Acts of Kindness for Kids

Do you want to help your children or students build a foundation of kindness? Here are some simple acts of kindness that kids can do to make a difference in the world. With just a little effort, children can brighten someone’s day and feel good about themselves too!

When we do kind things for others, especially kids, it can make all the difference in their day. There are so many ways to be a good role model and show kindness to kids. You can also help children by teaching them to provide random acts of kindness for others.

Knowing that someone cares about you can make all the difference in the world. It just takes one simple act of kindness. 

Download a FREE printable at the bottom of the post to create a kindness challenge. It is a great addition to a lesson plan to help students develop social-emotional skills.

HOW DOES A CHILD SHOW KINDNESS?

Random acts of kindness for kids can be anything from opening a door to saying something nice. It’s all about making others feel good and spreading positivity in the world. In addition, it helps kids to learn about emotions, empathy, emotional regulation and to develop social skills.

Here are just a few acts of kindness that you can teach your child:

·          Hold a door open

·          Smile at someone

·          Let someone go before you in line

·          Take care of a plant or pet

·          Make up a song for someone

There are so many acts of kindness that kids can do! You just have to think about what would be best suited to them. It’s different for every kid, so just match them to something that they’re able to do.

Not only are acts of kindness good for the person getting the help, but it’s also really great for your child too! Doing acts of kindness helps them to feel confident and happy. They can use these acts as tools for success. If kids understand how acts of kindness work, then they’ll feel empowered and confident enough to do acts of kindness for other people too.

HOW CAN YOU TEACH KIDS ABOUT ACTS OF KINDNESS?

Teaching acts of kindness to kids is so important and something that you should start really young. Of course, it’s never too late to teach your children! If you’re just starting out, then acts of kindness for kids can be really simple such as smiling at a friend or helping someone carry a book.

Acts of kindness can be fun for kids too. You could also think about organizing acts of kindness days at school or in the community. 

Reading books to children that include stories about acts of kindness for kids are also beneficial.

Being a Kind Role Model

Acts of kindness are something that really impacts kids. When you’re a role model to your children, then acts of kindness for kids can come naturally. Kids will already be feeling the love and excitement from acts of kindness by the time they become adults too!

My mom always demonstrated many acts of kindness when I was growing up, and I still think about those acts even now. She always says “when you accept help you give that person a gift.” It really gave me a sense of love and appreciation for acts of kindness for both parties – those that give and those that receive.

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS IDEAS AT SCHOOL

At school, it is important to teach character education and to be kind to others. Here are acts of kindness for kids at school: 

Share your snacks with classmates at lunchtime.

Smile at everywhere you walk by today.

Clean up while others are still eating so they don’t have to deal with the mess.

Build a friendship with a new student you sit with at lunch. 

Use sidewalk chalk and write words of gratitude for your school staff.

Help someone carry their books to their next class.

Write or draw happy notes and secretly put it on your friend’s or teacher’s desk.

Bake cupcakes for your classmates and teachers during the holidays or on their birthdays.

Organize a food drive at school for your local food bank.

Bring in extra school supplies from home to help students in need.

Help someone who is struggling with their work in class by offering to show them how to do it right or giving them a clue.

Write notes of encouragement to your fellow students.

When someone has forgotten something important, help them find where they left it. 

Help your teacher clean up the classroom at the end of the day. 

Start a random acts of kindness challenge. Write down acts of kindness you can do for one week using the FREE PRINTABLE at the bottom of this post.

Put away chairs after class is finished.

Start a kindness jar.  When a student does something kind, write it down.  At the end of the month read all of the acts of kindness out loud to the class.

Create a kindness calendar together as a class.  Write down random acts of kindness that you can work in each day.

Write cards to other kids who may be in a children’s hospital.

Give positive feedback to other students in the form of a compliment.

Organize a toiletry drive at school to donate items to the homeless shelter.

Offer a pencil or a sheet of paper to someone who needs it while working on a group project.

Turn rocks into kindness stones. You can paint rocks with encouraging words and place them around your school grounds.

Give positive feedback when you see classmates being kind and helpful.

Organize games for a group of kids during recess such as tag, contests, or dances.

Write a thank you card for your teacher, bus driver, or any school staff member to let them know they are appreciated.

ACTS OF KINDNESS AT HOME AND COMMUNITY

Acts of kindness at home are also important. Here are some acts of kindness for kids to do at home: 

Without being asked, help around the house without being told your chores. 

Make a meal or snack before being asked and let everyone know that it is ready. 

Hold the door open for a stranger at the store.

If you’re older, then offer to babysit your younger siblings or cousins.

Leave an encouraging picture on your neighbor’s doorstep.

Use crayons to make kindness bookmarks to put in a library book for patrons at your local library.

Create a care package for someone in the military.

Make someone’s bed in your house.

Fold any blankets you see around the house after a chilly day.

Before asking for help with your homework, see if you can figure it out on your own first.

Offer to walk the dog without being asked. 

Bake cookies or muffins for a friend or family member.

Put away dishes after dinner without being told to do so. 

Draw fun pictures or write encouraging words on your driveway with sidewalk chalk to greet the people who visit your house.

Send a video message to a grandparent.

Donate coloring books for the doctor’s office waiting room or children’s hospital.

Help fold laundry when it’s put on your bed.

Bake dessert to make someone feel special.

Write a thank you note for the mail carrier.

Offer to help with a family member’s errand without being asked. 

Hang up coats and backpacks after school when no one is around to put them away.

Acknowledge acts of kindness that your parents do for you by thanking them, letting them know you appreciate it, or offering to help take their load off. 

Pick up your toys and put them away without being told.

Donate time or money to your favorite charity.

Help parents carry heavy objects around the house, even if it’s just a few feet at a time. 

Put belongings in their place when you are done using them to keep the house looking nice for everyone.

Shovel snow or rake leaves for an elderly neighbor.

Buy a few extra canned goods at your grocery store and donate it to the food pantry.

Collect food pantry donations for your community.

Collect and donate your spare change to a local charity.

Hide notes of encouragement inside shoes or under pillows to brighten up someone’s day.

Make a plate of cookies and deliver them to a neighbor in need or an elderly friend in the neighborhood. 

Create a special craft that you can give as a gift to your parents, grandparents, or other loved ones. 

Make up fun games to play with your siblings when you’re bored such as tag or hide-and-seek.

Volunteer at a soup kitchen.

Write letters to faraway friends or family.

Volunteer at an animal shelter or donate pet food.

WANT MORE IDEAS TO ENCOURAGE ACTS OF KINDNESS FOR KIDS?

This Random Acts of Kindness for Kids Packet is super fun to practice pre-writing, handwriting, gross motor skills, and visual perceptual skills. Kids will love celebrating this holiday in February or anytime of the year! You can encourage kindness anytime of year. Mary Hackworth OTD, has created these ready to go sessions for your students.