11 Activities to Teach your Kids About Kindness

11 Activities to Teach Your Kids About Kindness

1) Paper chain of kindness

There are two ways to make a kindness chain. First, you could have your kids think of at least one kind thing to do everyday, then they write that down on a slip of paper and tape it to the paper chain. Set a goal to make the paper chain a certain length. 

You could also do it by making the paper chain in advance with all the kindness acts written on each slip of the chain and then have them cut it down once they’ve completed it. You can watch as the chain shrinks. 

2) Donate toys and books to teach kids about kindness

One thing we like to do every year is donate some of our books and toys to kids who need them. We collect so many toys throughout the year, so doing a toy cleanse is good for us and others. My kids love picking out which toys they are going to give away. I feel like this also makes them less materialistic knowing they don’t have to hold on to everything. 

We either donate to goodwill, a toy drive, book drive, free book libraries, children we know are in need, or other drives that might be happening around Christmas time in our area. If possible, let them give the toys away to the kids so they can be part of the giving. (because that’s the best part). 

3) Service activities/projects 

Make it a point to do service projects or activities often. They’re a great way to teach kids about kindness! We try hard to create a service project once a month.

We try to make it ones that they can participate in like handing out balloons in front of a grocery store, baking cookies for our next door neighbor, doing yard work for an elderly person, or volunteering at the food bank (if your kids are old enough). 

4) Kindness calendar to teach kids about kindness

Create a kindness calendar to teach your kids for the month or week. You could do this several ways. One way would be to pick one month out of the year to focus on kindness. Sit down together as a family and write down all the kind acts you want to do that month and then plan it out. Write a kind act on each day of that month. 

Another way would be to focus on one kindness act a week for each week of the year. It could be as simple as smiling or saying hi to a new friend. You could plan them out at the start of each week or month, or even at the start of each year. Display your calendar in a place where everyone can see and be reminded. 

5) Kindness Scavenger Hunt

Create a kindness scavenger hunt and make it an evening activity – this is a great way to teach kids about kindness! You could also make it a regular monthly activity.

Write down at least 10 kind acts and then go to a mall or park and see if you can do all the acts. Cross them off as you do them.

You could also try to catch other people doing kind acts and thank them for being kind. It’s good for kids to see that there is still kindness in the world. 

Like scavenger hunts? Give this neighbornood sidewalk chalk scavenger hunt a try!

6) Kindness Painting Rocks

One of our favorite things to do in our family is rock painting. It is so fun and relaxing. Then after we’ve painted them, we like to place them on the walking trail behind our house for everyone to enjoy.

Have you ever been walking down a trail and found a painted rock? Doesn’t it just brighten your day? We love it. You could write down inspiring messages or create a fun design. 

Another fun place for painted rocks is your vegetable garden!

7) Paint Messages

This one kind of goes hand in hand with painting rocks, but you could paint inspiring words or pictures on the sidewalk or road using sidewalk paint. It’s a great way to inspire others, or make someone’s day, and it’s super simple. 

8) Heart Attack

Heart attack someone by cutting out a bunch of hearts and writing messages or drawing pictures on them and then taping them to someone’s front door (secretly).

You could also put them on their porch, car, or in their front lawn. This makes a great Valentine’s day activity, and you could include these cute Valentine’s Day cookies.

9) Random acts of kindness jar

Keep a jar in your home, somewhere that is convenient for everyone, that has different and random acts of kindness in it. Choose to pull one out to do once a month, week, or whenever the kids are fighting and need to perform a kindness act.

It also serves as a great reminder to be kind. 

10) Friendship Flowers to teach kids about kindness

Create a friendship flower by making a paper flower, writing a person’s name in the middle, and then writing all their great qualities and traits on the petals. Then, give the flower to that person either secretly or randomly.

This is a simple way to brighten someone’s day and show them that you care.  It’s also a great way to teach kids about kindness!

11) Books about kindness

Buy several books about kindness and read them regularly in your home. This is great for little kids because they can hear it over and over again. They may not be able to participate in all the activities, but reading about it all the time is good. 

Here are some of the best books about kindness.

The possibilities are endless. There are so many kind things to do for people, and it doesn’t have to be very big. It’s the little things that make all the difference. I believe that if everyone teaches their kids to be kind, then the world will be a better place! 

What kindness act will you do today?

About the Author

My name is Charlie Alexander and I blog over at Paper Scissors Craft about Cheap and Easy Kids and Toddler’s Craft and Activities. I love to help other moms create activities for their kids that don’t take weeks of planning or a giant toolbox. I have two little ones at home and we love having all kinds of adventures. And I love spending time with family, exercising, baking cakes, and anything crafty. 

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