What No One Is Talking About: Why I Built a Kindness Curriculum to Save Our Children— Enough Is Enough
- C.M. Harris
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
I Created Tally™: The Story Behind Our Kindness Curriculum and SEL Program
In recent years, I’ve watched heartbreaking stories appear across social media—children bullied at school, isolated online, and struggling emotionally without anyone realizing how deeply they were hurting. I saw story after story of kids who lost their lives to bullying, and every time, I felt the same thing:
This should never happen. Something has to change.
As an author, educator, and founder of Purple Diamond Press, I knew I had a responsibility to do more than create books. I wanted to build something that would truly empower children, support teachers, and bring kindness back into classrooms, homes, and entire communities.
That is why I created Tally™ and the What If We Were Kind™ Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum—a classroom kindness program designed to prevent bullying, strengthen emotional regulation, and help children feel seen, heard, and valued.
The Moment the Kindness Curriculum Began
The idea for this program didn’t come from a business plan.
It came from pain, urgency, and compassion.
Every time I saw another story of a child being bullied, mistreated, or ignored, I felt the same fire inside me.
Too many parents had no idea what their kids were going through. Too many teachers were overwhelmed and under-resourced. Too many students had no tools to express emotions, ask for help, or show kindness in meaningful ways.
I knew that awareness wasn’t enough.
Children needed daily emotional support, not just posters on the wall.
So I set out to create a practical SEL kindness curriculum that could be used in:
Elementary school classrooms
After-school programs
Homeschooling
Therapy sessions
Community centers
Church programs
Family homes
A program that gives adults simple tools and gives children life-changing skills.
Why Tally™ Is the Heart of the Program
Children connect with characters more easily than concepts. That’s where Tally™, our Kindness Mascot, comes in.
Tally™ isn’t just a plush toy.
It is:
A visual reminder of kindness
A bridge for children with disabilities and their peers
A way to encourage positive behavior
A tool for emotional regulation
A classroom mascot that students instantly bond with
A centerpiece for the What If We Were Kind Box™, our full SEL kit
Tally tells every child:
“Every Kind Act Counts™.”
This simple message—repeated consistently—helps reinforce empathy, compassion, responsibility, and emotional awareness.
What the Kindness Curriculum Teaches
The What If We Were Kind™ SEL Curriculum is built around evidence-based emotional learning practices. Each lesson helps children build:
Kindness and empathy
Emotional regulation skills
Communication and conflict-resolution skills
Self-awareness and confidence
Social skills and community building
Anti-bullying strategies
It includes:
Daily kindness activities
SEL worksheets
Class discussions
Tally™ role-play prompts
Reflection questions
Kindness trackers
Positive reinforcement tools
Family connection activities
Classroom kindness challenges
This program is easy for teachers to use, engaging for students, and adaptable for diverse classrooms—including students with disabilities.
Why I Won’t Stop Until This Work Reaches Every School
Our world can be cruel, but kindness can change the trajectory of a child’s life.
I created this program because:
✔ Children deserve emotional safety
✔ Teachers deserve tools that work
✔ Families deserve connection
✔ Schools deserve a culture of respect
✔ Communities deserve more kindness
✔ And every child deserves to feel seen, heard, and loved
My mission is to make kindness a daily practice—not just a lesson during one awareness week.
With Tally™ leading the way, we’re building a future where compassion is the foundation of learning, friendship, and community.
And I’m not stopping until this movement reaches classrooms everywhere.
Coming spring 2026
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