Acts of Kindness Children Can do

Dr. Wendy Ghiora-Posting #114-December 3, 2012

Children want to know how they can help.  Throughout the year, put perhaps especially during this season of giving and love, we should provide a myriad of opportunities for children to make a positive contribution to a person or group of their choice. Here are a few suggestions. These “Acts of Kindness,”  from the Random Acts of Kindness website, can be done through a child’s school or home:

        

• Ask students to perform a Random Act of Kindness for a stranger and then write an essay describing the experience; how it made them feel and the reaction of the person who received their kindness. (With permission, submit the stories at helpothers.org to be published on the web)

• Create a special publication of RAK (Random acts of kindness), featuring local kindness stories. These can be broadcast over the school intercom.       

•  Have your class make and distribute kindness bookmarks.

• Ask students to pick someone who has done something nice for them and write a thank you note.      

• Have each student write a positive comment about every student in their class on 3x5 cards or paper. Make a collage with the cards or let them keep it as a reminder.

• Ask the students to pick two people who have done something nice for them. Have them write letters of appreciation, explaining how those people have made a difference in their life.

•  Write notes of appreciation and take flowers or goodies for your teacher, custodian, bus driver, principal, or secretary.

• Write a note to your mother/father and tell them why they are special.    
   
• Hold a teddy bear drive and donate the bears to police or fire    departments  for traumatized children or a shelter. The Teddy Bear can be the RAK mascot.
  
  

• Send a letter to some former teachers, letting them know the difference they made in your life.

• Send handmade holiday greeting cards to men and women in the armed forces.   Include a personal note of thanks and good wishes.

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.   

~Author Unknown