Over her 30-year career as a kindergarten teacher, Kimberly Feehan-Ponte learned a thing or two about the importance of kindness. She took what she learned from her young students and created Paddy O’Laddy, a leprechaun doll on a mission to spread the magic of kindness this St. Patrick’s Day season.
According to the storyline, Paddy O’Laddy hails from Rainbow Land to watch over children in homes and schools. When he spots kind acts, he rewards them with silly, magical pranks that bring laughter and a bit of mischief. The Paddy O’Laddy doll comes with a pot of gold and a book telling his origin and offers ways to spread kindness.
Feehan-Ponte said St. Patrick’s Day has become popular in the classroom. Kids set up traps to “catch” the leprechaun, and teachers play little pranks. She leaves pots of gold for the kids and has them make rainbow crafts to celebrate the holiday.
She created Paddy O’Laddy so that kids could enjoy the leprechaun tales while stressing the importance of kind acts – especially since bullying is on the rise.
“As a teacher, I’ve always believed in the power of kindness, so I wanted to bring it to life in a fun and magical way,” Feehan-Ponte tells New Jersey Family. “St. Patrick’s Day is such a cherished holiday in schools and homes, and Paddy O’Laddy adds a special purpose to it—spreading joy and laughter while showing kids how kindness makes the world a brighter place.”
Feehan-Ponte is the owner and primary kindergarten teacher of Kimber’s Tots, a preschool and kindergarten in Wyckoff. She began her career as an early childhood educator in 1991 where she grew up and attended elementary school in Hawthorne. After teaching kindergarten in the Hawthorne School District for 28 years, she opened Kimber’s Tots in 2019. She currently lives in Towaco.
She is also a reading specialist, which was the impetus for creating her summer reading program, Kimber’s Reading Express, in 2010. She has created literacy camps, a tutoring service, an app, animated videos, and workbooks.
Her memories of St. Patrick’s Day include lots of corned beef and cabbage made by her mom and dinners with green paper goods.
“The most important concept in a classroom is to instill kindness. It is important that teachers create a safe and warm environment where acceptance of differences is encouraged and kindness is promoted,” Feehan-Ponte says.
To learn more about Paddy O’Laddy or to see where Feehan-Ponte is showcasing the doll, visit her website.
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