Doing acts of kindness is a great way to improve the world. By being kind, thoughtful, and generous, kids of all ages can make a positive difference in the lives of those around them.
It’s also an excellent way for kids to learn (and adults to re-learn!) how to be compassionate and caring members of society. There are many acts of kindness that kids can do, no matter their age.
50 Acts of Kindness For Kids Of All Ages
Reach Out
Hey, these acts of kindness don’t have to be huge, public acts. Every bit of encouragement creates a positive ripple effect. Making one person feel good can lead to the whole community feeling good.
1. Leave kind notes for friends, family, and community members.
2. Give compliments to others. Surprise a stranger by saying something nice you noticed about them.
3. Send care packages or letters to members of the military overseas.
4. Leave an uplifting comment on social media.
5. Make cards for those who are recovering from surgery or illness in the hospital.
6. Invite someone new over for dinner or a play date who might not otherwise get invited.
7. Make friendship bracelets to give away to friends, family members, and strangers.
8. Participate in acts of random acts of kindness on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter with hashtags like #RandomActsofKindnessDay.
9. Write letters of gratitude or appreciation to someone who has made a difference in your life or helped you through tough times.
10. Help household members around the house with chores such as dishes, laundry, or cleaning.
Be A Good Neighbor
Thinking about the state of the world and how to help can be…overwhelming. So let’s think (and start!) small, by focusing on a better community, neighborhood by neighborhood.
11. Plant flowers and trees in a community common area (call and ask permission, first!).
12. Participate in community clean-up projects, like picking up trash from a park.
13. Rake leaves or shovel snow for neighbors who cannot do it themselves.
14. Bring in groceries for housebound neighbors.
15. Write messages of encouragement on sticky notes and leave them around the neighborhood for residents to find.
16. Make a “Little Free Library” for the neighborhood, fill it with old books or magazines.
17. Offer to babysit for a family (no cost!) who needs an extra hand.
18. Organize a neighborhood charity and food drive! Collect gently used items and non-perishable food to give away to those in need.
19. Set up a block “bartering” system. Someone needs their dog walked? Great, you can do that if they’d feed your cat while you’re gone next week.
20. Pick up trash.
Donate!
I bet your house is full of unused or underused stuff, especially if you have kids. I know mine is.
Let’s go all Marie Kondo, get it out, and donate it. Organizations need all kinds of things! They (and your house square footage) will thank you.
21. Forward finished books to the local library.
22. Donate old cell phones to help victims of domestic abuse call for help in emergencies.
23. Gather clothes for a drive.
24. Start a pet food and supplies donation program, give to local animal shelter.
25. Give blood.
26. Donate items to a women’s shelter or homeless shelter, such as blankets, pillows, toiletries and clothing.
27. Pass on gently used children’s items to local latchkey programs, homeless/DV shelters, disaster relief programs, and more (think outside the box).
28. Collect outerwear for Coats for Kids drives or local churches (they often have warm clothing giveaways, too).
29. Donate kitchenware and/or old appliances to after school programs, local thrift stores, disaster relief, etc.
30. Provide local children’s programs or nursing homes with art supplies.
Pick A Population, Any Population
Hey, maybe there’s a special population (animals, kids, the elderly, etc) that you or your child is interested in, and that’s ok.
Let’s get more specific.
31. Visit nursing homes and spread some cheer. See if you can “adopt” a grandparent.
32. Offer to tutor a student with homework.
33. Pass out free snacks like granola bars or fruit to people on the street who may be hungry.
34. Visit an animal shelter and spend time playing with the animals there to make them feel loved and cared for.
35. Spend time reading stories to children at your local library or community center.
36. Start a book club in conjunction with an organization that serves a population you’re interested in, getting together once a month to discuss the assigned book and share ideas.
37. Help out with special events (fundraisers, charity runs, etc) for your favorite local cause/population.
38. Start a reuse, repurpose, and recycling program at your school, workplace, church, etc.
39. Make and deliver care packages to emergency workers, teachers, delivery drivers, etc.
40. Approach any organization you are interested in and ask them specifically what you and the fam can do or donate to help. Block off an afternoon to make phone calls with your kiddo(s).
Just Got An Afternoon?
Or some other chunk of time? Meaning that you need more of a “one-and-done” kindness activity rather than a time-sustained arrangement (like showing up at the same place every week).
That’s ok, too. Here are some ideas that are lower time and effort. You can do something different every weekend, if you wanted.
41. Spend an afternoon helping out at a local soup kitchen or food bank. This is a great option for kids, as it’s an easy good to explain.
42. Dedicate an afternoon to writing letters (or drawing pictures), like in the Reaching Out section, but also include assisted living centers, foster care organizations, refugee centers, and more. Talk about why you’re writing these letters, and the different kinds of situations their recipients could be in.
43. Cook a lasagna for others in the comfort of your kitchen via Lasagna Love.
44. Pass a weekend afternoon walking shelter dogs.
45. Learn how to knit waterproof socks together (so many videos on YouTube!) and cozy up for a sock-making afternoon. Offer your labors to organizations that help the unhoused.
46. Contact an organization that gives things away, offer to do some one-off cleaning and organizing chores.
47. Do some weekend construction projects with Habitat for Humanity.
48. Volunteer at a clothing closet.
49. Hang out at a local museum for the day, cleaning the displays or whatever they need.
50. Gather money! Operate a lemonade stand for a few hours, sell things (make a game of it!), etc, and give the proceeds to a local organization.
Conclusion
Encouraging kids to be kind not only makes the world a better place but also helps them develop important values that will last a lifetime.
These acts of kindness are simple and easy for kids of all ages. Make kindness a part of your daily routine!
Want More?
Check out these other articles about kids and kindness:
- The Third Best Parenting Tip I’ve Ever Received: Emotional Validation
- Taming Toddler Sibling Rivalry
Happy cheer spreading!
