A HUG AND A SMILE: IN SCOTT CITY KINDERGARTEN, KINDNESS NOT LIMITED TO SINGLE WEEK

The first word in kindergarten is kind.

That makes perfect sense to Jill Pinkston, who teachers kindergarten at Scott City Elementary School.

She has a week of kind activities planned in her class including making "Cups of Kindness" for other teachers. They're filled with candies and hand lotion. Each morning, a kindergarten student will read a kind quote over the school public address system to start the day.

But in kindergarten, said Pinkston, kindness is not limited to a single week. The hugs, smiles and good manners are stressed throughout the year.

It's true kids are not always kind. "But when there's a spat on the playground, the kindergarteners talk about it. It always end with a hug," said Pinkston.

Sometimes, kids are down and out. The worst worry for many five- and six-year-olds is that they have no friends.

"I'll ask the class, if you're this person's friend, raise your hand," said Pinkston. "They all give two thumbs up and two toes up."

The discouraged student can't help but smile.

Kindergarteners are eager to please and are quick with a pat on the back for a fellow student, she said.

Micki Boschert, a Southeast Missouri State University student from St. Louis, is student teaching in Pinkston's class. She learned early on that the students are quick with a hug and a story. Their honesty can be sometimes eye-opening, admitted Pinkston with a laugh.

As Boschert handed out a folder, a red-haired boy gave her a big hug.

Kindergarteners are eager to join in the kindness week activities. They also have some other ideas how to be kind at home:

"I could shovel the driveway for my neighbor," said Austin Raines. "She's really old."

Mehgan Johnson said she could clean up the house.

Kendall Miller thought he might rake some leaves -- if he could find some.

Taking out the trash sounded like a kind idea to Ian Jerls.

Myriah Miller said: "I help my brother get up on his canes in the morning and use his wheelchair. He's helping me make something for mom." She also said her mom was kind for driving her to lots of ice skating events.

Chelsea Kelso thought cleaning up her room might be a good kindness.

Jessica Hester planned to help her mom prepare for dinner. "I could pass out plates and set the table."

Austin Tapley said he would probably carry in the groceries for him mom. After all, "she cooks for me," he said.

Kindergarteners are quick to help each other when they're hurt. Pinkston said there are always plenty of volunteers to escort a classmate to the nurse's office, whether it's a splinter, loose tooth or bad scrap.

In kindergarten, good manners are important, she said. Today, is Good Manners Day at school as part of Random Acts of Kindness Week. On Wednesday, the students will discuss kindnesses at home. Thursday, the topic will be smiles are contagious. Friday is Playday and students will focus on kindness in sportsmanship.

Pinkston's class will also pick out secret kindness buddies. "I'll be interested to see what kind things to do for their buddy during the week," she said. The students will also make a kindness quilt out of paper and hang it in the lobby.

"Thank you," said Kendall Miller as he took his folder from the student teacher.

"I like those manners, Kendall" said Pinkston exclaimed with a big smile.

She added: "If everybody took a nap and had milk and cookies in the afternoon this would be a better world."