How Acts of Service Can Make Our Students Happier

I fondly remember the chaos of my days in Early Childhood, where every day brought a whirlwind of laughter and learning. One of our challenges as educators was gently stopping our younger children from wanting to share food. While it was a wonderful act of kindness, the children didn’t understand allergies and anaphylaxis. Their tiny faces were always beaming with joy at the thought of sharing with their friends.

But it wasn’t just the food. The children found happiness in helping, no matter how clumsy their efforts. After they had helped us, our laundry hampers were often filled with poorly folded bibs and face washers. Our windows sparkled with the remnants of their enthusiastic—but less-than-effective—wiping. And if they tried to help us sweep it would take 15 minutes to get two grains of rice into the dustpan. Regardless of their imperfect help, we could clearly see them getting excited to serve others.

This desire to serve is not just a stage in childhood; it is an important habit that helps students navigate their primary and secondary years and transition into adulthood. Service means to do something for another person or group­­­­—to help them, even though you may not receive anything in return.

In fact, research by Professor Elizabeth Dunn of social psychology highlights this connection. She found when we help others in a way where we feel a real sense of connection to the people we are helping and also envision the impact we are making in their lives, it can make us happier people. Serving others puts empathy in action. So, how can we incorporate service into our classrooms to help our students be happier?

One approach could be creating opportunities for students to take part in service projects. This may include a day centred on acts of kindness, choosing “helping hands” to help other students with their work, organising a volunteering opportunity or engaging with local communities such as aged-care centres.

Moreover, we can also include service into our curriculum to help students understand how their actions can positively or negatively affect those around them. Discussions on empathy, community and the importance of giving can help students to share their experiences and understand the impact of practising service. It can also help us build a stronger sense of belonging in our communities.

When we build the habit of service, we are helping our students become happier and more empathetic individuals.

How can you encourage acts of service into your early learning, primary, or secondary classroom? Share your ideas in the comments below!

Free Resources

Primary

Secondary

Teacher Reflection Sheet