Random Acts of Kindness

Doing acts of kindness is one of the best activities you can do with your kids. It’s a great and fun way to bond as a family and teaches kids about compassion and service. Any act of kindness no matter how big or small can make a difference – especially when done intentionally.

WHAT’S A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS?
An act of kindness is just that – something unexpected done by one person that blesses someone else.

Sometimes, these acts of kindness are done anonymously (or not). And sometimes, a person personally knows the person receiving the kindness act (and sometimes not).
No matter what you decide to do, if you’re helping someone else, you’re performing an act of kindness.

Acts of kindness are a wonderful opportunity for kids to learn how to show love in action to those in our family, our community, and our world… and they’re really fun!

Best of all, random acts of kindness for kids encourage kids to think outside of themselves and begin asking, “How can my life change others?” Kindness acts encourage kids to think like world changers!

Here is everything you need to know to perform your own acts of kindness with your kids:

50 Random of Acts of Kindness

1. Go through your toys and donate ones you don’t play with to charity or local children’s hospital
2. Donate food to your food bank- either purchase food or go through your pantry.
3. Donate pet supplies to the shelter and go pet some of the animals.
4. Help a sibling to a chore or other job.
5. Donate books you no longer read or need.
6. Put money in the Salvation Army bucket (at Christmas time).
7. Bring breakfast to your school teacher.
8. Leave a little treat in the mailbox for the mailman.
9. Take a treat to the local fire station.
10. Fulfill an angel tree request.
11. Go to a nursing home and visit – take around a small treat.
12. Write grandparents a letter/draw a picture and mail it to them.
13. Leave an extra-large tip for a server/waiter along with a kind note.
14. Leave one-dollar bills around a dollar store (especially in the toy section!).
15. Pay for the person behind you in a fast-food drive-through.
16. Take a treat to the school bus driver or crossing guard.
17. Donate coloring books to a hospital waiting room.
18. Offer to take the neighbors dog for a walk.
19. Hold the door open for people behind you (this teaches great manners).
20. Smile at every single person you see for one whole day (makes a great family challenge!).
21. Write a thank-you note for a teacher or coach or someone who has influenced you and mail it to them.
22. Take a treat or note to a neighbor or friend who could use a pick-me-up.
23. Write thank-you notes or put together care packages for those who are serving our country in the military.
24. Have a bake sale or fundraiser and donate all the earnings to a local charity.
25. Buy inexpensive socks, beanies, and mittens (the dollar store has lots of great ones!) and deliver them to a homeless shelter or keep them in your purse and hand them out if you come across any homeless people.
26. Leave some extra money in the vending machine (or even tape it to the outside with a note that says “This treat’s on me!).
27. Buy a little treat or give a thank you note for the cashier at the grocery store.
28. Tape some money to the gas pump for the next person who gets gas.
29. Babysit for a single parent so they can have some alone time.
30. Clean out your garage or storage area and give stuff away for free on Craigslist.
31. Donate blood (my kids won’t be doing this, but I am a big believer in it!).
32. Invite someone who lives alone over for dinner.
33. For one day, try to pick up at least three pieces of trash wherever you are.
34. Send unexpected flowers to someone you appreciate.
35. Run errands for elderly/widows in your area.
36. Take a treat and/or thank you note to the janitors at your school.
37. Double the dinner you are preparing and deliver it to someone who could use it.
38. Put together a full dinner (turkey, potatoes, gravy, rolls, etc) and drop it off at someone’s house who could use it. Ring the doorbell and run away so it’s anonymous (and so much more exciting!).
39. Sit with someone at lunch that looks lonely or that doesn’t have very many friends (a good challenge for your kids!).
40. Compliment at least 5 people in one day (this is also a great challenge for kids!).
41. Smile at 5 complete strangers in one day.
42. Help someone in your area wrap gifts.
43. Take a treat and/or thank you card to the school librarian.
44. Do an extra household chore without being asked.
45. Make a homemade bird feeder and hang it outside (like a pinecone rolled in peanut butter and birdseed).
46. Donate diapers and wipes to a local women’s/family shelter.
47. Buy some new coloring books and crayons and leave in a hospital waiting room.
48. Decorate some pillowcases and take them to a local children’s hospital.
49. Collect jackets, blankets, and shoes and take them to a homeless shelter.
50. Tape bags of microwave popcorn to the Redbox rental machine.

Here are a few more ideas that we have prepared for you:

1. Say thanks—just thanks—to your parents, for no particular reason.
2. Leave a kind, funny, or inspiring note in a library book you’ve read.
3.  Make a friend laugh: Wrap up a roll of bubble wrap and “surprise leave it” for a buddy.
4. Tell a joke. Credit the person who told it to you.
5. Be a study buddy—or help a younger kid with homework.
6. Clear your own dishes. Then surprise your parents and clear theirs, too.
7. Let your brother go first.
8. Leave a dollar in a vending machine slot.
9. Start a jeans drive. Toss in your favorite pair.
10. Collect toiletries for service members. Add a card that says, “Enjoy my favorite shampoo.”
11. Return carts at big box stores (yours and ones other shoppers left behind).
12. Make your sister’s bed one morning. Turn it down that night.
13. Pay for an extra ticket or bottle of water at the movies. Hand it to the kid who’s next in line.
14. Let someone board the bus ahead of you.
15. Clip coupons for mom. Help her find those items at the market.
16. Pitch in: Take out the garbage after a giant family dinner, BBQ, or holiday celebration. Do it without complaining.
17. Help a senior citizen pack and load groceries.
18. Make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a local shelter.
19. Invite someone outside your crowd to sit at your table at lunchtime or explore the library shelves with you after school.
20. Collect food and canned goods for a local food bank. Invite your friends to help you so you can double, triple, or quadruple the amount.
21. Be kind to a classmate you don’t know.
22. Clean your room—without being asked to.
23. Deliver a compliment a day—and mean it. Deliver two if you see it makes friends and family happy.
24. Donate musical instruments, sports equipment, and electronics you are no longer using.
25. High-five a friend who gets the answer right at school.