Helping Kids Use Their Voice: Learning from Leaders Like Malala Yousafzai

When I was a kid, I had a lot of wonderful role models—my family, my teachers, and my friends all shaped the way I saw the world. But outside of them, I leaned heavily on the cast of Full House to teach me about being a good human. I mean, who didn’t love those classic dad talks when the music started playing? To this day, I still watch Full House with my daughter, and we both love those heart-to-heart moments.

(Please enjoy this photo of me at about the age my Full House obsession began)

But as much as I love Full House, I also want my kids to look up to real-life people who have made the world a better place—people who were not just kind, but courageously kind. Activists, leaders, and everyday people from different backgrounds who stood up for what’s right, even when it was hard.

That’s why I’m excited to introduce this series—where we’ll learn about kind humans who changed the world. And today, we’re starting with someone truly inspiring: Malala Yousafzai.

Meet Malala Yousafzai: A Voice for Education

Malala Yousafzai grew up in Pakistan, where she loved going to school. But when a group of people tried to stop girls from getting an education, Malala knew that wasn’t fair. She spoke out—writing, giving speeches, and encouraging others to stand up for education. Even when it became dangerous, she didn’t stop.

Malala was hurt by people who wanted to silence her, but instead of giving up, she became even louder. She recovered, kept fighting, and at just 17, became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Today, she runs Malala Fund, a nonprofit that helps girls around the world go to school.

Her story shows kids that their voices matter—no matter how young they are.

Read: Malala’s Magical Pencil

A great way to introduce Malala’s story to kids is through her picture book, Malala’s Magical Pencil. In it, she shares how she once wished for a magic pencil to draw things she wanted—like extra time to sleep or a soccer ball. But as she grew up, she realized her real magic was in her words.

This book is a wonderful tool to help kids understand that writing is a powerful way to express themselves. Just like Malala, they can use their words to share their thoughts, ask big questions, and stand up for what they believe in.

Using the KIND Method to Learn from Leaders

One way to help kids connect with Malala’s story is by using the KIND Method, a simple four-step process that makes learning meaningful and actionable:

🔹 Know – Learn the story of a leader who made a difference.
🔹 Inquire – Ask big questions about what they stood for.
🔹 Noodle – Think about what this means in our own lives.
🔹 Do – Take action to spread kindness and make an impact.

Using this method, kids can explore Malala’s journey and reflect on how they can use their voices in their own communities.

Taking Action: How Kids Can Use Their Voices

After learning about Malala, here are some ways kids can take action:

📚 Donate a Book – Malala believes books change lives. Encourage kids to donate a book they’ve outgrown to a local library or school.

✏️ Write for Change – Like Malala, kids can write about something they care about! A letter to a leader, a poem, or a story can be powerful.

🌍 Learn About Malala Fund – With your child, visit malala.org to learn how Malala Fund helps kids go to school worldwide.

🗣 Use Your Voice – Encourage kids to talk about what matters to them. Whether it's standing up for a friend or sharing an idea, their voice is important!

Keep the Conversation Going

Malala is just one of many leaders kids can learn from. By introducing them to kind humans throughout history—activists, writers, scientists, and everyday people who stand up for what's right—we help them see that they, too, can make a difference.

Who else should kids learn about? Stay tuned for more stories of world-changing leaders and ways to inspire kindness, courage, and action!

For now, download the free activity using Malala's Magical Pencil as a springboard for meaningful conversations. Don't forget to play episode 17 of the SuperKind Kids podcast for your child so they can come along with me as we adventure through the KIND method together.

Cheering you on in kindness,

Katie