Family Connection

Simple ways to connect school and home

Family Connection extends the Helpers of the Day learning experience beyond the classroom by giving families simple, meaningful ways to reinforce the social-emotional skills their children are practicing at school. Each story includes family-friendly resources designed to encourage conversation, strengthen understanding, and help children apply skills such as kindness, patience, listening, responsibility, teamwork, and managing emotions in everyday situations.

For each story, families receive three easy-to-use resources: a Family Conversation Card, Mac’s Family Mission, and a Family Reflection. These activities require little preparation and are designed to fit naturally into family routines rather than feel like additional homework. By creating a consistent connection between school and home, Family Connection gives parents and caregivers an opportunity to participate in their child’s Helpers of the Day journey and celebrate the positive choices and skills they are developing.

Family Connection Samples

The Kindness Secret

Story Description: The Kindness Secret teaches children that choosing kindness, empathy, and understanding—even when things don't go as planned—can strengthen friendships and make a positive difference.

Family Conversation Card

Talk About Kindness

Ask your child:

What does kindness look like?
How do you feel when someone is kind to you?
What is one way you can show kindness at home?
Can you choose kindness even when you're upset?

Family Message: Kindness doesn't have to be a big gesture—small acts of caring can make a big difference in someone's day.

Mac's Family Mission

Secret Kindness Mission

Challenge your child to complete one secret act of kindness for someone in the family.

They might:

Draw or write someone a kind note.
Help with a small chore without being asked.
Give someone a compliment.
Share something with another person.
Do something thoughtful to make someone smile.

Later, see if the family can figure out who the Secret Helper was!

Family Reflection

Kindness Grows

After completing the mission, talk about the experience together:

What kind thing did you do?
How do you think it made the other person feel?
How did showing kindness make you feel?

Finish this sentence together:

"Kindness makes our family stronger because ____________________________."

Mac's Reminder: Kindness helps hearts heal, and friendships grow stronger.

Coming with Season 2: Helpers of the Day Family Night — an expanded family-engagement experience designed to bring students, families, and schools together around the skills children are learning.

Explore Family Night