38 Acts of Kindness for Kids to Teach Compassion—For Every Age And Budget
A couple weeks ago, I was driving home after I picked up my 6-year-old from school when the song Afterlife by Ingrid Michaelson came on the radio.
“This song makes me cry,” I said.
“Why?” she asked.
“The lady who wrote it, her mom had cancer. So this song is about her mom’s fight against cancer. But then a few months ago, her mom died.”
She was quiet for a moment. “That’s sad,” she said.
Then we were both quiet as we listened to the lyrics.
Living like you’re dying isn’t living at all
Give me your cold hands put them on my heart
Raise a glass to everyone who thinks
They’ll never make it through this life
To live a brand new start
“Mommy?” she asked. “Do kids ever get cancer?”
My heart squeezed.
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A Hard Question With a Hard Answer
“Yes,” I said. “Kids can get cancer.” I glanced in the rearview mirror. A worried stitch between her eyebrows. “It doesn’t seem right that kids would get cancer, but it can happen.”
The song ended, then she spoke up again. “If you’re a kid who gets cancer, where do you live?”
“Well, sometimes you live at your house. Sometimes you live at the hospital. Sometimes you go back and forth between your house and the hospital.”
“I would miss my family if I was at the hospital all the time,” she said.
“I’m sure those kids do miss their families. It’s probably pretty scary to be so sick and be in the hospital all the time.”
She asked question after question after question. The idea of kids in the hospital had never occurred to her before, and we talked about it off and on the rest of the day.
Then an Unexpected Spark of Kindness
As I tucked my daughter into bed that night, she wasn’t asking twenty million questions like usual. She was quiet—pensive. So I filled the emptiness with chatter until she spoke up.
“Mommy,” she said and paused, seeming unsure of herself. “I want to make the kids at the hospital feel better. Can I do that?”
So we brainstormed together and while I had to say no to her first idea of getting a human-sized teddy bear for every kid at the hospital, we settled on the perfect act of kindness for kids. Because she’s at the stage where she makes cards for everyone and every occasion and because Valentine’s Day was around the corner, she decided to make valentines for the kids in the hospital.
So we worked together to design these valentines for kids where you play a math game to get the answer to a Valentine’s Day joke. Then we printed the cards, cut and folded each one, and sealed it with some fun washi tape.†
The whole time we worked, we talked about the kids who would be getting the valentines. What their lives might be like, how often they get to see their family, and if they get to watch Bluey when they’re in the hospital.
And after that one simple act of kindness, I saw a glimmer of the kind, compassionate adult my child will one day become.
The Best 38 Random Acts of Kindness for Kids—For Every Age, Budget, And Situation
According to a report by Harvard researchers, if you want your child to develop a lifelong kindness habit, here are three musts:
- Kids need to hear from parents that kindness is important,
- Kids need regular opportunities to practice caring for others, and
- We need to encourage kids to consider the perspective and struggles of others.
And yet, here’s the problem: In our family, we try to take intentional steps to raise kind kids. But it can be a challenge to find volunteer opportunities for young kids, so we don’t volunteer as a family very often. Even if your child is old enough to volunteer, you might not be able to take time off work or carve out several hours a week to donate your time.
The solution? Tiny, random acts of kindness that kids can get excited about.
When volunteering isn’t feasible, acts of kindness for kids give you a simple way to help others in the community while modeling the importance of kindness and compassion for your child.
Bond As a Family: Acts of Kindness At Home
When you encourage random acts of kindness for kids at home, you’ll nurture the relationships in your family and strengthen your bond as a family.
In this list, you’ll find the best acts of kindness for kids that can happen anytime.
1. Pinch hit
Think of a chore another family member typically handles, and do it for them.
- Ages: Toddler to teen
- Time Required: 5 minutes or more
2. Leave a note
Write a sweet message and leave it for a family member to find, such as a slip of paper in a sibling’s school lunchbox, a Post-It Note on the bathroom mirror, and so on. You can tell a joke, write what you admire about them, or just say, “I hope you have a great day!”
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 5 minutes
- Supplies Needed: A slip of paper or a colorful Post-It Note
3. Hang on tight
Instead of a quick half-second hug to say good morning or goodbye, hold on for several seconds to get the feel-good chemicals oxytocin and serotonin flowing. For an extra surprise, try one of these 20 Fun Ways to Hug Your Child or Parent.
- Ages: Toddler to teen
- Time Required: 1 minute
4. Take over in the kitchen
If someone else in the family typically does the cooking, pick a night and volunteer to handle making dinner for the family.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: An hour or more
- Supplies Needed: Ingredients to make the recipe you choose
5. Make them cozy
Surprise a family member by making their bed for them. For an extra special surprise, replace their bedding with fresh, clean sheets.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 5 minutes
6. Share a story
This works well for older siblings: Pick out a book and read it aloud to your younger sibling. Alternatively, you can share a funny or sweet story about when they were younger. Young kids love hearing family stories!
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 5-15 minutes
- Supplies Needed: A great read-aloud book like these all-time best picture books or these awesome chapter books
7. Give a pop of color
Go on a walk to pick a few wild flowers, then share the bunch with a family member to brighten their day. Alternatively, you can stop by the local grocery store to pick up a pretty bouquet to surprise them with.
- Ages: Toddler to teen
- Time Required: 15 minutes or more
- Supplies Needed: Flowers you pick yourself or flowers from the grocery store
8. Make a date
Give your parents an at-home date night (or lunch). Take care of making the food, then tell them to sit while you serve them like they’re at a restaurant. (My 9-year-old loves to do this for us every once in a while!)
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: An hour or more
- Supplies Needed: Ingredients to make the recipe you choose
9. Brag on someone
During the nightly conversation at the dinner table, share something you appreciate or admire about a family member.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 5 minutes
Be a Good Friend: Acts of Kindness in Your Neighborhood (And Beyond)
This list of kindness ideas for kids works well when you want to surprise a friend, a neighbor, an extended family member, or anyone else you know.
10. Mail a smile
Send a postcard to a friend or loved one who lives in another city. Young kids can draw a picture, and older kids can write a message. If your child enjoys writing, you can suggest they try writing a poem.
- Ages: Toddler to teen
- Time Required: 5-15 minutes
- Supplies Needed: A blank postcard like this or a set of postcards with fun designs like these animal postcards
11. Share something yummy
Bake a batch of cookies, muffins, or another fun treat and share them with a neighbor or friend.
- Ages: Toddler to teen
- Time Required: An hour or more
- Supplies Needed: Ingredients to make the recipe, plus a dish or container to put the food in
12. Chalk it up
Use sidewalk chalk to leave a kind message or a drawing for a neighbor on their porch, sidewalk, or driveway.
- Ages: Preschooler to elementary
- Time Required: 5-15 minutes
- Supplies Needed: Sidewalk chalk—we got this mega pack of glitter chalk, neon chalk, and tie-dye chalk, and it’s lasted us forever
13. Say kind words
Think of something you appreciate or admire about a friend, then let them know with a heartfelt compliment.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 1 minute
14. Lend a favorite
If you have a favorite book, think of a friend who might enjoy it too, then lend it to them. Bonus points if you write a quick note to tuck inside the book about why you enjoyed it.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 5-15 minutes
- Supplies Needed: A book you’ve read and loved
15. Keep it beautiful
Visit a local park, creek, or other natural space and pick up any litter you find.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 15 minutes or more
- Supplies Needed: Two trash bags—one for landfill and one for recyclables—and plastic or rubber gloves
16. Lift up a teacher
Ask your teacher what they need for the classroom, then get it for them so they don’t have to spend their own money on it. Many teachers get an influx of school supplies at the start of the school year but find that they’ve run out of certain items mid-way through the year.
- Ages: Preschooler to teen
- Time Required: An hour or more
- Supplies Needed: Whatever supplies the teacher needs
17. Phone a friend
Think of someone who lives in another city and who you haven’t chatted with in a while, then call to find out how they’re doing. Younger kids might prefer a video chat like FaceTime.
- Ages: Toddler to teen
- Time Required: 15 minutes or more
18. Fill the shelves
Go through your books to decide whether you have any you’re ready to send to a new home. Then find a Little Free Library in your area and fill it up with your stack. If you don’t have a Little Free Library in your area, you can try donating your books to your local library.
- Ages: Toddler to teen
- Time Required: An hour or more
- Supplies Needed: Books to donate
19. Bring in the bins
On garbage day, surprise your neighbor by bringing their garbage cans back from the road to their house. They’ll appreciate that you saved them the step!
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 5 minutes
20. Make a gift—just because
Pick a craft or art project and make it as a gift for a friend or loved one, like a friendship bracelet or another fun craft. You don’t need to wait until their birthday or the winter holidays to gift it. Just surprise them now!
- Ages: Toddler to elementary
- Time Required: 5 minutes or more
- Supplies Needed: Depends on the craft or art project you choose
21. Broadcast kindness
For teenagers, open up the social media platform of your choosing and scroll through your feed. Challenge yourself to leave as many positive, supportive comments to your friends as you can in 10 minutes.
- Ages: Teen
- Time Required: 10 minutes or more
22. Make a double dinner
Make a double batch of whatever is on your dinner menu, then share the extra serving with someone you know. For example, you might have an elderly neighbor, family friends who just had a baby, or a neighbor who’s dealing with a health condition.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: An hour or more
- Supplies Needed: Ingredients to make the recipe, plus a dish or container to put the food in
23. Give thanks
Think of someone who serves the community and write a thank-you card. For example, you might write a thank-you card to your librarian, your mail carrier, your teacher, your sanitation worker, or your bus driver. For teenagers, encourage them to think of a favorite teacher from when they were younger and send them a quick thank-you message out of the blue. They’ll make that teacher’s day, if not year!
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 5-15 minutes
- Supplies Needed: A kid-friendly set of thank-you cards, a cheerful set of blank cards, or a piece of construction paper folded in half
24. Give a yard some love
If a neighbor has a garden, surprise them by weeding it for them. This works especially well when you have an elderly neighbor who has trouble moving around. Alternatively, you can mow their lawn for them.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 30-60 minutes
- Supplies Needed: Gardening gloves and tools
Surprise a Stranger: Random Acts of Kindness for Kids
When you want to make a stranger’s day, these random acts of kindness for kids are perfect for all ages, budgets, and situations.
25. Go on the hunt
Search for spare change in the nooks and crannies of your vehicle, in pants pockets in the laundry hamper, under couch cushions, and so on. Then add it up and donate it to your favorite charity.
- Ages: Preschooler to teen
- Time Required: 15-30 minutes
26. Clean out your pantry
Go through your kitchen pantry to look for non-perishable food you haven’t eaten yet and probably won’t, then fill a box to donate to your local food pantry or food bank. To go the extra mile, set up a collection box in your driveway or on your porch and spread the word in your neighborhood that you’re collecting food to donate.
- Ages: Toddler to teen
- Time Required: An hour or more
- Supplies Needed: Food to donate
27. Adopt a parking lot
Pick any parking lot and leave kind messages on the cars’ windshields for the owners to find when they return to their vehicle. Post-It Notes work great for this, but consider writing on the sticky side so that when you stick it to the windshield, the stranger will be able to read it from inside their car. You can share a favorite quote about kindness or just say, “Have a good day!”
Bonus tip: If it’s a windy day, be sure to put the note under the windshield wiper so it doesn’t fly away.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 15-30 minutes
- Supplies Needed: A stack of colorful Post-It Notes
28. Feed feathered friends
Make a homemade bird feeder using materials you have around the house, then hang it in your neighborhood. The birds will be happy, plus you’ll delight anyone who happens to catch the birds at the feeder!
- Ages: Toddler to teen
- Time Required: 15 minutes or more
- Supplies Needed: Depends on the bird feeder project you choose
29. Make care packages
Put together bags of essentials for the homeless, like a toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, healthy food, and bottled water, then hand out the care packages in your area.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: An hour or more
- Supplies Needed: Clear plastic gallon bags, plus any supplies you want to include in the care package
30. Leave some change
Find a vending machine and leave some spare change in the money return area. The next person to use the vending machine will get a fun surprise of more than they bargained for!
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 5 minutes
- Supplies Needed: Spare change
31. Fuel the crew
Whip up a batch of cookies, muffins, or another treat and bring them to your local fire station to surprise the firefighters.
- Ages: Toddler to teen
- Time Required: An hour or more
- Supplies Needed: Ingredients to make the recipe, plus a dish or container to put the food in
32. Go big
Leave a big tip for your server at a restaurant, your delivery driver, your barista, or anyone else in the service industry. They work hard! Side note: According to coffee shop baristas, pay-it-forward chains (where you pay for the coffee of the person in line behind you) are well-intentioned but may not be the act of kindness you’d think.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 1 minute
33. Tuck a note in a book
If you have a library book you enjoyed, leave a note to the next person who checks it out. You can share a simple “Hope you enjoy this too!” or share more about why you loved the book. Alternatively, you can make DIY bookmarks and tuck those into the book for someone to find.
- Ages: Elementary
- Time Required: 1 minute
- Supplies Needed: Paper or card stock
34. Cull the herd
Go through your toys to look for ones you no longer play with, then donate them to a local kids’ shelter or other charity so they can bring smiles to other kids. For younger kids, you can point out that’s how Woody and friends joined Bonnie’s family in Toy Story 3. Alternatively, you can do the same thing with clothes you’ve outgrown.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: An hour or more
- Supplies Needed: Toys or clothes to donate
35. Add a treat
When you’re eating out at a restaurant as a family, pick another table you’d like to surprise, such as another family, an older couple, and so on. Right before you get the final check for your meal, ask your server to add a dessert to your bill for that other table. Also, ask if they can deliver the message to the lucky table for you.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 5 minutes
36. Delight an elder
Some nursing homes welcome kids in to spend time with their residents. Contact a local home and ask if you can come in to play a board game, make art together, or simply sit and visit.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: An hour or more
- Supplies Needed: A board game for all ages or supplies to make a craft or art project
37. Be an entrepreneur
Plan a bake sale or set up a lemonade stand to raise money for your favorite charity.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: Several hours
- Supplies Needed: Depends on the event you choose
38. Forgo gifts
For your next birthday, ask loved ones to skip giving physical gifts and instead to make a donation in your honor to your favorite charity.
- Ages: Elementary to teen
- Time Required: 5-15 minutes
3 Simple Ways to Practice Acts of Kindness for Kids
Now that you have all these awesome acts of kindness ideas for kids, how do you get your child on board with doing them?
Here are a few practical ways to encourage your child to practice random acts of kindness:
- Be spontaneous. This technique works especially well with younger kids. When you have a lull on a weekend where you and your child aren’t busy, say, “Hey, you know what would be fun? If we did something kind to surprise someone!” You can encourage them to brainstorm an idea of what to do, or you could give them two or three ideas from this list to choose from.
- Set aside one day a month. Starting a daily “random acts of kindness” routine could make the experience feel meaningless. To keep the experience meaningful and enjoyable for the whole family, pick one day a month where you intentionally perform five small acts of kindness together. One study found that people who performed five giving acts all in a single day increased happiness. You might call this your “Family Kindness Day,” “Random Acts of Kindness Day,” or “Family Kindness Marathon.”
- Join a worldwide challenge. Every year between Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and Valentine’s Day, kids and their families around the world participate in the 100 Acts of Kindness Project. The goal is to work together with your kids, students, grandkids, or friends to commit 100 acts of kindness. If you want to join in on the fun and be a part of the 100 Acts of Kindness Project community, the organizers run a Facebook group and share updates on Instagram. You can learn more here.
So What Happened at the Hospital?
My daughter wanted to hand out the cards directly to the kids at our local children’s hospital. But because it’s flu season, the hospital doesn’t allow any visitors under the age of 12 so they can keep their patients safe from having to fight off yet another sickness.
We had to settle for delivering them to the hospital’s front desk so the staff could hand them out to a few kids in need of a smile.
Still, the simple act of walking up to a huge building filled with sick kids – that alone made an impact on her.
We’d made 16 valentines. As we walked towards the hospital’s main entrance, she turned to me. “Mommy? Do you think we made enough for all the kids?”
“Well, there are probably hundreds of kids here. It would take a while to make that much.”
“Hundreds?” she half-whispered.
At the front desk, I explained to the receptionist that we’d made valentines for the kids at the hospital, and my daughter reached up over the high counter to hand the bundle of valentines to the woman.
The woman stood up from her chair so she could see her face, then she smiled. “Thank you, sweetie. I know the kids will love these.”
My daughter’s troubled little face lit up, and she smiled back at the woman.
As we left, she turned to me again. “Mommy, maybe if we have some extra time, we could make more valentines for the kids?”
Get Your Free Printable: 40 Kindness Conversation Starters
To help you raise kind kids, I made a free printable set of kindness conversation starters for you to use with your family.
Print these “What Would You Do?” cards and then at dinner or on road trips, pick a card and ask your kids how they’d handle a situation. You might be surprised by their answers!
- Get the cards. You’ll get the printable kindness conversation starters, plus join my weekly newsletter! Just click here to get it and subscribe.
- Print. I designed them to print on Avery business cards for inkjet or laser printers. Or you can just print them on regular paper or card stock†. (If you go the business card route and the lines don’t PERFECTLY line up, please don’t sue me. That would be unkind.)
- Cut. Or if you’re like me and you can’t cut a straight line to save your life, fold and tear to get a charmingly casual look.
- Pop the cards into an empty bowl or mason jar, put it on your dining room table, and you’re DONE. To learn more about the cards and get tips for fostering a fun and meaningful conversation, check out 40 Kindness Questions to Inspire Your Child to Be Kind.
Here’s a sneak peek of your printable kindness questions:
Before you go, get my FREE cheat sheet: 75 Positive Phrases Every Child Needs to Hear
Your Turn
What are your favorite random acts of kindness for kids? Share in a comment below!
Note: All information on this site is for educational purposes only. Happy You, Happy Family does not provide medical advice. If you suspect medical problems or need professional advice, please consult a physician.