Random Acts of Kindness to Inspire Your Kids This Year
Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, or nice to other people without expecting anything in return. It can be as simple as listening to someone who is hurting. Or it can be as great as donating money to a cause you believe in. It may even be just nurturing someone else. People who express kindness don’t do so out of obligation, but rather to help others. A great way to instill kindness in yourself or your children is to practice random acts of kindness.
Being Kind is Good for You
Kindness isn’t just good for those you are kind to. It’s also good for those who are actively kind toward others. According to the Mayo Clinic, practicing kindness is good for your self-esteem and it improves your mood. In addition, kindness is good for your brain because it increases serotonin and dopamine levels, which creates feelings of happiness and well-being. By actively practicing kindness, you’ll end up in better health while helping boost the emotional wellness of others, too. And modeling kindness for kids will actively help them see the benefits of treating others positively.
Way to Show Kindness to Strangers
Start coming up with random acts of kindness to share with strangers and encourage your kids to help with the tasks. Consider the following ideas:
- Hand out hot chocolate to people working outside in the cold.
- Open the door for a person leaving a store with an arm full of bags.
- Smile at and compliment a stranger.
- Send cards to a local nursing home.
- Write a note of thanks to your server the next time you’re at a restaurant.
- Collect and deliver canned goods for your local food bank.
Ways to Show Kindness at Home
It can be difficult to remember to show kindness when you’re stuck in a day-to-day routine. But good behavior often begins at home. Help your child see how big of an impact random acts of kindness can have at home so they think about doing them while away from home, too. Here are a few ideas:
- Spend time reading a book or playing a game together as a family.
- Help with the dishes or chores.
- Fill a gratitude jar that you can read together at the end of each week, month, or year.
- Plant a garden together. Work on weeding and watering together, too.
- Clean your room without being asked.
- Tell your family what they’ve done to make you proud.
Ways to Show Kindness at School
Sometimes kids just need a little inspiration to remember how to show kindness day to day. Remind your child daily that random acts of kindness are always welcome from classmates, staff, and teachers. Have your child consider doing the following:
- Share a book, crayons, or craft supplies with another classmate.
- Write your teachers a thank you note for being there for them every day.
- Bring extra snacks to school to share with your classmates and teachers.
- Get a Band-Aid for a friend at school if they fall and get a cut.
- Tell your classmates what you like about them.
- Help a classmate who is struggling with their homework.
Ways to Show Kindness to Adults
Kids are often surrounded by adults that need a moment of calm and a reminder that they are loved. Teaching children how to do random acts of kindness to brighten the day of the adult in their lives is a great way to spread joy. Consider showing your child how to do one of the following ideas:
- Give an adult you love a flower, just because.
- Call a grandparent or an aunt or uncle just to say hello.
- Smile at your parents and tell them you love them.
- Help a neighbor shovel their driveway or rake their leaves.
- Volunteer to walk an elderly neighbor’s pet.
- Hug the adults you love.
Ways to Show Kindness to Yourself
One of the most important ways to show kindness first-hand is to show that you can be kind to yourself, as well. Self-love is one of the most important things you can model for your children as they grow into adults. Here are some ways you can illustrate that kindness for your both you and your children.
- Treat yourself with compassion, exactly the way you’d treat a close friend.
- Take care of your physical help but be willing to give yourself grace if you slip some days.
- Focus on the positive.
- Reward yourself when you’ve done something well.
- Spend some time each day focusing on things that bring you happiness.
- Ask for help when you need it.
PALS Helps Children Learn Kindness and More
At PALS Praise & Leadership Schools, we teach the virtue of kindness every day. It’s because we believe kindness is just one part of an educational foundation that will set your child up for a lifetime of success. At PALS, we’ve developed a curriculum that teaches kindness, as well as communication, decision making, problem-solving, and goal setting. It’s all so children will flourish well into adulthood. The PALS curriculum teaches children self-esteem, moral character, and skills they need for a lifetime.
Come see what PALS has to offer by requesting a tour. We have two campuses in the Peoria area to provide convenience for parents across the greater Peoria region. Schedule a tour at our North Peoria campus, located at 2327 W Willow Knolls Rd in Peoria IL, by calling 309-691-4326. Or contact us at our Downtown Peoria campus, 700 NE Greenleaf in Peoria IL, at 309-674-2938. As you teach your child random acts of kindness, PALS Praise & Leadership Schools is here to help continue that framework within the daycare experience as well.
