Four thousand kid-friendly Band-Aids were dropped off at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse Thursday to lift the spirits of young patients from Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship Elementary. Teacher Hayley Merritt saw firsthand the effects on concerned classmates when one of her own students had an extended hospital stay.
His parents told her he only looked forward to choosing special Band-Aids.
“It seems simple, but just a bandaid,” Merrit said. “(The) whole focal point was making sure they’re kid friendly Band-Aids, because we know how much joy that can bring, rather than just a plain Band-Aid. Even colors, characters they're familiar with, just to brighten their day.”
Other school representatives also accompanied Merritt to deliver the Band-Aids. They were collected by the students in school, who showed generosity by often choosing to donate Band-Aids instead of getting some treat for themselves.
“So every positive praise, they could choose to donate a box of Band-Aids,” Merrit said. “They could also bring some in from home, but we incentivized in school as well.”
Both the academy and elementary schools are members of the Positivity Project. The program attempts to counter the rising rates of narcissism and declining rates of empathy that have been observed in college students over the past four decades. By partnering with schools, the Positivity Project attempts to inspire students and encourage them to build positive relationships with each other and with teachers through 15 minute daily lessons.
