Random Acts of Kindness Ideas for Kids

Whether you are seeking ways to participate in Random Acts of Kindness Week or just need ways to teach your children to be more thoughtful, this list of random acts of kindness ideas will help you plan activities with your kids to teach them that kindness is a choice.

When the world seems to be having a meltdown, kindness is more important than ever.

We are not born naturally kind but can learn to treat other with love and respect. So, as parents, we must be intentional and teach our children – and ourselves – how to be kind to others, to our surroundings, and even ourselves.

What is Random Acts of Kindness Week?

February is a month where the focus turns to loving others, right? But did you know that February is also host to Random Acts of Kindness Week?

Organized by a small but passionate team, Random Acts of Kindness Week is mission of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, an internationally recognized nonprofit based in Denver, Colorado established in 1995.

You can download lesson plans from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation here.

Kindness Activities Our Family Loves

Our family is actively seeking ways to show kindness to others in our community. These are a few of the projects we enjoy:

Make homeless blessing bags – We always keep homeless blessing bags in the car. During the winter, we often keep a stash of blankets in the van too.

Donate gently-used coats -We participated in the Warm Coats and Warm Hearts Drive with Burlington but you can always donate your gently-used coats to local charities.

Create a “soup in a jar” for a sick friend – I made a few of these for Christmas gifts but had extras. It was a soup-er handy gift when a neighbor got sick.

Creating a service station for delivery workers – Although our family did this during Christmas, you could plan a snack station for any day you expect deliveries.

Hosting a full-service car wash for the elderly – This event is easier to plan with help from other families are through your church but is always welcomed by senior adults who could use a helping hand.

Reading to cats at a no-kill shelter – We still make people giggle when we talk about the Saturday we delivered pet supplies to a local shelter and spent a few hours reading to the cats.

Make comfort bags for kids in need – These comfort bags found a welcomed spot at a local charity who serves needy families… since my kids were a little shy about going to the police station.

Volunteer at a local food bank – If your food bank has a community garden, you can take the family for a morning of gardening fun while serving others.

>>See all of our family service projects.<<

Random Acts of Kindness for Families

Sometimes, the opportunities for kindness happen in a moment. A smile. A hug. But there are other needs that take more planning.

Here is a list of 28 great ideas – one for each day of the month – to help your family be intentionally kind this month.

1. Show kindness to a sibling by doing one of their chores.
2. Donate new or gently used books to a reading program, school, or library.
3. Host a can drive. Collect canned goods to deliver to the food bank.
4. Pay for the person behind you in a fast food drive-through.
5. Clean out the toy box. Donate neglected (but clean and useable) toys to a local charity or children’s home.
6. Visit with an elderly family friend.
7. Ship a care package to a college student.
8. Hold the door open for someone walking behind you.
9. Surprise your teacher with a special gift.
10. Deliver cookies to the fire station.
11. Write a letter to an out-of-town family member or someone in the military.
12. Take a meal to someone who had surgery or is dealing with a stressful situation.
13. Volunteer to take the neighbor’s dog for a walk.
14. Pull someone’s trash can back from the curb to their house.
15. Smile even if you don’t feel like smiling.
16. Help an elderly person load their groceries into their car.
17. Leave an encouraging note inside a library book before you return it.
18. Write a thank you note to a friend or pastor.
19. Deliver a movie and popcorn to a neighbor.
20. Support a local homeless shelter by collecting gently-used blankets and coats.
21. Collect kid-friendly comic books and deliver to the children’s hospital.
22. Put a $5 bill in your movie rental case before returning it with a note that “snacks are on me.”
23. Send an encouraging text message to a friend.
24. Compliment someone who seems to be having a rough day.
25. Invite a family over for dinner (with a parent’s permission).
26. Do an extra household chore without being asked.
27. Donate diapers and wipes to a local women’s/family shelter.
28. Tape bags of microwave popcorn to the Redbox rental machine.

More Random Act of Kindness Ideas

Need more ideas for planning random acts of kindness? Visit a few of my friends:

• Share the Love: 29 Day Love Challenge for Kids from Life of a Homeschool Mom
• A Simple Act of Kindness from How I Do This Mommy Thing
• 31 Acts of Kindness from Lorrin Sell
• 60 Random Acts of Kindness for Kids from Proverbial Homemaker
• Bless Others with a Free Kindness Kit from Faith Along the Way
• February Acts of Kindness for Kids from Deeply Rooted Family
• 52 Random Acts of Kindness from Positively Smitten
• Christmas Kindness from Worshipful Living
• Teach Kids Kindness Printable pack from Proverbial Homemaker
• Thank a Mailman Day from Who Arted
• Smile it Forward for Kids (with printables) from Kids Activity Blog
• 30 Random Acts of Kindness in 30 Days from Will Cook For Friends
• 67 Awesome Ideas for Random Acts of Kindness from Your Vibrant Family
• Random Acts of Kindness Printables from Not Consumed
• The Kindness Jar- Acts of Kindness for Siblings from The Mad House

What are your ideas for Random Acts of Kindness Week?

We would love to hear from you!