Teach Kids to Practice Kindness (30 Ideas + a Free Printable)

Last updated on October 9th, 2022 at 03:43 pm

Sometimes it feels like kindness and empathy are on the decline. Do you want to help your kids practice kindness more often in their everyday lives? There are lots of ways to reinforce your child’s natural desire to care for others. 

From the time our children are very young, we try to teach them good values. When we can help our kids step outside themselves and help someone else, we are guiding them toward becoming a better person. Your kids will love the feeling they get when they can brighten someone else’s day, and they’ll want to do it more often.

Below, you’ll find a list of 30 kindness activities for kids–small ways to practice kindness every day! Plus a free printable. It’s a great visual reminder.

Teach Kids to Practice Kindness: Free Printable

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Click the page below to print the random acts of kindness printable. This will print full-size on letter-sized paper, or use your printer’s settings to fit it to your page.

Some ideas about how to use this–have your child mark off each act of kindness they’ve done for the week or month.

You can laminate this sheet too, so you can reuse it. (Here’s a great, inexpensive lamintor.) Use a dry erase marker to write on it if you’d like.

1. Hold the door open for someone.
2. Compliment a friend.
3. Tell someone a joke.
4. Donate your gently-used toys and books.
5. Return someone’s cart at the store.
6. Send a postcard to a friend.
7. Take treats to the fire station.
8. Read a book to a younger sibling.
9. Feed the birds.
10. Pick up litter around your neighborhood or at the park.
11. Check in on your elderly neighbors.
12. Paint kind messages on rocks, and leave them around your neighborhood.
13. Let someone go ahead of you in line.
14. Tell someone why they are important to you.
15. Recycle.
16. Invite someone to play on the playground.
17. Help your parents with chores around the house. [Also read: Chore Charts for Kids (Free Printables)]
18. Take your dog for a walk.
19. Pull weeds or shovel snow for a neighbor.
20. Clean up your room without being asked.
21. Bring in extra school supplies for the teacher.
22. Call, email, text, or send a note to your grandparents or another relative.
23. Write happy chalk messages on the sidewalk.
24. Leave a thank-you note for your mail carrier.
25. Help make dinner.
26. Collect money or items for your favorite charity.
27. Write a poem for a friend.
28. Ask for donations instead of birthday gifts.
29. Make a homemade gift for someone.
30. Help a younger child with homework.

Can you think of any other ways to practice kindness we should add to our list? Leave a comment below.

Also read:
Spread a Little Joy With This Free Compliments Printable
30 Great Ways to Make Memories With Your Child — Free Printable
Mini Moments Worth Celebrating