Your Complete Kid-Friendly Guide to Random Acts of Kindness Day

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

This quote is from the famous storyteller, Aesop, known the world over for his classic fables containing universal morals. The line is taken from the story of The Lion and The Mouse, in which a lion spares a mouse’s life and, in return, the mouse later rescues the lion from a hunter’s net. The moral of the story is that the kindness we show towards others will eventually come back to us. If the lion had not spared the mouse’s life in that simple moment of kindness, the mouse would not have been around to save the lion. 

Of course, being kind to others is not about getting something in return. (Quite the opposite, in fact.) There are, however, some beneficial side effects to practicing kindness, according to science. Not least, feeling good about ourselves. So it’s kind of a win-win! And, let’s face it, there can never be too much kindness in the world.

Why is kindness so important?

Kindness is a universal language that everyone can understand. In this uplifting TED Talk, a fourth-grade kid - wise before his years - explains why kindness is so important and how even the smallest random act of kindness can have a huge impact on someone’s day...

So, what is National Random Acts of Kindness Day?

While acting with kindness is a choice we should all make every day, Random Acts of Kindness Day shines a light on this important, universal value. Its focus is on doing unexpected good deeds for others, particularly strangers. Promoted each year by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, their theme for this year is “Explore the Good,” and their website is packed full of kindness inspiration and resources. We particularly like this printable coloring sheet!

How can we Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day in school?

Of course, every day is a day to be kind. But Random Acts of Kindness Day provides us with an opportunity to highlight its importance and remain mindful of the impact our actions and behavior can have on others; it is a day for us to be even kinder than usual (and encourage the kids to be, too!)

We’ll talk a bit about how we can teach our kids to choose kindness below. But first, as a teacher or educator, think about how you, yourself, might promote kindness in school this Random Acts of Kindness Day, and hopefully inspire more people to pay it forward (adults and children alike!)

Here are five easy kindness ideas for educators to get you started:

1. Bring in a favorite treat and leave it in the teachers’ lounge for someone to find.
2. Leave a kind or uplifting note on the staff restroom mirror.
3. Hide a surprise note of encouragement in your students’ books when grading their homework.
4. Give your colleague a book you think they might like.
5. Chalk the sidewalk/playground with notes of kindness and pictures to brighten everyone’s day.

Encourage students to be kind by challenging them to perform a certain number of kind acts this Random Acts of Kindness Day. Or make an entire week or month of it and challenge them to complete one action every day. Be sure to check out our list of 40 acts of kindness for kids, below, for some inspiration. Or download these adorable illustrated Acts of Kindness Challenge Cards for some ideas.

How else can I teach children about kindness?

We all know that one of the best ways to encourage positive behaviors is to lead by example. Children look up to us and learn a lot through observation, particularly in the early years. That’s why, as teachers, educators, parents, and carers, we have an essential role to play by modeling kindness, compassion, tolerance, and respect. 

Helping kids understand the effects of their actions and behavior, and recognizing the difference that being kind can make, are great topics for more structured learning, too - both in the classroom and at home. It’s a critical area of study for young children as part of their social and emotional health education and can be applied to topics like bullying, tolerance, and making friends. It’s also an excellent subject for the beginning of school and touches on many other subjects. Kindness is less a stand-alone topic but rather a universal value that should run throughout teaching. Therefore, the following ideas are for life, and not just for Random Acts of Kindness Day!

Choose kindness

Ask students to think about what it means to be kind. Not only would this make a great discussion starter on Random Acts of Kindness Day, but it can also feed into your classroom management strategy. Why not create an uplifting bulletin board display to remind children to be kind every day? These colorful Kind Hands Display Posters feature simple reminders of what kindness looks like. And this Choose Kindness Read and Discuss Activity Booklet also doubles as a wonderful resource to display to remind children that being kind is a choice they can make every day.

No space for a kindness bulletin board? Put up this wonderfully simple Kind Display Poster to remind your students of what it means to be kind.

You could also start a conversation around empathy and kindness using these thoughtful teacher-made scenario question cards, encouraging students to think about how the person in each scenario might be feeling and what they could do to show kindness and empathy.

Showing kindness and respect toward each other

A big part of being kind is considering other people’s feelings. This set of thought cards is designed to help open up a discussion with young children about appropriate behavior and considerate language. This engaging “We’re All Different” PowerPoint for younger kids is a wonderful discussion starter around identifying and appreciating our differences - useful as part of a bullying topic.

40 acts of kindness for kids to try

1. Let someone go ahead of you in the lunch line.
2. Leave a kind, inspiring, or funny note in a library book.
3. Give someone an unexpected compliment.
4. Do a chore without anyone knowing/asking.
5. Make/write a get well soon card for a neighbor or friend.
6. Plant a tree.
7. Write a kind note to your favorite teacher.
8. Pick up some litter and throw it in the garbage.
9. Bring flowers to your teacher.
10. Invite someone new to play with you at recess.
11. Hold the door open for someone.
12. Paint and hide kindness rocks for strangers to find.
13. Help your teacher collect or pass out papers.
14. Smile at a neighbor, new student, or stranger as you pass in the hallway or on the sidewalk.
15. Surprise a friend with their favorite snack.
16. Clear out your old books and donate them to the school library.
17. Help a friend study for a test.
18. Thank a key worker for their contribution to the world.
19. Listen fully and be genuinely interested in what someone has to say.
20. Surprise someone with a simple but thoughtful gift.
21. Congratulate a fellow student on their achievement.
22. Invite someone who is eating alone to sit and have lunch with you.
23. Draw your parent or guardian a picture, just because you love them.
24. Say “please” and “thank you” when you ask for things.
25. Write and send a thank you note.
26. Help a classmate who’s stuck on their classwork.
27. Leave someone a nice compliment on social media.
28. Say hello to new people in the hallways.
29. Give someone a hug (*Staying within current regulations, of course!)
30. Randomly call or text a sweet message to a friend or faraway family member.
31. Leave a nice note on someone’s desk.
32. Tell a joke to make someone laugh, especially if they need cheering up.
33. Apologize when you mess up.
34. Put your phone down and give someone your full attention.
35. Clear up a mess you didn’t make.
36. Share your things.
37. Handwrite a letter or card to send to a grandparent.
38. Put out food for the birds in your garden during winter.
39. Clear the table after dinner without being asked.
40. Write a kind note to your teacher telling them what you like about them.

More ways to spread kindness at school

• Invite kids to write notes of thanks to school staff and display them on a bulletin board or “appreciation station.”
  
  
• Decorate kindness rocks with uplifting messages, and place them around an outdoor learning space for people to see. Or take a class field trip and hide them around a public area or park for strangers to discover.
  
  
• Create a buddy bench.
  
  
• Organize a fundraiser.
  
  
• Display positive messaging and inspiration quotes (like the one from Aesop above)  in classrooms and hallways.

How else could your child or class choose kindness? Make a Kindness Plan together here. And then use this delightful, illustrated Kindness Pledge Certificate to recognize your child’s commitment to choosing kindness on Random Acts of Kindness Day - and every day!