fry, staff member at Bright Beginnings.
“Casie Darnell was the parent and she had heard the idea on WBGL, a Christian radio station out of Springfield,” Fry said. Darnell reached out to the radio station, and they sent her a resource packet.
Fry first met Darnell when Darnell enrolled her youngest daughter at Bright Beginnings in 2015. She also enrolled her second child in 2017. Through these years, Fry has come to know that Darnell is one of the most selfless and kind people she has ever met so it didn’t surprise her when Darnell reached out with such a fantastic opportunity for the children in the daycare.
Once a month, Darnell, with the assistance of Katie Daniels, comes to the center after the school-age children arrive from Jacksonville School District 117.
The participating students have voted to name their club “Happiness Headquarters” (H HQ for short). There are a total of 30 children participating, ranging from the age of 4-5 through the students from District 117, ages 5-11. The first meeting was held in October 2023, and they are continuing on a monthly schedule. January 30 was the most recent meeting and they played kindness bingo.
Throughout the month, the participants keep a journal documenting kind things they had done and kind things they would like to implement into their daily lives. Darnell brings a group activity that allows the students to interact with each other in a positive way and she also provides a snack to share.
The student response has been interesting and very enlightening. “The younger students have been so excited to spread kindness and learn about things that are simple and kind,” reported Fry. “I was met with some resistance from the older kids, but once they realized they do so many kind things, it was an opportunity for them to teach the younger ones.”
Darnell added that their hope is that the students will take what they have learned and bring it back to their schools.
The “Kindness Club” is not just about impacting the students at Bright Beginnings; its aim is to create a ripple effect that extends far beyond the classroom walls and into the community and families.
