The Kindness Rocks Project
{{Short description|Viral trend involving painted rocks}}
File:Painted_stones_with_sailboat.jpg
The Kindness Rocks Project is a viral trend where people, commonly children, paint pebbles or cobbles and leave them for others to find and collect. Photos of the painted rocks and hints of where to find them are commonly shared on Facebook groups.{{Cite news|url=https://www.today.com/parents/rock-painting-groups-connect-families-communities-t111934|title=Why thousands of families are painting and hiding rocks... for fun|last=Peters|first=Terri|work=TODAY.com|access-date=2018-07-17|language=en}} The trend originated in the U.S. and has spread to the other countries, including U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and Haiti.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/2016/08/10/one-rock-few-kind-words-and-movement-born/SQUeAzQyJZFQEOTF63d1tI/story.html|title=One rock, a few kind words, and a movement is born|last=Guerra|first=Cristela|date=August 10, 2016|work=The Boston Globe|access-date=2018-07-17}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2018/may/06/rocking-all-over-the-world-the-painted-pebble-trend-crossing-continents|title=Rocking all over the world: the painted pebble trend crossing continents|last=Featherstone|first=Emma|date=2018-05-06|access-date=2018-07-17|language=en|website=The Guardian}}
Origin
The Kindness Rocks Project was started by Megan Murphy in 2015 on Cape Cod. She wrote "You've got this" on a rock and left it on a beach on Cape Cod. After a friend found it, she started leaving more rocks with inspirational messages behind.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thekindnessrocksproject.com/|title=The Kindness Rocks Project|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-17}}
Alice Brock, a Cape Cod resident who had been painting rock art since the 1960s, claimed credit for helping spread the phenomenon worldwide by sending painted rocks to her friends and family in New York City and Europe.Merrick, Viki (May 8, 2017). [http://capeandislands.org/post/american-icon-alice-brock-might-surprise-you#stream/0 American icon Alice Brock might surprise you]. WCAI. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
Derivatives
As the trend of painting kindness rocks has spread, it has many derivatives but remains true to its original intention of spreading kindness. Rocks are painted as a social-emotional learning activity for kids, as well as to support particular charities, events or movements. Sometimes the name of a hashtag or the Facebook group the painter belongs to is written on it as well.{{cite news|url=https://www.familiesonline.co.uk/local/dunfermline/in-the-know/-kids-are-going-to-love-doing-this-during-the-school-holidays-60529|title=Kids Are Going to Love Doing This During the School Holidays|access-date=2018-07-17|language=en|website=www.familiesonline.co.uk}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/viral/this-is-why-youre-seeing-pictures-of-really-pretty-rocks-in-your-feeds-36192892.html|title=This is why you're seeing pictures of really pretty rocks in your feeds|date=October 3, 2017|work=Belfast Telegraph|access-date=2018-07-17|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}
Generally, rocks which are hidden are intended to be picked up, photographed and put on Facebook, and then re-hidden in a different spot. However, different rock groups may have different ideas; some might be asked to be taken as far as possible, and others hidden in the same city or general region. The Kindness Rocks Project encourages people to set up community Inspiration gardens.{{Cite web|title=The rules you need to know to take part in painted rock craze sweeping Cornwall|url=https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/painted-rocks-rules-you-need-1430228|last=Maltwood|first=Hannah|date=2018-04-08|website=cornwalllive|access-date=2020-05-17}}
The painting rock trend was revived during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=Have you spotted some of these painted rocks around the district?|url=https://www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/news/have-you-spotted-some-of-these-painted-rocks-around-the-district-9108234/|date=2020-04-30|website=Spalding Today|language=en|access-date=2020-05-17}}
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International Drop a Rock Day
International Drop a Rock Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated on July 3, in which people are encouraged to leave a painted rock in a public space.{{Cite news|url=https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/everything-kids/its-international-drop-a-rock-day/|title=It's International Drop a Rock Day!|date=2017-07-03|work=Parents|access-date=2018-07-17}}
Reception
Some parks have objected to people leaving painted rocks on their grounds,{{Cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/shrewsbury/2017/08/26/shropshire-rocks-craze-causing-unforeseen-issues/|title=Shropshire Rocks craze 'a danger' for Shrewsbury park users, says council|last=Reynolds|first=Jordan|website=www.shropshirestar.com|date=26 August 2017 |language=en|access-date=2018-07-17}} including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/lifestyle/travel-outdoors/article/Texas-Parks-and-Wildlife-Please-stop-painting-11655798.php|title=Texas Parks and Wildlife: Please stop painting rocks|date=2017-07-28|work=San Antonio Express-News|access-date=2018-07-17}}{{cite news|url=https://www.ksat.com/news/local/popular-rock-painting-trend-in-parks-violates-state-laws-officials-say|title=Popular rock-painting trend in parks violates state laws in some places, officials say|last=Hernandez|first=Erica|access-date=2018-07-17|language=en-US|website=www.ksat.com}} Painted rocks were banned from several parks in the Marlborough region of New Zealand.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/98898021/childrens-craze-on-rocky-ground-over-fire-fears|title=Children's craze on rocky ground over fire fears|last=Heyward|first=Emily|date=November 19, 2017|access-date=2018-07-17|language=en|website=Stuff}}{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/99082602/rock-craze-banned-from-three-parks-as-council-publishes-howto-guide|title=Rock craze banned from three parks as council publishes 'how-to' guide|last=EMILY HEYWARD|date=November 21, 2017|access-date=2018-07-17|language=en|website=Stuff}} Disneyland has banned painted rocks from entering the park and will confiscate them.{{Cite news|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/4390085/disney-cracking-down-on-allowing-painted-rocks-into-the-parks-can-be-considered-weapons-will-confiscate/|title=Disney Cracking Down On Allowing Painted Rocks Into The Parks, Can Be Considered 'Weapons,' Will Confiscate|date=2017-07-25|work=The Inquisitr|access-date=2018-07-17|language=en-US}}
See also
{{Portal|Visual arts}}
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- {{Annotated link |Kindness}}
- {{Annotated link |Rock art}}
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References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|www.thekindnessrocksproject.com/}}
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