It’s important to teach kids about kindness from a young age. By doing so, we can help them to develop into more compassionate adults.

Here are five creative kindness activities for kids that will help them to think of others and to be more kind:

1. Read stories about kindness. 

There are many wonderful children’s books that teach valuable lessons about compassion and caring for others. Some of our favorites include ‘The Lion and the Mouse,’ ‘The Sandwich Swap,’ and ‘Be Kind.’

Here are some resources:

50 Inspiring Books About Kindness for Kids

Kindness, compassion and empathy: picture books

Cool to Be Kind: Children’s Books That Champion Kindness

2. Encourage them to perform acts of kindness.

Encouraging kids to perform acts of kindness is a great way to help them develop empathy and compassion toward others. One way to do this is by setting aside some time each day for them to do something kind for someone else.

For example, you could encourage kids to make a card or write a letter for a grandparent, neighbor, or friend. This simple act of kindness can brighten someone’s day and make them feel appreciated. You could also encourage them to perform small acts of kindness throughout the day, such as holding the door open for someone.

3. Brainstorm ways to be kind.

As a caregiver or teacher, you can inspire your kids to spread kindness by brainstorming a list of their ideas and guiding them to implement those ideas with parental assistance. The possibilities are endless, so get ready to ignite their creativity and make a positive impact!

Here are some ideas:

1. Smile and say hello to someone new.
2. Hold the door open for someone.
3. Offer to help carry groceries or bags for an elderly person.
4. Share a toy or game with a friend or sibling.
5. Donate toys or clothes they no longer use to a charity.

4. Model kindness yourself. 

Show your kids being kind to others, and explain why you’re doing it. For example, “I’m holding the door open for the person behind me because I want to make their day a little easier.” In the classroom, you could also encourage your students to perform acts of kindness towards each other. You can create a culture of kindness by regularly acknowledging and celebrating acts of kindness that you see happening in the classroom. This can be as simple as giving students shoutouts for helping each other or sharing their resources.

Another way to promote kindness in the classroom is to incorporate it into your lessons. For example, you could assign a project where students research and present a person who has made a positive impact on the world through acts of kindness.

5. Play Kindness Bingo

Kindness Bingo is a fun and interactive game that can be played in the classroom to promote kindness, empathy, and positive behavior among kids.

Here’s how you can play:

1. Create bingo cards: Create bingo cards with different acts of kindness written in each square. For example, “give someone a compliment,” “help a classmate with their work,” or “share your snack.”
2. Distribute the cards: Give each student a bingo card and explain the rules of the game.
3. Start playing: The students will try to complete the acts of kindness on their card throughout the day or week, depending on how long you want to play.
4. Mark off completed squares: When a student completes an act of kindness, they can mark off that square on their bingo card.
5. Celebrate wins: When a student gets five squares in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally), they can shout out “Bingo!” and share their completed card with the class.

References:

Top 10 Kitchen Safety Do’s and Don’ts

Food Safety Guidelines for Child Care Programs