To today’s kids, kindness is cool. With many schools and parents putting more emphasis on unity, empathy and caring for others, kids often are left with the desire to do good.
Since it can be hard to come up with concrete ways for small hands to make a big difference, here are 50 acts of kindness for kids of all ages to do year-round.
Click here to download a printable version of the list to hang on your fridge.
1. Let someone go ahead of you in line.
2. Set the table for dinner.
3. Pick up litter at the park.
4. Talk to someone new at school.
5. Write kind chalk messages on the sidewalk.
6. Donate a toy to children in need.
7. Bring in your neighbors’ garbage cans.
8. Clean up your room without being asked.
9. Collect money or items for your favorite charity.
10. Make a homemade gift for someone.
11. Dry the slides at the park with a towel after it rains.
12. Text a compliment to a friend.
13. Put change in the coin return of a vending machine.
14. Hold open the door for someone.
15. Help load or unload someone’s groceries.
16. Call your grandparents just to say hello.
17. Tell someone why they are special to you.
18. If it’s raining, share your umbrella with someone for a few blocks.
19. Write a thank-you note to someone who helps you.
20. Set up a lemonade stand and donate the profits.
21. Send a card to a member of the armed services.
22. Bury toys at the playground for someone to discover.
23. Make lunch for your family.
24. Ask for donations instead of birthday gifts.
25. Rake a neighbor’s leaves or shovel their driveway.
26. Bring flowers to your teacher.
27. Tape change to a parking meter.
28. Volunteer for a local charity.
29. Take treats to a fire or police station.
30. Read a book to someone.
31. Sit with someone who is alone.
32. Teach someone something new.
33. Smile at 10 people today.
34. Collect coats and blankets for the homeless.
35. Do someone else’s chores for the day.
36. Water a neighbor’s plants while they are away.
37. Make slime or playdough for a preschool class.
38. Invite someone new over to play.
39. Leave a kind note in a library book.
40. Draw or color a picture for someone.
41. Bring board games to play at a nursing home.
42. Make a gift or card for a teacher.
43. Walk a neighbor’s dog.
44. Give away clothes you don’t wear.
45. Collect books for the library.
46. Listen quietly and kindly to someone.
47. Put away stray grocery carts at the store.
48. Invite a neighbor over for dinner.
49. Donate food and toys to an animal shelter.
50. Compliment a friend to their parents.
