Official Kids Mag

By Karen Rice Official Kids Mag We know that Official Kids Mag readers know how to be kind to others! Here's a project that will help you spread some kindness around your community! Let's paint some kindness rocks! What is a kindness rock? A kindness rock is simply a rock that someone has decorated with an inspirational message that will bring joy to someone. They can be any size or shape, as big or small as you like! Once you create one, the idea is to leave it somewhere for another person to find and enjoy. As we all know, sometimes a simple message of kindness can spark joy and brighten someone's entire day. What do you need to paint rocks? Here's the list of things you'll need: • Rocks or stones (smooth, flat ones work best) • Acrylic paint • Brushes • Acrylic paint pens • Mod Podge or other waterproof sealer How do you make a kindness rock? It's easy: 1. First, find a good rock. The best rocks are smooth and flat. Wash it well with soap and water and let it dry. 2. Once the rock is dry, paint the rock with a fun design or write a positive message. Use a fine tip acrylic paint pen or a small paintbrush to add small details. 3. Allow the design to dry completely (for best results, dry overnight), and then seal the rock to protect your design. 4. Spread kindness by leaving the rock in a place for someone else to find. If you make a mistake, paint over the whole rock and begin again! Remember, there is no right or wrong way to paint a rock. The point is to spread kindness and to have fun while doing it! If you want, you can add a name or label to the back of your rock after you paint it so that you can track every time that someone new finds it. Where do you get the rocks? Go outside and find some. From picking up pebbles on the beach to stones in your local park, any rock can make an excellent kindness rock. Choose the type of rock that you think will fit your designs best and don't take all the rocks out of one area. We want to be kind to the environment, too. Where do you hide a painted rock? 1. Once you've painted, it's time to hide the rocks for others to find! We use the term 'hide' loosely; you want someone to actually find the rock. Think of somewhere that gets a lot of foot traffic where someone may notice it. A local park, a bench in town, or outside of a community center are all excellent options. Just be respectful of local businesses, keep fellow rock hunters' safety in mind and stay away from areas that need to be mowed. The rocks don't even have to be hidden at all. You can keep them on your desk or dresser for inspiration. Give them as a gift, or hand a rock off to someone that you think could use words of encouragement. Be considerate when looking for places to put the rocks. Don't leave them at a private residence or business where you don't have permission. National parks are also a no-go as most have a "leave no trace" policy. The purpose of this creation is to be kind, so let's be respectful of our environment. What do you do when you find a painted rock? You've found a rock. Now what? Do you take it? First, read it! Take the message to heart, and know that you matter and your happiness matters. Someone else went out of their way to paint that rock for you to find. How cool that you're the one who found it! (If your adult says it's OK, post a picture of yourself with it, along with where you found it, on a rock group page on social media.) Most importantly, pay it forward! Once you've read and enjoyed the message, hide the rock somewhere new for another person to find. If you really want keep the rock for yourself, then paint another rock for someone else to find. Think of what the message meant to you. Make sure you help somebody else get that good feeling too. Kindness… Rocks! 42 • January 2021 • www.officialKidsMag.com

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