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Building a Kinder Future: What Ethics4Kids Learned in 2025 and Where We’re Going in 2026
- B.J. Ellis
- Jan 13
- 5 min read
As we turn the page into 2026, Ethics4Kids stands at a remarkable moment — a moment shaped by growth, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose. What began as a simple belief — that early ethics education can change the trajectory of a child’s life — has evolved into a movement grounded in research, community partnerships, and the lived experiences of families and educators across the country.
2025 was a year of learning. A year of listening. A year of building. And most importantly, a year of proving that ethical education is not a luxury — it’s a necessity.
This is the story of what we learned, what we accomplished, and where we’re going next.
What We Learned in 2025
1. Prevention Begins Early — Much Earlier Than Most People Think
One of the clearest lessons of 2025 came from the heartbreaking stories that shaped national conversations. From youth violence to rising suicide rates, the data told a consistent story: by the time children reach middle school, many of their emotional and behavioral patterns are already set.
In our September blog responding to Cal Thomas’s commentary on youth crime, we emphasized Aristotle’s timeless insight: “Give me a child until he is seven, and I will show you the man.” Early childhood is not just a developmental window — it’s a moral one. When children learn empathy, responsibility, and self‑control early, they carry those habits into adolescence and adulthood.
This theme echoed throughout the year, especially in our posts on suicide prevention, political violence, and the ripple effect of kindness. Whether the issue was safety, mental health, or civic dialogue, the conclusion was the same: ethical literacy is a prevention strategy.
2. Kindness Is More Powerful — and More Teachable — Than We Realized
Kindness became one of the most recurring themes of 2025, and for good reason. Research from Stony Brook Medicine, the Greater Good Science Center, and the American Psychological Association all pointed to the same truth: kindness is not just a moral virtue — it’s a developmental tool.
In our November posts on the Baltimore kindergarteners celebrating World Kindness Day and the science behind kindness, we explored how kindness boosts emotional resilience, strengthens peer relationships, and even improves physical health.
But the biggest revelation was this: children underestimate the impact of their own kindness. When they see the joy they create, they want to repeat it. That’s the foundation of ethical habit‑building.
3. Truthfulness Is a Skill — Not a Switch
One of the most surprising insights of the year came from research on honesty. Our December blog on truthfulness highlighted studies showing that children lie not because they’re “bad,” but because honesty is a learned behavior shaped by emotional safety, role modeling, and empathy.
The research was clear:
Children cheat less when adults share their feelings about honesty.
Mentorship builds long‑term integrity.
Storytelling helps children internalize moral lessons.
Truthfulness isn’t about punishment — it’s about connection. And that insight will shape how we design future lessons and storybooks.
4. Digital Safety Requires Ethical Thinking, Not Just Rules
In September, we released our K–1 lesson plan on social media influences, and the response was overwhelming. Parents and educators told us the same thing: children are encountering digital content earlier than ever, and they need tools to navigate it.
The STOP–THINK–CHOOSE framework became one of our most shared resources of the year. It taught children to:
STOP when something feels wrong
THINK about how it makes them feel
CHOOSE to tell a trusted adult
Digital safety isn’t just about filters or restrictions — it’s about teaching children to recognize good and bad influences, online and offline.
5. Respect Is a Life‑Saving Skill
Our October blog on respect revealed something profound: respect isn’t just about manners — it’s about belonging. Children who feel respected are more likely to seek help, more likely to show empathy, and less likely to engage in harmful behavior.
Respect builds connection. Connection builds safety. And safety builds hope.
What We Did in 2025
1. We Entered the Public Conversation on Violence Prevention
2025 was the year Ethics4Kids stepped into broader community and policy discussions. Our participation in the Harrisburg gun safety meeting led by Moms Demand Action marked a turning point. We stood alongside lawmakers, mental health professionals, and advocacy groups to emphasize a message often missing from the conversation:
You cannot legislate your way out of a moral crisis. You must educate your way out.
Our blogs on political violence, youth suicide, and community prevention helped position Ethics4Kids as a voice for early intervention and ethical literacy.
2. We Launched a Digital Curriculum That Changed Everything
Early 2025 marked the official launch of our digital curriculum on IYKYK Education’s AI‑powered platform. This was one of the biggest milestones in our organization’s history.
The results were immediate:
Higher engagement
Better retention
Stronger character skills
Positive feedback from teachers and families
Gamified, interactive learning proved to be the perfect match for ethical education. Children weren’t just learning values — they were practicing them.
3. We Expanded Our Curriculum Library
From kindness to truthfulness to digital safety, 2025 saw the release of multiple new lesson plans, printable activities, and parent guides. These resources became some of our most downloaded materials of the year.
4. We Strengthened Our Identity and Mission
Through blogs like our tribute to Fred Rogers, we clarified what makes Ethics4Kids unique: we teach ethics with heart. With warmth. With creativity. With the belief that children deserve respect, honesty, and emotional support.
5. We Built Momentum for Partnerships
2025 opened doors to new relationships with:
Schools
Homeschool networks
Youth organizations
Mental health groups
Violence prevention coalitions
These partnerships will define the next chapter of our work.
Where We’re Going in 2026
1. A Full Library of Free Ethical Storybooks
This is our biggest initiative of the year. In 2026, we will release a collection of fully illustrated, 12‑page storybooks — each one teaching a core ethical value.
They will be:
Free
Printable
Easy to read on any device
Potentially available as free Kindle downloads
These storybooks will become the heart of our mission — accessible, engaging, and deeply impactful.
2. Stronger Partnerships With Schools and Youth Organizations
We’re actively seeking collaborations with:
Scouts BSA (Scouting America)
School districts nationwide
These partnerships will help us bring ethical education to millions of children.
3. A More Robust Digital Curriculum
In 2026, we will:
Add more interactive modules
Expand real‑world scenarios
Improve accessibility
Strengthen teacher dashboards
Integrate storybooks into the platform
Ethical learning should feel like discovery — and that’s where we’re heading.
4. A New Resources Page
This will become the central hub for:
Storybooks
Worksheets
Lesson extensions
Activity guides
Printable tools
Curriculum updates
A one‑stop shop for families and educators.
5. A Growing Community
We’re expanding our outreach through:
A more active newsletter
Regular blog posts
Community stories
New downloadable content
Partnerships with local organizations
We want Ethics4Kids to be a trusted resource for anyone raising ethical children.
A Final Word: Building a Kinder Future, One Child at a Time
2025 taught us that ethics is not abstract. It’s not theoretical. It’s not optional.
Ethics is:
A public safety strategy
A mental health tool
A foundation for belonging
A path to resilience
A roadmap for a kinder world
And children are ready for it. Eager for it. Hungry for it.
As we step into 2026, we’re not just growing — we’re building a movement. A movement rooted in prevention, compassion, and early education. A movement that believes every child deserves the tools to grow with heart, courage, and integrity.
Thank you for being part of this mission.Thank you for believing in the power of early ethics. And thank you for helping us build a future where kindness is taught, respect is practiced, and every child knows their worth.
