What act of kindness can I do for my mom?

In a world that is often less than compassionate, we can all use a little more consideration and kindness nowadays.

The good news is that children are naturally altruistic and compassionate. As adults, it’s our job to foster that compassion so as they grow, they continue to be aware of how their actions make other’s feel.

One of the easiest ways to teach children about their actions and to show them the impact they can have on others is through random acts of kindness. Whether they’re helping a friend, a neighbor, a stranger or an animal, kids can have a big, positive impact on our world.

It’s important for kids to see parents lead by example so the following list has 103 random acts of kindness ideas for you and your children. Some of these they can do all on their own, but some of these will require your help so they can see the true impact of paying it forward in life.

Get the full list below and start being kind in small ways today.

Acts of Kindness

1. 1. Pick up litter at the park
   2. Give the school custodian a thank you note.
   3. Let someone go in front of you in line.
   4. On hot days, hand out water to city workers.
   5. Make book marks and donate them to a senior home.
   6. Leave heads up pennies on the sidewalk.
   7. Make cookies for the bus driver.
   8. Bring Valentine’s and holiday cards to the senior center.
   9. Hold the door open for someone.
   10. Teach your friend a new skill: How to tie their shoe, ride a scooter, an algebra equation, knitting, etc. 
       
   11. Return rouge carts to the cart corral at the store.
   12. Give candy to the bank teller.
   13. Share with your sibling.
   14. Write your mail person a thank you note (or Valentine!) and put it in the mailbox for them.
   15. Make a bird feeder and feed the birds.
       
   16. Wave at a police officer when you see them on duty in the car or on the street. If you can, say, “Thank you,” for their service.
   17. Leave happy notes on car windshields in a parking lot.
   18. Call your grandparents, tell them you’ve been thinking of them and ask how their day was.
   19. Make, “Thank you for your service,” cards and bring them to a local veteran’s center or hospital.
   20. Compliment friends at school.
   21. Bake a dessert for your neighbor.
   22. Offer to walk your neighbor’s dog.
   23. Put change in a vending machine for the next person.
   24. Take treats to the police station or the fire station.
   25. Smile and say hello to people on the street.
   26. Color or paint stones with kind words and leave them at the park.
   27. Donate old toys that are still in good condition to charity.
   28. Send bags of candy to soldiers that are deployed with thank you notes.
   29. Help make dinner.
   30. Help clean up after dinner without being asked.
       

1. 1. Remember to always add, “Please,” and, “Thank you.”
   2. Bring your teacher a drawing and tell her your favorite thing about your class.
   3. Create a Little Library for your neighborhood and put books you no longer read in it for others to enjoy.
      
   4. Donate socks and underwear to a homeless shelter.
   5. Shovel a neighbor’s sidewalk in the winter.
   6. Donate clothes you no longer need to Goodwill, the Salvation Army or a church.
   7. Randomly tell a family member how much you love them.
   8. Tell one of your friends how special they are to you.
   9. Play with someone new during recess.
   10. Read a book to a younger student at school or a younger sibling at home.
   11. Compliment or say thank you to the lunch lady.
   12. Donate tissues or other supplies to the classroom in the middle of the school year.
   13. Draw a picture for a friend or write them a note.
   14. Offer to help clean the windows at home.
   15. Make your bed without being asked.
   16. Volunteer at the local animal shelter.
   17. Bring a bag of food to a food pantry – especially in the summer when donations are down but the need is up due to kids being out of school.
       
   18. Rake a neighbor’s leaves.
   19. Tell your brother or sister that you love them.
   20. Put your dishes in the dishwasher or unload the dishwasher for your parents.
   21. Bring old children’s books to a local shelter.
   22. Tell the server at the restaurant, “Thank you,” for serving you.
   23. Give up your seat on the bus, train or the subway.
   24. Donate cat or dog food to a local shelter.
   25. Send a postcard to a relative in another state.
   26. Bring cookies to the post office during a busy time.
   27. If it’s raining, share your umbrella with a friend.
   28. Add extra money to a parking meter for the next person.
   29. Make a friendship bracelet and give it to a new friend.
   30. Walk a neighbor’s dog.
   31. Leave a happy post-it note on the bathroom mirror for another family member.
       
   32. Use sidewalk chalk and write happy quotes on the sidewalk in your neighborhood.
   33. Help a friend with their homework.
   34. Leave a note in a library book for the next person.
   35. Feed the animals in the winter.
   36. Clear your plate from the table at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
   37. Help set the table for a meal.
   38. Make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for homeless people in your area.
   39. Invite someone new to sit at the lunch table with you.
   40. Pay for another family’s dinner bill at a restaurant.
   41. Help your neighbor, grandparents or another relative plant flowers.
   42. Pick up your laundry and put it away. Or do your laundry for your mom.
       
   43. Bring breakfast to your teacher or a special snack for their lunch.
   44. Donate coloring books to a children’s hospital.
   45. Sweep the floors for your mom and dad.
   46. Leave kindness bundles of candy and treats for your neighbors.
   47. Help a teacher pick up the classroom at the end of the day.
   48. Donate blood during a local blood drive (teens and parents only)
   49. Help your parents make dinner.
   50. Say, “Thank you,” for dinner.
   51. Help carry someone’s groceries or load their car at the grocery store.
       

1. Help a sibling clean their room.
2. Help pull the weeds in the garden.
3. Pick up clothes that have fallen off the hangers at the store and rehang them.
4. Give a hug just because.
5. Start a spare change jar at home and when it’s full donate the money to your favorite charity.
6. Tape a thank you note to the garbage can so the trash collectors know you appreciate them.
7. Donate coats you’ve outgrown each fall and spring.
8. Pick wildflowers and give them to your mom, grandma, a neighbor or a friend.
9. Tape bags of popcorn to a Redbox machine.
10. Bring extra water to your sports team practices or games for kids who forget.
11. Leave laundry detergent or change at the laundry mat.
12. Take shorter showers to conserve water.
13. Leave extra change by the ride-on-horses or the cars at the grocery store or mall.
14. Tell a friend’s mom or dad that they’re a great parent.
15. Print out and bring coloring sheets and a new box of crayons to the doctor’s office.
16. Create a lemonade stand and donate the profits.
17. Go caroling at Christmas time around your neighborhood or at a nursing home.
18. Mail your cousins a letter or a funny picture.
19. Donate blankets or preemie hats to the hospital for premature babies.
20. “Adopt” a family or child in another country to help them live a better life.
21. Grow out your hair for Locks of Love or another organization that makes wigs for cancer patients.
22. Make placemats for homeless shelters for holidays throughout the year. Laminate them so they can be used multiple times.
23. Leave extra pennies next to a fountain for the next family to make wishes on.
24. Look in the mirror and give yourself a compliment. Remember, kindness starts at home.

What else would you add to this list?

For more parenting experiences, click here. For more family activities, click here.