Kindhearted Kids

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Designated
Promising

Indicates that a program demonstrates evidence of effectiveness at improving student or teacher outcomes, as well as supporting students’ social and emotional growth through at least two competencies. May offer multi-year programming. For a full list of Promising student outcomes see Promising designation.

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    Program description

    Kindhearted Kids, offered by Two by Two Character Development, provides a lesson-based SEL approach. It offers programming for grades 2–4. A CASEL-approved evaluation demonstrates evidence of effectiveness at grade 3. Tranlsated parent letters are offered in Spanish.

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        • SEL lessons
        • Instructional practices
        • Relationship building
        • SEL generalization
        • Adult SEL
        • Student supports
        • Community partnerships
        • Family Intervention Component
        • School Involvement
        • Activities and Resources for Home
      • Onsite in-person training
      • Virtual training
      • Offsite training
      • Train the trainer model
      • Administrator support
      • Coaching
      • Technical assistance
      • Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
      • Online resource library
      • Self-report tools for monitoring implementation
      • Observational tools
      • Tools for measuring student success

    Evidence of effectiveness

    Results from a randomized controlled trial conducted in the 2025 academic year (unpublished report written in 2025) supported the effectiveness of Kindhearted Kids for public school students. This evaluation included 255 students in 3rd grade from one suburban district in the U.S. Midwest region (73.9% White, 10.2% Hispanic/Latinx). The study found that students who participated in the program reported higher self-awareness on the SSIS subscale compared to students in the control group while controlling for baseline pretest.

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    • Evidence shown in grades
      3
      School characteristics
        • Suburban
        • Midwest
      Student characteristics
      • Hispanic / Latinx
      • White
      Percentage Low Income
      • Not Specified
      Study design type
      • RCT
      Greater than 350 students included in study design type
      • No
      Multiple school districts included at study design type
      • No
      • Improved academic performance
      • Reduced emotional distress
      • Improved identity development and agency
      • Reduced problem behaviors
      • Improved school climate
      • Improved school connectedness
      • Improved social behaviors
      • Improved teaching practices
      • Improved other SEL skills and attitudes

    How does Kindhearted Kids support SEL implementation across multiple settings?

    “The magic of Kindhearted Kids begins when each child adopts their own stuffed cat or dog. Through the care of their pet, SEL learning travels across multiple settings...school, afterschool, home, and throughout the community. Along the way, children practice kindness, responsibility, respect, empathy, and citizenship, making kindhearted choices for people, animals, the environment, and themselves.”

    Get info and pricing on the provider’s website

    Go to Provider Site

    References

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