100 Unique Random Acts of Kindness Ideas (for Kids to Do)

I’m so excited to share these random acts of kindness ideas for kids to do. Kids are naturally kind and loving to those around them it’s as they grow older that that natural kindness decreases or continues to grow.

Often as adults when we are doing acts of service we don’t think to include our children in the activity. I know I’m guilty of this and including my kids in service and acts of kindness is something I’m working on being more intentional about.

How to Teach Our Children to Be Kind

There are a lot of ways we can teach our children and different ways work better for different families. A few things I’m doing to help teach my children the importance of kindness are Being an Example, Asking for Help, and Showing Gratitude.

Be an Example

If you’ve spent any time around young children you know they are sponges. They want to say and do everything that those they love and look up to do. This is a great privilege and a crazy stressful responsibility.

Being an example of kindness is an easy way to show our kids that a simple random act of kindness can make a difference to a family member, friend or stranger. It’s a simple little way we can change the world around us.

How can you be an example? Do acts of kindness for your kids and involve them in some of the small acts of kindness you do for others.

Including kids when we give service and help others is a great way to help them learn the importance of giving back and sharing kindness with others. The more acts of kindness our children see and take part in the more natural being kind and helping others will become.

Not only is giving service and doing kind deeds a great way to teach character to our children it’s also a fun way to create memories and bond as a family.

Remember no matter how big or small your act of kindness is it makes can make a difference in people’s lives (both those you serve and yourself).

Remember there is no such thing as a small act of kindness quote

Ask for Help

As adults, we often notice little things that need to get done and the impact doing those things will have. Kids don’t usually recognize those little things until they get older.

Give kids (especially young kids) the opportunity to help by asking for it. Ask them to help make dinner, pick up their toys, unload groceries, and more. The more you ask for help the more your kids will start to notice the little things they can do to help you.

Read About Kindness

Read about kindness and kind people in both picture books and chapter books. Here are some kindness read alouds to get you started.

Show Gratitude

When someone does something kind for you show gratitude. Show gratitude to your kids, spouse, friends, and strangers. This is one of the easiest ways to teach kids service in a natural way.

There are two parts to using gratitude to teach our kids. They need to see us expressing gratitude (aka saying “thank you”) and they need to start understanding the feeling of gratitude and what it is.

When someone shows us an act of kindness express gratitude but also take time to talk to your kids. There are multiple things you can talk to them about but a few things I like to talk about are how someone’s act of kindness made me feel, how it made a difference in my day, and how I can do something similar for others.

A couple of examples of showing gratitude and expressing that gratitude so our kids see it include:

Thanking your kids when they put away their toys without being asked. Also, take a chance to explain how much it helps your family keep the house clean.
Say thank you when someone lets you go in front of them in line at the grocery store. Don’t forget to tell your kids how kind that simple gesture was and what a difference it made in your day and attitude.

So now I have talked about how to teach kids kindness but you might be wondering, what are some random acts of kindness kids can do?

Random Acts of Kindness Ideas for Kids to Do

There are so many acts of kindness kids can do. Will they look the same as acts of kindness for adults? Some of these kindness activities will work for adults and children, while others are specific for kids.

I have broken these random acts of kindness ideas into different categories so it’s easier to find ideas for specific situations. This whole list is easy random acts of kindness ideas that aren’t complicated and don’t cost a lot of money.

Always be a little kinder than necessary quote

20 Acts of Kindness for Kids That don’t cost anything!

These acts of kindness are simple good deeds that don’t cost anything. They are a simple way to make a difference in someone’s day.

Offer to walk a neighbor’s or friend’s dog.
Say “thank you”
Hold the door open for someone you don’t know.
Tell a joke to spread some cheer.
Take back someone’s cart at the grocery store for them.
Smile at people.
Give someone a sincere compliment.
Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
Help someone unload groceries at the store.
Clean up your toys without being asked.
Dry the slides at the park with a towel after it rains.
Take a shopping cart in the parking lot to the cart return.
Write kind messages on sticky notes and leave them for people to find.
Help carry in grocery bags after going shopping.
Play board games with your siblings.
Pick up trash at a local park.
Make a new friend at the park.
Read your favorite book to a younger sibling.
Help parents with yard work.
Say nice things about people, even when they aren’t there to hear what you say.

Acts of Kindness Kids can do At Home and for Family

These acts of kindness ideas are a good way to help family members and your family. These simple random acts of kindness can make a big difference in your home and family.

Help put away items around the house.
Paint or draw someone a picture.
Clean something up without being asked.
Help make dinner.
Call a friend or loved one you haven’t talked to in a while.
Give someone a hug when they’re feeling down.
Help make breakfast for your family.
Give someone a homemade card to let them know you care.
Set the table for dinner.
Make your bed.
Call your grandparents or other elderly relative and ask them about their day.
Play with your younger siblings
Tell someone you love them.
Empty the dishwasher, without being told.
Send a letter to your grandma or grandpa.
Draw your mom or dad a picture, just because you love them.
Put your shoes and coat in the right place instead of dumping them on the floor.
Bake a cake or other dessert for your family to enjoy.
Ask someone how their day was and LISTEN to the answer.
Have a no complaining day (this one can be really hard!).
Do a chore without being asked.
Make a bird feeder to feed the birds.
Help your parents with a project around the house or yard.
Don’t argue instead use kind words.
Give someone a nice letter.
Don’t interrupt when someone else is talking.
Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Clean your room without being asked.
Let someone else pick what to watch on T.V.
Help shovel the snow or rake the leaves.
Say I’m Sorry.

Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person's life quote

20 Random acts of kindness ideas for Students at School

Let these ideas be a little inspiration for things that kind kids can do at school to have a positive impact on other students and teachers.

Share your school supplies with a classmate.
Give a child’s teacher a gift (a little gift card is always fun).
Let someone else go first.
Make someone in your class a thank you card.
Talk to someone new at school, or sit with someone new at lunch.
Write a thank you note to your teacher.
Offer to play with someone who’s all on their own.
Share the game equipment you’re playing with, even if you had it first.
Give someone a high five.
Talk to someone new at school.
Give a candy bar to the bus driver.
Buy extra school supplies for a teacher.
Help younger kids at recess.
Tell someone they did a good job when they work hard on a project.
Offer to be a helping hand to a teacher.
Thank the janitor for helping keep your school clean.
Share a positive comment during class.
Show respect by listening and not talking (even to your best friend) when your teacher is speaking.
Help keep your classroom clean by picking up after yourself.
Help kids that feel scared feel brave and have fun at school.

Random Acts of Kindness ideas for Friends

One way we can be good friends is by showing kindness to those we spend time with. These are great ideas for simple ways to show kindness and be a good friend.

Bring an extra juice box for a friend.
Pack extra snacks and drinks when you visit the playground. Offer them to other kids.
Share a toy or game with a friend.
Get a small gift for a friend and hide it in their backpack or locker at school.
Make dinner for a friend or neighbor.
Deliver flowers to someone special that helps you, like a teacher, coach, babysitter, etc.
Make sure you help tidy the toys away when you’ve been playing at a friend’s house.
Invite someone to play on the playground.
Remember your friend’s birthday and tell them Happy Birthday.
Share old books you have already read with a friend.
Play a game your friend wants to even if it’s not your favorite.

Random Acts of Kindness to do As a Family

These acts of kindness are fun to do together as a family. It’s a good way to not only serve your community but also make memories as a family.

Donate some extra food to your local food bank.
Give a homeless person a meal.
Help bake cookies to give away to someone else.
Make kindness rocks and scatter them throughout your neighborhood as a nice surprise.
Donate old toys.
Make a get-well card for someone with a sweet note.
Start a dinner-time conversation telling everyone your favorite thing about them.
Put change in a vending machine for someone to get a drink or snack.
Leave bubbles on someone’s doorstep.
Donate outgrown clothes.
Donate food to the food pantry or local soup kitchen.
Donate a toy to Toys for Tots.
Deliver water bottles to the homeless shelter.
Donate stuffed animals, coloring supplies, or other items to a local children’s hospital for younger children who are at the hospital.
Older kids can help serve dinner at a local shelter.
Send a care package to a military service member serving our country.

Acts of Kindness that Help the Community

These service ideas are ones that will benefit your neighbors and community not just your family and friends.

Donate children’s books to your local library.
Rake someone’s leaves or shovel the sidewalk.
Visit an animal shelter and read to dogs or play with them.
Go to the police or fire station and thank officers for their service.
Adopt an elderly person in your neighborhood or at a local residential facility to visit regularly.
Draw positive messages in chalk on the sidewalks around your neighborhood.
Pick up trash in the park or around the neighborhood.
Say hello to your neighbors.
Write a thank you note to your mail carrier.
Donate items to the homeless shelter.
Leave kindness notes for strangers, like in a restaurant or library book. Write something positive like “You’re amazing!” or “Have a great day!”.
Wave at others.
Give Tithes to your Church.
Bring your neighbors’ garbage cans up for them.
Make a thank you card for your community or school librarian.
Donate extra money to the salvation army bucket during the holidays.

These are just some ways kids can show kindness. The best ways for kids to show kindness are those ideas that kids come up with on their own. But this list is an excellent way to get started.