During a time of year that can quickly fill up with wish lists and gift shopping, it’s nice to take a moment to pause and remind your kids (and yourself!) to be thankful for what they have—and find ways to give back. Here are a few small, simple acts of kindness you can help your kids do during Giving Season to make the world a little brighter.
#1: Write a Letter.
Help your child make a list of family members, neighbors or friends who live on their own, then encourage them to write a note or make a card to surprise them. If you don’t know anyone who fits the bill, you can volunteer to send notes to seniors and frontline workers or get your child paired with a senior looking for a pen pal.
#2: Be a Good Neighbor.
Encourage your child to generate some ideas about how they might improve your neighborhood. Maybe they’d like to brighten the neighbors’ day with uplifting sidewalk chalk messages, painted rocks or window signs. Maybe they can leave the block better than they found it by picking up some litter on your next family walk, or even create something lasting, like a Little Free Library.
#3: Help Out at Home.
Chores can be, well, a chore, but many hands make light work! Encourage your child to think about ways they can assist someone else in your household to ease that person’s load. From pitching in at mealtime—with cooking, table setting or dish clearing—to taking a more active role in their own day-to-day activities—cleaning up after an art project, working with a younger sibling to put away toys, helping with their own laundry—helping out around the house can be both a boost for your family and empowering for your kid.
#4: Make Something Sweet.
There’s nothing quite like a freshly-baked batch of goodies. Help your child think of someone nearby who could use a special treat, then drop off some homemade goodies with a note of appreciation. These muffins and sugar cookies are a fun place to start! If your intended recipient doesn’t have a sweet tooth, brainstorm what else they might appreciate, like a bouquet of wildflowers, a book or a handmade decoration.
#5: Start a Snack Station.
Help your child put together a doorstep basket stocked with single-serve snacks or drinks to support delivery people and mail carriers on busy days. Top it off with a kid-crafted sign thanking visiting delivery people and explaining your family’s basket refreshment setup.
#6: Say Thank You.
Ask your child: What people are you grateful for right now? It could be someone they live with, their teacher, their friends or someone else (chances are, there are lots of people they’re thankful for!). Help your child think about what they appreciate about these special people, then brainstorm ways to thank them. Whether it’s in person, over the phone or with a video message or letter, a small thank you can make a big impact.
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Looking for more inspiration? Check out these ideas from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.
