Many adults have created a mindset for themselves of looking for opportunities to be kind to others. Many of us regularly let other drivers ahead of us at a merge, hold doors for others and even pay the toll for the car behind us. Wouldn’t it be great if we all had begun that mindset when we were young children?At the dinner table, brainstorm some acts of kindness the children (and you!) can do that week. It might be hard for the children to think of what they can do, but the point is to make it a mindset. To encourage the children, you can all put your act of kindnesses on a piece of paper or a heart and make a collage. Here are some suggestions to help you and your children and grandchildren to create this mentality:
- Volunteer to help distribute food at the food bank.
- Have the child go through toys/clothes and bring him/her along when you donate
- Make cards and pictures for out of town relatives
- When you make cookies or brownie, have them take some to an elderly neighbor, stay and share some with them.
- Encourage children to give their seats to pregnant women and those older than them on the bus, waiting for a table at a restaurant, etc.
- Sign up to put the flags on gravestones on Memorial Day
- Teach them to always say thank you
- Rake leaves of an elderly or overwhelmed neighbor (shovel snow, too)...obviously this is a suggestion for an older child
- When getting a pet, adopt.
- Show by example to hold doors for the people behind you
- Go to the dollar store and get some of the items that an organization like Operation Gratitude sends to the troops…don’t forget to have the children send with it a thank you card
- Make sure children always write their own thanks you notes for gifts they receive ( I have realized lately that sometimes people appreciate these handwritten notes more than a phone call)
- Have the kids take the Sunday paper and clip coupons and leave them on the shelves in the grocery store when you go shopping.
- Pick up litter (and obviously, don’t litter yourself)
- Invite a lonely child to play
- Talk to the new kid at school
- If you see a homeless person, bring them some food. It may be uncomfortable for you at first, but it is important that the children see that everyone matters.
- Smile and say hi to strangers
- They should say good morning to their teacher, principal, school officials and classmates.
- They can offer to take their neighbor’s dog for a walk.
- Volunteer to be a tutor or mentor in a school, especially if there is an area in which you can help another student (this is great one for teens)
- Give someone a compliment at least once every day.
- Encourage them to be extra kind to the school bus driver. Say hello when they get on the bus and say thank you when they get off the bus.
Read more: http://www.feelslikehomeblog.com/2014/08/60-random-acts-of-kindness-for-kids/#ixzz3b0LZyBL9 Follow us: @TaraZiegmont on Twitter | FeelsLikeHome on Facebook
Thanks to http://www.bradaronson.com/random-acts-of-kindness/
http://www.eatsleepbe.com/2012/02/acts-of-kindness-for-kids/
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