write an essay on a random act of kindness

Essay on Act of Kindness

Students are often asked to write an essay on Act of Kindness in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Act of Kindness

Understanding kindness.

Kindness is a quality that involves being friendly, generous, and considerate. Small acts of kindness can make a big difference in other people’s lives in ways we may not even realize.

Importance of Kindness

Kindness is important because it broadens life’s frame of reference. People who are kind are happier and they spread positivity around them.

Examples of Kindness

Simple acts like giving a smile to a stranger, helping an elderly cross the road, or sharing your lunch with a friend are all acts of kindness.

Kindness is a simple yet powerful way to show others that they matter and are valued.

Also check:

• Paragraph on Act of Kindness

250 Words Essay on Act of Kindness

The essence of kindness.

Kindness, a simple act that holds immense power, has the potential to transform lives in a profound manner. It’s a universal language that transcends borders, cultures, and religions, and is fundamental to human existence.

The Impact of Kindness

The ripple effect of a single act of kindness can be far-reaching. It not only uplifts the recipient’s spirits, but also positively influences the benefactor’s psychological wellbeing. Studies suggest that kindness stimulates the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that induces feelings of happiness and contentment.

Kindness and Society

In a society often marred by strife and discord, acts of kindness serve as a potent antidote. They foster social cohesion, promote empathy and understanding, and counteract the detrimental effects of stress, aggression, and antisocial behavior.

Kindness as a Learned Behavior

Kindness is not an innate trait, but a learned behavior. It requires conscious effort and practice to cultivate. Educational institutions play a crucial role in promoting kindness, instilling in students the values of compassion, empathy, and respect for others.

In conclusion, acts of kindness, no matter how small, have the power to make a significant difference in the world. As we navigate the complexities of life, let us remember that kindness costs nothing, but its value is immeasurable. It is the cornerstone of a harmonious society and a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

500 Words Essay on Act of Kindness

Kindness is a universal language that transcends all barriers. It is the act of demonstrating love, compassion, and empathy towards others, regardless of their race, religion, or social status. Kindness is a virtue that is not only beneficial to the recipient but also to the person who practices it.

Impact of Kindness on Society

Kindness has a profound impact on society. It fosters a sense of community and mutual respect among individuals. When people are kind to each other, they create a positive environment that encourages cooperation and harmony. Kindness can also be a powerful tool for social change. It can help to alleviate social inequalities and injustices by promoting understanding and acceptance.

Kindness and Psychological Well-being

The act of kindness has significant implications for psychological well-being. It can increase happiness, reduce stress, and improve mental health. When we perform acts of kindness, our brain releases endorphins, the body’s natural painkiller. This release induces a feeling of well-being and satisfaction, often referred to as the “helper’s high”. Furthermore, kindness can help to build self-esteem and a positive self-image, as it allows individuals to feel valued and appreciated.

Kindness and Physical Health

Kindness also has physiological benefits. It can lower blood pressure, reduce heart disease, and boost the immune system. This is because acts of kindness often result in feelings of happiness and contentment, which can have a positive impact on physical health.

Kindness in Practice

Kindness can be practiced in many ways. It can be as simple as a smile, a kind word, or a thoughtful gesture. It can also involve more substantial acts, such as volunteering, donating to charity, or helping someone in need. Despite the form it takes, the act of kindness always has the potential to make a significant difference in someone’s life.

The Ripple Effect of Kindness

Kindness creates a ripple effect. When we are kind to someone, they are more likely to be kind to others. This cycle of kindness can spread throughout a community, creating a culture of empathy and respect. Moreover, kindness can inspire others to act similarly, thus perpetuating the cycle.

In conclusion, kindness is a powerful force that can transform individuals and societies. It has psychological, physical, and societal benefits, making it an essential aspect of human interaction. By practicing kindness, we can create a more compassionate and understanding world. As college students, we are in a unique position to foster this culture of kindness. By incorporating kindness into our daily lives, we can create a ripple effect that extends beyond our immediate environment, contributing to a more harmonious and empathetic society.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Importance of Kindness
• Essay on Kindness Is Compassion in Action
• Essay on How to Avoid an Argument

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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• School Education /

✍️Essay on Kindness: Samples in 100, 150 and 200 Words

• Updated on  
• Nov 2, 2023

Research says that being kind to someone or vice versa can positively rewire your brain. Kindness is when one is generous to another person. Well, in today’s world, it is very difficult. We can hardly find anyone. Do you wish to bring a change in your lifestyle ? Well, you have come to the right place. Today, we will be talking about kindness in depth. Here, in this article, we have compiled several sample essays on kindness which describe this topic in depth. 

Table of Contents

• 1 Importance of Kindness
• 2 Essay on Kindness in 100 Words
• 3 Essay on Kindness in 150 Words
• 4 Essay on Kindness in 200 Words

Importance of Kindness

Kindness is an effortless yet powerful gesture which put a very positive impact on someone’s life. In the academic community, this gesture is seen as an attitude that can create a huge impact on one’s achievement. 

Speaking in a bit of a medical language, being kind to someone boosts serotonin and dopamine. These brain chemicals, known as neurotransmitters, are what light up your reward and pleasure centres and give you a sense of fulfilment.

This doesn’t end here. Kindness has been shown to have cardioprotective effects. It can lower blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol, which in turn affects stress levels. 

Speaking of which, here, we have compiled an essay on kindness which will provide you with more information on this topic. Let’s dive in. 

Also Read: Essay on the Importance of the English Language for Students

Essay on Kindness in 100 Words

Being kind is a basic virtue which is very important for humankind to create a world that is more peaceful and compassionate. It is one of the most straightforward acts which can be shown by anyone to others without expecting anything in return. When it comes to showing kindness, there are many ways by which one can show it. These include opening doors for others giving your time to support a good cause or simply being with them during their hard times. 

Always remember that even showing a tiny act of kindness can create a huge impact in someone’s life or simply make their day better. 

Also Read: Essay on Save Environment: Samples in 100, 200, 300 Words

Essay on Kindness in 150 Words

Kindness is a feeling of being generous, friendly and considerate. In a world full of hatred and cruelty, kindness is what one can spread. You never know whom you might someone from a having bad day. One can simply start spreading kindness in the community they are living in. 

One of the best examples to describe the word kindness would be Mother Teresa . She devoted her entire life to caring for the destitute and dying in the slums of Calcutta (Kolkata). She is considered to be one of the greatest humanitarians the world has ever produced.

Speaking of kindness, doing little things such as opening a door for someone. Helping an elderly person cross the street, or holding things of someone are some basic things which can be done.

To conclude, kindness is contagious. It can spread like wildfire. Therefore, in a world where there is so much hatred, and cruelty, where people are fighting. One can be kind which will provoke others to do the same. 

Also Read: Essay on Unity in Diversity in 100 to 200 Words

Essay on Kindness in 200 Words

Kindness is one of the most important qualities which people should have. This is very important to create a more compassionate and harmonious world. The simple act of being considerate towards others and not expecting anything in return is kindness. The word ‘kindness’ can be expressed in many different ways. From helping someone during tough times to helping an old lady cross the street is what best describes this word. 

Other than this, kindness is also beneficial for our well-being. Studies show that people who are kind to people around them tend to be more happy than others. This is because of the endorphins which are released. They contribute towards mood-boosting and pain-relieving effects. Not only this, kindness has also proved to have reduced stress levels and improved cardiovascular health.

To conclude, I would like to leave you all with a thought. In today’s times, we hardly come across kind people. Consider ourselves, we may feel for others around us going through the bad phase but how often do we reach out and assist them? It is our responsibility to nurture kindness in ourselves before we can ask others to do the same for us.

Related Articles 

We hope after reading some of these essays on kindness, your perspective on kindness would have changed. Always remember, everyone is fighting their own battles, so the best you can do is be a little kind and bring a smile to their face. Signing off!

There are certain advantages to our happiness and general well-being for those of us who are kind and caring. Perhaps we will live longer. Additionally, kindness lowers stress and enhances mental health.

These expressions describe persons who are kind, considerate, and considerate of others’ feelings.

Kindness belongs to the human virtue category and is one of the 24 universal character strengths.

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay-writing page and follow Leverage Edu ! 

Malvika Chawla

Malvika is a content writer cum news freak who comes with a strong background in Journalism and has worked with renowned news websites such as News 9 and The Financial Express to name a few. When not writing, she can be found bringing life to the canvasses by painting on them.

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• Relationships

How to Practice Random Acts of Kindness

Ideas for random acts of kindness to boost your well-being..

Updated December 31, 2023 | Reviewed by Devon Frye

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Have you ever done something nice for someone else "just because"? It wasn’t to repay them or because you had to—it was simply because you wanted to. Well, then, you’ve done a random act of kindness! Read on to learn how to do more random acts of kindness in your life to boost your mood and improve the lives of others.

Kindness is one of the most valued character strengths in Western society (​​Binfet, 2015). We like kind people, so being kind can help us be liked.

Beyond that, being kind has been shown to boost not only others’ well-being but also our own well-being. For example, if we spend more money on others we are generally happier, and if we volunteer to help others, we are generally healthier (Curry et al., 2018).

Given that kindness helps us build healthy relationships with others—others who may be able to protect and support us—evolutionary psychologists believe that kindness makes us happy because it helps us survive and thrive. This may be especially true when we help family, friends, community members, and spouses (Curry et al., 2018).

Random acts of kindness are acts performed by a person wishing to either help or positively affect another person (Passmore & Oades, 2015). Sometimes random acts of kindness are defined as kind acts that one does only for someone they don’t know (Baskerville et al., 2000), but this doesn’t seem to be the magic ingredient (Curry et al., 2018).

Who Practices Random Acts of Kindness?

Researchers suggest that some people are more likely to practice random acts of kindness than others. Here are some of the things that might lead us to be kind:

• Witnessing our parents engage in random acts of kindness likely makes it more likely that we will too. Monkey see monkey do, right?
• If someone tells us that we’re kind, we might also be more likely to engage in random acts of kindness.
• Kindness is contagious—so if we see someone else showing kindness, we are more likely to show kindness (Baskerville et al., 2000).

Examples of Random Acts of Kindness

Many of us want to try random acts of kindness but were just not sure how. What exactly is a random act of kindness anyway? To get you a sense of what we’re talking about, here are a few examples:

• Giving compliments
• Giving gifts
• Saying kind words
• Showing gratitude
• Doing an act of service for someone else
• Being respectful
• Noticing good things that others do
• Giving your time to someone else

Can Kids Practice Random Acts of Kindness?

There has been a recent push to teach children how to engage in prosocial acts like random acts of kindness (​​Binfet, 2015). Given how we learn everything easier when we’re young, it makes sense to encourage kids to engage in random acts of kindness. But what does kindness mean when it comes to children?

Kids are not totally unlike adults. According to researchers, kids’ perspective of kindness is that it is “an act of emotional or physical support that helps build or maintain relationships with others” (Binfet & Gaertner, 2015, pp. 36-37). Given this definition, what might be some random acts of kindness for kids? Here are some ideas.

• Sharing crayons or other supplies with other kids
• Giving someone a gift like a sticker, flower, or colorful eraser
• Saying thanks to a fellow student for help with schoolwork
• Telling friends what you like about them
• Offering to help mom or dad make dinner
• Bringing extra snacks in your lunchbox for kids who don’t have any

Kindness is a fantastic tool to use to grow your well-being. It’s not only good for you but has a positive impact on others. Hopefully, you discovered some ways to practice random acts of kindness so that you can more easily implement this tool in your real life.

Adapted from an article on random acts of kindness published by The Berkeley Well-Being Institute.

Tchiki Davis, Ph.D. , is a consultant, writer, and expert on well-being technology.

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The Random Acts of Kindness: Key Issues

Introduction, works cited.

In today’s world, not many people understand what kindness actually means and what benefits may be observed. For example, a man is confident of his kindness when he holds a door in an elevator or gives a seat to a pregnant woman or the elderly. However, it is necessary not to confuse kindness with ordinary decency. The value of kindness is usually disregarded, and individuals forget about compassion, selflessness, and happiness that are associated with the chosen concept. This presentation focuses on the action known as a “random act of kindness,” when people are ready to offer their help to the whole world, regardless of the existing social, financial, or ethical inequalities. During the pandemic era, such attitudes are highly appreciated because a person alone cannot resist the COVID challenges alone, but society, as a whole, is able to survive, demonstrating kind and supporting behaviors. Random acts of kindness have their unique backgrounds and solid outcomes, and it is high time to find new reasons for sharing positive emotions and helping each other.

• A number of activities are frequently promoted as a part of this holiday, including sharing the line in a store, donating to shelters, or sending encouraging texts.
• Many organizations find it interesting to participate in sharing their services or products for free and demonstrate their care for the population.
• People find it normal to help each other if they have close relationships, and random acts of kindness expand similar actions at an acquaintance level (Stoerkel).
• Promoting acts of kindness during COVID-19 has already become popular and is revealed through sharing essential product, visiting friends distantly, or celebrating the joys of life (McDermott)
• Those who receive kindness feel loved and forget about current problems or unpleasant situations, at least for some moment.
• For example, it is possible to appreciate the work of some customer service manager and leave positive feedback, which may result in financial benefit for an employee (Random Acts of Kindness Foundation).
• Kindness is closely connected to increased self-esteem and optimism, which reduces the risks of depression, anxiety, or another mental disorder (Stoerkel).
• Some community services are limited due to social isolation, and if individuals start meeting their needs distantly, they can avoid multiple problems.
• It could happen that one person lacks something, and another person has extra, and kindness is what makes people share and gain control of shortages.
• Instead of buying another pair of shoes or watching a phone, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation suggests buying a coffee to a stranger in line and observing positive emotions and unbelievable rewarding.
• Unfortunately, today, it is not common for teachers to hear “Thank you” from students, and these acts of kindness remind people that the best feelings can be provoked by simple actions (Stoerkel).

Millions of modern people are preoccupied with a variety of complex goals, difficult plans, and high expectations. Relying mostly on their technologies and the already established standards, society has forgotten about simple but essential values and qualities like kindness, support, and mutual help. Random Acts of Kindness is an idea that aims at the restoration of old traditions and human factors that were in demand in former times. However, it is not enough to expect kindness from someone, but it is better to become the authors of kind thoughts and actions. It is always easy for people to wait for something good from others, neglecting the possibility of real contributions to social development and community perfection. Random acts of kindness are created by people and for people, and this type of cooperation is probably the last chance not to lose humanity in a constantly changing world.

McDermott, Marie Tae. “Helping One Another During the Pandemic.” The New York Times , 2020.

Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. “50 Kindness Ideas for Random Acts of Kindness Day.” Random Acts of Kindness , 2017.

Stoerkel, Erika. “Can Random Acts of Kindness Increase Well-Being? (Incl. 22 Ideas).” Positive Psychology , 2020.

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Research shows that helping others can be good for our mental health. It reduces stress, improves our emotional well-being and even benefits our physical health. In short, doing good does you good . 

It’s essential to look out for each other in and around our communities. This is how we protect and maintain good mental health for all.

If you do nothing else today, keep an eye out for an opportunity to help someone with a random act of kindness or hold onto that warm feeling when someone helps you.

Doing something nice for someone doesn't cost a lot of time or money. It's the small things in life that can make a big difference.

50 random acts of kindness you can do today

• Call a friend that you haven’t spoken to for a while
• Send a letter to a grandparent
• Send flowers to a friend
• Offer to pick up some groceries for your elderly neighbour
• Send someone a handwritten note
• Offer to babysit for a friend
• Walk your friend’s dog
• Tell your family members how much you love and appreciate them
• Help your parents with household chores
• Help a friend get active
• Make someone laugh
• Offer to cook for a friend or family member
• Make a cup of tea for a friend or family member
• Help with a household chore at home or for a friend
• Host an informal get together and invite your neighbours to get to know each other
• Tell someone you know that you are proud of them
• Tell someone you know why you are thankful for them
• Send a motivational text to a friend who is struggling
• Send someone you know a joke to cheer them up
• Send someone you know a picture of a cute animal
• Send an inspirational quote to a friend
• Send an interesting article to a friend
• Put a surprise note or drawing on someone’s desk
• Contact someone you haven’t seen in a while and arrange to meet face to face
• Engage in conversation with a shop assistant when paying at the till
• Spend time playing with your pet
• Sign up to do voluntary work in your local community
• Reach out to spend time with a friend, family member or neighbour who is experiencing loneliness
• Have a clear out and take items to a charity shop
• Make and send a care package to someone who needs it
• Make a donation to a charity
• Offer to pick up a friend or family member from work
• Make a cup of tea for your colleagues
• Get to know the new staff member
• Lend your ear - listen to your colleague who is having a bad day
• Say good morning
• Bake a cake for your colleagues
• Give praise to your colleague for something they’ve done well
• If it’s raining – lend someone your umbrella
• Take someone out for lunch instead of eating at your desk
• Give up your seat to an elderly, disabled or pregnant person
• Let someone jump the queue at the supermarket
• Take a minute to help someone who is lost
• Have a conversation with someone who is experiencing homelessness
• Help a mother carrying her push chair down the stairs or hold the door for her
• Let a fellow driver merge into your lane
• Pick up some rubbish lying around in the street
• Smile and say hello to people you may pass every day, but have never spoken to before
• Return a lost item to its owner
• Pop into a coffee shop and ask to pay for a coffee for them to give to someone later that day for free

Download the 50 random acts of kindness poster

50 random acts of kindness

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Random Acts of Kindness

How to feel happier by doing things for others.

• How to do it
• Why to Try It

Time Required

Varies depending on your acts of kindness. Could be anywhere from several minutes to several hours.

How to Do It

One day this week, perform five acts of kindness—all five in one day. It doesn’t matter if the acts are big or small, but it is more powerful if you perform a variety of acts.

The acts do not need to be for the same person—the person doesn’t even have to be aware of them. Examples include feeding a stranger's parking meter, picking up litter, helping a friend with a chore, or providing a meal to a person in need.

After each act, write down what you did in at least one or two sentences; for more of a happiness boost, also write down how it made you feel.

Why You Should Try It

We all perform acts of kindness at one time or another. These acts may be large or small, and their beneficiaries may not even be aware of them. Yet their effects can be profound—not only on the recipient but on the giver, as well. This exercise asks you to perform five acts of kindness in one day as a way of cultivating feelings of kindness and happiness in yourself, so that you can extend kindness to your local community and the world. 

Why It Works

Researchers believe this practice makes you feel happier because it makes you think more highly of yourself and become more aware of positive social interactions. It may also increase your kind, helpful attitudes and tendencies toward others in your family or your community. Evidence suggests that variety is key: There's a risk that kindness can start to feel routine, so it helps to approach it with a spirit of curiosity, always looking for new ways to express your care and kindness and looking for new people to help. 

Evidence That It Works

Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K., & Schkade, D. (2005).  Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change .  Review of General Psychology ,  9 (2), 111-131.

People who performed five acts of kindness every week for six weeks saw a significant boost in happiness, but only if they performed their five acts in a single day rather than spread out over each week. This may be because many acts of kindness are small, so spreading them out might make them harder to remember and savor.

Who Has Tried The Practice?

While there is no demographic information in the study above, additional studies explore how this exercise benefits other groups and cultures:

• After reviewing 10 studies testing this exercise, a 2018 review suggests that the overall effect of kindness on well-being is not significantly influenced by sex, age, or type of participant.
• A 2014 study also found that Random Acts of Kindness “worked equally well regardless of participants’ gender, age, or education.”
• Male Chinese prisoners who were asked to perform three acts of kindness daily for six weeks significantly improved in well-being compared to those who did not.
• Female middle school students in Hong Kong who performed online acts of kindness increased in self-esteem and social self-efficacy.
• Japanese people who counted their own acts of kindness for one week became more happy, kind, and grateful.
• South Koreans and Americans similarly increased in well-being when performing kind acts in a 2013 study . However, the benefits may depend on how the practice is framed. For example, a 2019 study  found that Americans who performed acts of kindness increased in well-being even more when they focused on the personal benefits of the practice compared to the benefits to others, although this was not true for South Koreans. 

More research is needed to explore whether, and how, the impact of this practice extends to other groups and cultures.

Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D. , University of California, Riverside

Curry, O. S., Rowland, L. A., Van Lissa, C. J., Zlotowitz, S., McAlaney, J., & Whitehouse, H. (2018). Happy to help? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of performing acts of kindness on the well-being of the actor . Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 76 , 320–329.

Datu, J. A. D., Ping Wong, G. S., & Rubie-Davies, C. (2021). Can kindness promote media literacy skills, self-esteem, and social self-efficacy among selected female secondary school students? An intervention study . Computers & Education, 161 , 9.

Drozd, F., Mork, L., Nielsen, B., Raeder, S., & Bjørkli, C. A. (2014). Better days—A randomized controlled trial of an internet-based positive psychology intervention . The Journal of Positive Psychology, 9 (5), 377–388.

Layous, K., Lee, H., Choi, I., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2013). Culture matters when designing a successful happiness-increasing activity: A comparison of the United States and South Korea . Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 44 (8), 1294–1303.

Otake, K., Shimai, S., Tanaka-Matsumi, J., Otsui, K., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2006). Happy people become happier through kindness: A counting kindnesses intervention . Journal of Happiness Studies: An Interdisciplinary Forum on Subjective Well-being, 7 (3), 361–375.

Shin, L. J., Layous, K., Choi, I., Na, S., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2019). Good for self or good for others? The well-being benefits of kindness in two cultures depend on how the kindness is framed . The Journal of Positive Psychology, 15 (6), 795–805.

Yang, Y., Zhao, H., Aidi, M., & Kou, Y. (2018). Three good deeds and three blessings: The kindness and gratitude interventions with Chinese prisoners . Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 28 (5), 433–441.

Performing Random Acts of Kindness not only helps others but can boost your happiness, as well. How kind and generous are you? Take the Altruism quiz to find out:

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Comments and Reviews

Ty March 6, 2024

Increased my gratitude.

Claudia Dunlavy February 2, 2024

I enjoyed writing the list that's where I've gotten so far....

Tina Mulcahy January 25, 2024

A successful endeavor. I enjoyed it immensely. It was an expected way to be growing up. My grandma taught us this lesson by example. She was my favorite person.

Joan Stys January 23, 2024

It wasn't easy thinking of 5 random acts, but it happened. I was able to reach out to friends I haven't seen in awhile & meet some new people . Realizing how little effort it took was a delightful surprise. Looking forward to keeping up this practice

Brandy Baker January 3, 2024

Mary talley garcia december 4, 2023.

Helpful - it’s too easy to let a very busy work and personal life just carry you a long without thinking or focusing on what really matters. This exercise made me really think and focus more on how I want to live - but don’t always. Hoping it will become more of a habit.

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18 Ways to Spread Joy on Random Acts of Kindness Day – And Everyday

Kindness is simple and doesn’t have to require a lot of time, money or effort.

Jennifer Ortiz,

It starts raining on your walk to work and you didn’t bring an umbrella. You stop by your favorite cafe for a cup of Joe and spill coffee all over your sweater. Or maybe you just woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

Days are filled with challenging moments – big and small. Thankfully, there’s an antidote to all that negativity that’s easy and free: kindness . And with February 17 being National Random Acts of Kindness Day, it’s a great time to start!

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“Kindness is uncomplicated,” says Stephen G. Post, director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics at Stony Brook School of Medicine in New York. “It doesn’t take much to be kind.”

And the best part: We all have kindness built in, says Post, 72, adding that babies show natural kindness as early as 6 months old.

As for the trope that the older we get the crankier we get, “I think that’s just a stereotype. I don’t believe it for a minute.” Older adults are often more dedicated to the well-being and happiness of others, “because they realize that their time is going short,” says Post. “And so in a lot of ways, mortality, I think, is the mother of kindness.”

Here is why kindness is good for everyone and 18 big and little ways to be kind.  

Kindness has all sorts of benefits

Kindness helps you live longer. A random act of kindness, however small, can have a positive health impact on both the recipient and the giver.

Much like sleep, exercise and diet, kindness should be factored into your day-to-day life as part of healthy living, as it’s rather important to survival, says Emiliana Simon-Thomas, the science director at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center in Berkeley, California.

A 2023 study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine showed that engaging in “informal helping” (or random acts of kindness) is associated with decreased mortality.

Kindness “makes you live longer [and] makes you less vulnerable to the main kind of disease states that are of concern for Americans in later life,” says Simon-Thomas, 51.  

Kindness reduces negative emotions. Kindness has health benefits, but it also just feels good. In fact, Post says practicing or receiving kindness actually reduces negative emotions.

“Neurologically, when you’re kind, it actually turns off the neural circuits that are associated with negative emotions like hostility, anger, bitterness, resentment.”

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It can also bring about meaning and connection.

“When you help others, you cannot be lonely , by definition,” says Post. “Our communities benefit when older adults take it upon themselves to be role models for kindness. That’s the purpose of life in old age.” 

Kindness can help others feel more at ease. Post has spent his career studying and writing about compassionate care within the medical industry. He points to his own peer-reviewed research published in July 2023 that concludes that when doctors show basic kindness – by greeting a patient with a smile, asking questions about the patient’s daily life, listening carefully and appearing interested in the patient – it may improve the patient’s perception of their care. Bedside manners won’t cure someone of what ails them, but it can develop trust, says Post.

How to integrate kindness into your every day

The receivers of kindness can range from strangers, family, friends and coworkers, and, yes, even ourselves. Here are a few ways to get started being kind to others:

Bring in your neighbor’s newspaper . If you’re already walking by their mailbox, you can take a minute of your day to bring your neighbor’s newspaper or mail to their front porch. (Plus, you’ll be adding to your step count .)

Ask someone what made them laugh .   We can all use a good laugh. Ask someone to   give details about the last thing that made them laugh out loud, Simon-Thomas suggests.

Be curious. Post says that by asking others how they’re feeling or how their family is doing, for example, you are showing kindness by showing you care.

Give a compliment. “Another easy go-to act of kindness is to offer a compliment,” even to people you don’t know well, says Simon-Thomas. Do you like their sweater? Say it – a compliment on someone’s attire is applauding a choice they made that day.

Send a sweet text. It feels good to receive a text from an old friend you haven’t heard from in a while. Simon-Thomas suggests taking it up a notch and sending your favorite poem to your friend.

Use snail mail to spread kindness. “Write a letter and mail it to a friend or family member,” Simon-Thomas says. It’s sure to lighten up the stack of bills and brighten someone’s day.

Be playful. Small talk doesn’t have to be humdrum. Consider making a lighthearted joke to lighten the mood in a conversation and to “move people out of their preoccupations,” Post says.

Hold the door. As mundane as it seems, taking a few seconds to hold the door for someone who is a bit further behind you, says Simon-Thomas, can make them feel acknowledged and like they belong.

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Leave money behind for a stranger . Leaving money at a vending machine or on a counter for someone else to take advantage of is an anonymous way to be kind to a stranger, says Margaret Echelbarger, assistant professor of marketing at Stonybrook University, who researches prosociality (or behaviors we engage in that are intended to benefit others). You can also send funds to a distant friend or family member to treat themselves to a coffee.

Pay for the person behind you in line . If you’re in a busy drive-through, picking up the tab for the order behind you can cause a chain reaction of kindness. The recipient could be having a great day already and decide to also pay for the person behind them, “or it can really pull someone up who just really needed it in that moment,” says Echelbarger.

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Give a gift certificate to a bonding experience. “Give someone a gift certificate for a shared outing – like a walk together and snacks,” suggests Simon-Thomas.

Give a coupon book for different chores . Take a load off of someone’s busy schedule by offering to do a chore for them. “Tell someone that you want to be kind, but let them pick the timing of that kindness,” says Echelbarger.

Get active-ist. Simon-Thomas says taking part in causes you care about is good for you and your neighbors, whether you encourage your neighbors to register to vote or you become an activist for another cause you care about.

Plant trees or free little libraries . Kindness in public spaces, like planting trees or establishing – or adding to – free little libraries can benefit more than one person at a time. Echelbarger calls free little libraries “one of the most sustainable forms of kindness that I have seen in my own life. And I love walking by them putting books in them myself.”

Do an outdoor chore for someone . Echelbarger says picking up trash from a neighbor’s yard or shoveling their driveway is a kind helping hand. “Sometimes when people have snowblowers, they will go down their whole block because it’s so easy for them,” says Echelbarger. “They’re really taking a load off some of their neighbors.”

And here are a few ways to be kind to yourself

Take a breather. It sounds rudimentary, but it triggers calm and rest in your nervous system and signals to your body that you’re safe and provided for, Simon-Thomas says. “Being able to walk through the world with that mindset is a greater contribution to your overall well-being and your capacity to interact with other people in friendly and generous ways.”

Reflect on what brings you solitary joy and do it. Whether it’s knitting, jigsaw puzzles or something else, indulge in what brings you joy. Simon-Thomas says she likes to spend time noticing the little things in her garden: the blooming flowers, the caterpillar munching on a leaf. “I do that as an act of kindness, spontaneously,” she says, adding that tapping into that awareness, “invites my mind to see things in a more curious and kind of wonder-infusing way.”

Schedule time for self-care . Whether it’s a massage, a haircut, or just a coffee date with a yummy treat and your gratitude journal , Simon-Thomas says “those are wonderful ways to just bring in little moments of joy that can be a big contributor to your overall health and well-being.”

Jennifer Ortiz is an associate editor at aarp.org. She previously covered personal finance, careers and other consumer topics as an editor at  U.S. News & World Report  and was a news writer and editor at WTOP News in Washington, D.C.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Kindness — Thr Way Acts of Kindness Can Change Our Lives

Thr Way Acts of Kindness Can Change Our Lives

• Categories: Empathy Kindness

About this sample

Words: 1191 |

Published: Feb 8, 2022

Words: 1191 | Pages: 3 | 6 min read

Works Cited:

• Ali, A. S. (2015). Jordan: A brief overview of its history, society, and culture. The Independent Review, 20(1), 91-101.
• Berry, J. W. (2005). Acculturation: Living successfully in two cultures. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 29(6), 697-712.
• Brown, L. M., & Eynon, B. (2013). Shaping the future of international education: The United States as a study destination of choice for the world. Journal of Studies in International Education, 17(5), 411-432.
• Gudykunst, W. B., & Ting-Toomey, S. (1988). Culture and interpersonal communication. Sage Publications.
• Kim, Y. Y. (2001). Becoming intercultural: An integrative theory of communication and cross-cultural adaptation. Sage Publications.
• Oberg, K. (1960). Cultural shock: Adjustment to new cultural environments. Practical Anthropology, 7(4), 177-182.
• Salzman, P. C., & Salzman, J. C. (1996). Encyclopedia of African-American culture and history: The Black experience in the Americas. Macmillan Library Reference.
• Schumann, D. A. (1978). The acculturation model for second language acquisition. In R. C. Gingras (Ed.), Second language acquisition and foreign language teaching (pp. 27-50). Center for Applied Linguistics.
• Ward, C., & Kennedy, A. (1993). Psychological and socio-cultural adjustment during cross-cultural transitions: A comparison of secondary students overseas and at home. International Journal of Psychology, 28(2), 129-147.
• Yeh, C. J., & Inose, M. (2003). International students' reported English fluency, social support satisfaction, and social connectedness as predictors of acculturative stress. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 16(1), 15-28.

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150+ Actionable Random Acts of Kindness Day Teaching Ideas This 2024

Ausbert Generoso

Random acts of kindness may seem small, yes. But, they can certainly make someone else’s day. In the context of education, shaping not just academic minds but compassionate hearts can become a monumental stepping stone for students, especially when cultivated right inside classrooms.

As we stand on the cusp of a new calendar year , this is our rallying call to turn our classrooms into sanctuaries of compassion, understanding, and interconnectedness. This journey unfolds in celebration of Random Acts of Kindness Day, exploring myriad of creative and impactful ways in unlocking the door to a world where the smallest acts of kindness can spark a ripple effect. Shall we begin?

Table of Contents

Celebrating random acts of kindness day.

As torchbearers of knowledge, educators hold a unique opportunity to instill values that extend beyond textbooks and exams. Random Acts of Kindness Day, celebrated annually on February 17, is the perfect canvas to paint our classrooms with the vibrant hues of compassion. This day serves as an obvious reminder that, in addition to nurturing intellectual growth, we play a pivotal role in cultivating empathetic citizens of the world.

Why is Random Acts of Kindness Day Significant?

Random Acts of Kindness Day is more than a mere date on the calendar; it’s a call to action. It encourages us to embrace the beauty of spontaneous gestures that can transform the learning environment. By infusing kindness into our teaching practices, we not only create a positive atmosphere but also contribute to the broader mission of shaping socially conscious individuals.

🌈  Fosters a Positive Learning Environment:  Cultivates inclusivity, making every student feel valued and accepted.

❤️  Nurtures Social and Emotional Growth:  Develops empathy and teaches emotional intelligence, essential for healthy interpersonal relationships.

🌟  Instills Values Beyond the Classroom:  Shapes character, instilling values such as respect, integrity, and responsibility.

🤝  Builds a Sense of Community:  Strengthens relationships among students, teachers, and the wider school community.

💪  Empowers Students to Make a Difference:  Teaches social responsibility and inspires leadership among students.

🎉  Creates Lasting Memories:  Promotes a positive school culture and forms lasting impressions that influence students’ outlook on compassion.

How to Make Everyday Random Acts of Kindness Day 

Kindness need not be grand. Often, it’s the small, daily gestures that make a significant impact. Here are simple acts of kindness you can seamlessly integrate into your classroom procedures for a compassionate and well-managed classroom :

Now that we’ve got a clear view of what we’re celebrating every 17th of February, let’s apply it onto the context of teaching!

150+ Teaching Ideas to Infuse Random Acts of Kindness In Your Lessons

Kindess in lesson plans.

• Infuse a kindness-themed literature discussion into your English lesson.
• Incorporate a group activity where students create and perform short skits showcasing acts of kindness.
• Introduce a history lesson that highlights historical figures known for their altruistic deeds.
• Plan a science activity or experiment that explores the positive effects of kindness on mental well-being.
• Assign a writing project where students share personal experiences of kindness and its impact.
• Integrate a kindness-themed math lesson where students calculate and analyze the ripple effect of small acts.
• Develop a geography lesson exploring cultures with strong traditions of kindness and community support.
• Incorporate kindness-themed art projects, allowing students to express kindness creatively.
• Design a physical education class focused on teamwork and kindness through collaborative sports.
• Create a music lesson centered around songs that convey messages of empathy and compassion.
• Integrate a kindness-based critical thinking activity into your philosophy or ethics lesson.
• Infuse a kindness-related coding project into a technology or computer science class.
• Incorporate a foreign language lesson where students learn phrases for expressing kindness and appreciation.
• Develop a kindness-themed home economics or cooking class, emphasizing the joy of sharing through food.
• Plan a psychology lesson discussing the psychological benefits of practicing and witnessing kindness.

Character Education

• Initiate a class discussion on the importance of honesty and integrity in building strong character.
• Assign students a project where they create a visual representation of positive character traits.
• Implement a “Kindness Challenge” where students actively practice empathy and respect.
• Organize a guest speaker session focusing on personal stories that highlight the development of strong character.
• Facilitate role-playing scenarios to help students navigate challenging situations with empathy and kindness.
• Encourage students to write letters of appreciation to individuals who have positively influenced their character.
• Create a classroom charter collaboratively outlining values and behaviors that promote good character.
• Assign readings or stories that emphasize the importance of perseverance and resilience in character building.
• Integrate character-themed journaling activities into the daily routine to encourage self-reflection.
• Plan a community service project that allows students to actively contribute to building character.
• Host a character-themed assembly or event featuring performances, skits, or speeches from students.
• Develop a character education board displaying examples of kindness, respect, and responsibility.
• Introduce a peer mentoring program to foster positive relationships and character development.
• Implement a monthly “Character Spotlight” recognizing students who demonstrate exceptional character.
• Organize a character-themed poster or essay contest to promote creative expressions of positive values.
• Create a classroom tradition of sharing personal anecdotes related to character growth and learning.
• Integrate character education principles into every subject, reinforcing values across the curriculum.

Mentorship and Guidance

• Initiate a peer mentoring program, pairing experienced students with newcomers for guidance.
• Conduct regular check-ins with students to discuss their academic progress and personal well-being.
• Offer support sessions where students can seek advice on academic or personal challenges.
• Organize a career mentorship day, inviting professionals to share insights with students.
• Establish a mentorship circle where students take turns sharing experiences and offering advice.
• Encourage students to create mentorship goals, fostering a sense of direction and purpose.
• Organize a “Speed Mentoring” event where students rotate to meet various mentors for brief sessions.
• Host guest speakers from various fields to provide mentorship and career guidance.
• Establish a mentoring network within the school community, connecting students with appropriate mentors.
• Develop a mentorship bulletin board featuring success stories and words of encouragement.
• Arrange peer-to-peer tutoring sessions to enhance academic mentorship.
• Encourage alumni involvement as mentors, sharing their post-graduation experiences.
• Recognize and celebrate mentorship achievements through awards or ceremonies.

Recognition and Appreciation

• Establish a “Student of the Week” program, celebrating individual achievements and contributions.
• Create a wall of appreciation where students and teachers can post notes acknowledging each other’s efforts.
• Host a monthly recognition ceremony to honor students for their academic and personal accomplishments.
• Develop a system for peer-to-peer recognition, allowing students to appreciate each other’s positive qualities.
• Recognize and appreciate students who demonstrate improvement or effort in specific areas.
• Start a “Teacher Appreciation Day” where students express gratitude through notes, drawings, or small gifts.
• Organize a school-wide assembly to publicly acknowledge exceptional achievements and acts of kindness.
• Establish a “Kindness Ambassador” program, recognizing students who consistently promote a positive atmosphere.
• Encourage students to create thank-you cards for teachers, expressing appreciation for their hard work.
• Implement a digital recognition board on the school website to showcase student and teacher accomplishments.
• Designate a “Recognition Corner” in each classroom for displaying student achievements and positive behaviors.
• Develop a peer-nomination system for recognizing students who embody kindness and compassion.
• Host a “Parent Appreciation Night” to acknowledge the vital role parents play in students’ success.
• Create a rotating trophy or certificate for the “Kindest Class of the Month.”
• Implement a quarterly “Star Staff Member” award, allowing students to nominate and recognize exemplary staff.
• Introduce a school-wide initiative for recognizing acts of community service and volunteerism.
• Acknowledge students who contribute positively to class discussions and collaborative projects.
• Host a “Random Acts of Appreciation” week, encouraging everyone to express gratitude in unexpected ways.
• Establish a “Book of Thanks” where students and teachers can share appreciative messages.
• Recognize students who demonstrate leadership qualities and positive influence on their peers.
• Organize surprise class parties to celebrate collective achievements and milestones.
• Implement a “Thank You Thursday” tradition, dedicating one day each week to expressing gratitude.
• Create a video montage featuring messages of appreciation from students, teachers, and staff.
• Establish a rotating “Staff Shout-Out” board where colleagues can publicly recognize each other.

Inclusive Teaching Practices

• Integrate diverse perspectives into lesson plans, ensuring representation of various cultures and backgrounds.
• Establish a classroom environment that values and celebrates individual differences.
• Encourage students to share personal cultural traditions, fostering a sense of inclusivity.
• Implement group projects that promote collaboration among students with diverse abilities and backgrounds.
• Incorporate inclusive language and diverse literature in all aspects of the curriculum.
• Organize a cultural exchange day where students share aspects of their heritage with their peers.
• Facilitate discussions on topics related to diversity, inclusion, and acceptance.
• Designate a “Cultural Appreciation Week” with activities celebrating different cultures.
• Provide accessible learning materials and resources for students with diverse learning needs.
• Create a buddy system where students support each other, fostering inclusivity.
• Organize guest speaker sessions from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences.
• Implement inclusive seating arrangements that encourage interaction among all students.
• Establish a “No Bullying” policy, promoting a culture of kindness and respect.
• Develop lessons that address stereotypes and promote understanding among students.
• Integrate edtech that accommodates different learning styles and abilities.
• Encourage students to create projects that showcase the importance of diversity and inclusion.

Collaborative Projects

• Initiate a classroom mural project where each student contributes a unique piece.
• Organize a collaborative science experiment, encouraging teamwork and shared discoveries.
• Develop a group research project that explores social issues and promotes awareness.
• Implement a community service project where students collaborate on making a positive impact.
• Start a class blog or podcast, allowing students to contribute collaboratively on various topics.
• Arrange a joint art project with another class, promoting cross-grade collaboration.
• Introduce a literature circle where students collaboratively analyze and discuss books.
• Create a collaborative timeline showcasing key historical events researched by students.
• Facilitate a group storytelling session where each student contributes to a shared narrative.
• Organize a collaborative music or dance performance that combines various talents.
• Implement a cross-curricular project that integrates multiple subjects into a cohesive theme.
• Establish a buddy reading program where older students read with younger ones.
• Host a collaborative coding or robotics project where students work together on tech initiatives.
• Integrate a joint math challenge between classes, promoting friendly competition and collaboration.
• Develop a school-wide collaborative art installation that reflects unity and diversity.
• Arrange a “Class Swap Day” where students from different classes collaborate on activities.
• Organize a collaborative debate or discussion forum on relevant social issues.
• Implement a shared gardening project where students work together to cultivate a school garden.
• Host a collaborative storytelling event, inviting students to share their stories with the school community.
• Create a “Collaborative Cookbook” where students contribute family recipes and cultural dishes.
• Introduce a joint environmental project, focusing on sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives.
• Facilitate a collaborative STEAM project where students design and build solutions to real-world problems.
• Develop a community outreach project where students collaborate with local organizations to address societal needs.

Digital Kindness Initiatives

• Launch a kindness-themed hashtag campaign on social media, encouraging students to share positive messages.
• Facilitate a virtual kindness challenge where students engage in acts of kindness and document their experiences online.
• Create a digital gratitude wall where students and teachers can post messages of appreciation.
• Organize a virtual “Kindness Week” with online activities, discussions, and collaborative projects.
• Start a kindness-themed podcast featuring interviews with students, teachers, and community members.
• Encourage students to create and share digital artwork or graphics promoting kindness.
• Initiate a “Kindness Email Chain” where students send uplifting messages to each other.
• Develop a school blog or website dedicated to showcasing acts of kindness within the school community.
• Implement a digital storytelling project where students share personal experiences related to kindness.
• Host a virtual “Kindness Seminar” with guest speakers discussing the importance of online positivity.
• Create a collaborative Google Doc or spreadsheet for students to share and celebrate digital acts of kindness.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

• Implement mindfulness exercises to start or end each class, promoting emotional well-being.
• Introduce SEL-themed literature discussions, focusing on characters’ emotional journeys.
• Incorporate reflective journaling activities to encourage self-awareness and emotional expression.
• Organize small group discussions where students share personal experiences and feelings.
• Facilitate a collaborative art project that allows students to express their emotions visually.
• Introduce gratitude activities, such as keeping a gratitude journal or sharing appreciation circles.
• Conduct team-building activities that emphasize communication, empathy, and trust.
• Host guest speakers or workshops on topics related to emotional intelligence and mental health.
• Implement SEL-themed icebreaker activities at the beginning of the school year.
• Integrate role-playing scenarios that focus on conflict resolution and effective communication.
• Create a “Feelings Corner” in the classroom with resources and activities for emotional exploration.
• Establish a peer support system where students can seek advice or share concerns with each other.
• Develop SEL-themed lesson plans that incorporate real-world scenarios and problem-solving.
• Initiate a school-wide SEL awareness campaign, promoting emotional well-being.
• Organize SEL-themed book clubs, exploring literature that addresses social and emotional issues.
• Host SEL-themed workshops for parents to enhance support and understanding at home.
• Implement a SEL-themed poetry or creative writing unit, allowing students to express emotions through writing.
• Facilitate discussions on empathy, kindness, and understanding among students.
• Introduce SEL-themed games that encourage collaboration and emotional regulation.
• Establish a “Mindful Moments” routine, incorporating brief mindfulness activities into the school day.
• Organize peer-led SEL workshops, allowing students to take an active role in promoting emotional well-being.
• Create a school-wide SEL committee to drive initiatives and awareness throughout the year.
• Implement a “SEL Ambassador” program where students actively promote and model positive social-emotional behaviors.

Beyond the Classroom

• Organize a school-wide community service day where students contribute to local projects.
• Host a neighborhood clean-up initiative, involving students in improving the local environment.
• Create a school garden or participate in a community garden project to promote sustainability.
• Initiate a book donation drive for a local library or community center.
• Collaborate with local businesses for a “Kindness Discount Day” to support the community.
• Establish a partnership with a nearby retirement home, fostering intergenerational connections.
• Organize a charity run or walk, with proceeds benefiting a local cause or organization.
• Create care packages for families in need, including essential items and uplifting notes.
• Implement a mentorship program connecting students with professionals in the community.
• Partner with local artists to beautify public spaces, spreading joy through art installations.
• Plan a community-wide event, such as a fair or festival, to bring people together.
• Collaborate with local schools for joint projects or events, strengthening community ties.
• Host a “Community Appreciation Day” to celebrate the contributions of local businesses, organizations, and residents.
• Create a community bulletin board at the school entrance to share information about local events and resources.

Food for Thought

As we celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day, let’s not confine this spirit to a single day on the calendar. Beyond the classroom walls, in the pulse of our communities, kindness has the power to create ripples of compassion that touch hearts and transform lives. Every small act, every genuine smile, and every hand extended in friendship contribute to a collective narrative of warmth and understanding. In our classrooms, streets, and homes, let’s make every day a celebration of kindness.

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Acts of Kindness in Society Essay (Critical Writing)

Introduction.

The problem of people who lost their homes is acute in the US. Devastating hurricanes and state economic policy usually cause it. Therefore, many educated people used to a civilized lifestyle are left homeless. The lockdown caused by COVID-19 exacerbated this situation, leaving thousands of people without work and livelihoods. Therefore, I plan to participate as a volunteer in the distribution of hot meals, when the opportunity presents itself. This experience will help me understand what is happening in our society and enrich me emotionally, inspiring other actions not aimed at satisfying my ego. For example, I can also buy “hanging coffee” to brighten up the day for someone every day.

We live in a society where selfishness is not condemned and sometimes even encouraged. It is because, in this way, corporations stimulate our consumeristic behavior to gain more profits. However, Aristotle (2000) notes that the kindness shown to others is a virtue, proving that our mental state is in balance. Moreover, according to the philosopher, acts of kindness enrich a person and fill their life with meaning, and therefore are valuable (Aristotle, 2000). Here is a good example: a friend of mine once spontaneously began to take care of homeless pets. Initially, she wrote a report on this topic, in the preparation of which she visited the shelter and was upset to tears about how depressing the life of animals is.

Therefore, she began to buy medicine for animals from the shelter and then took several kittens ‘to overexposure.’ She was happy to do so even though she needed to treat these cute animals from various diseases like tetter, fleas, or injuries. Then she gave them – clean and healthy – ‘to good hands.’ It seems to me that this example illustrates the person’s desire for good deeds, regardless of whether they bring immediate benefits.

According to John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarian theory, actions must be evaluated in the context of their consequences, with even the most brutal actions being justified. I’m afraid I have to disagree with this because some things cannot be changed after we learn about the consequences. For example, in most countries, the death penalty has long been abolished because death cannot be canceled after new circumstances of the case unexpectedly open, and the criminal is excused.

Aristotle. (2000). Nicomachean ethics. (Irwin, T., Trans., 2nd ed.). Hackett Publishing Company.

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Bibliography

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An Act of Kindness

Updated 23 April 2021

Subject Emotions ,  Identity

Downloads 73

Category Life ,  Sociology

Topic Community ,  Gender ,  Kindness

In my culture, the wisdom for a growing child is to be noble and supportive

In my culture, the wisdom for a growing child is to be noble and supportive when interacting with others in society, regardless of whether they are peers, families, or outsiders. An example that is often used is when an elderly person occupies a space or a bus with all seats filled. The younger person is required to give up his or her seat to make room for the elder.

Showing empathy, hospitality, and compassion

I have shown empathy, hospitality, and compassion to people of all backgrounds, regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, or any other cause. However, it is usually difficult to extend the same to a stranger who may be rude or condescending. While traveling to a nearby town to visit my aunt, I sat next to a boy in his late teenage years. Before boarding the bus, he had mistreated the ticketing agent who tried to help him find a suitable seat. He spent the rest of the time talking loudly on the phone. He would reply rudely to anyone who tried to tell him to lower his voice. I initiated a conversation on the bus but he was an unwilling participant and I kept quiet for the rest of the journey.

A surprising encounter

A few hours after alighting, I visited a restaurant where I found the boy with whom I had traveled. I noticed that he appeared distressed and quieter than I would have imagined based on his earlier behavior. I went and sat next to him and inquired if he was fine. He hardly wanted to talk but I chose to stay and find out if he needed help. I helped him to order a meal and paid for it. After having our lunch, he opened up and told me that his mother had been sick and that he had received the news of her death a few hours after our journey. He had visited the town in search of his father, whom he had hardly known. His parents had been separated for the greater part of his life. He was stranded because his mother had spent most of her savings on treatment and after her death, he had no choice but to look for his father in a bid to re-establish a relationship. I offered to escort him to his father's office, since he was a first-time visitor to the town.

Reasoning for Choosing the Specific Act

I witnessed the teenager, who had been a stranger, engaging in acts of rudeness with people around him regardless of their age or gender. The behavior had been against my core beliefs. Nevertheless, I offered to be kind and hospitable throughout our interaction because I had been taught to do so with everyone. Moreover, I had been in tough situations before in which I wished for someone to understand my frustration. Therefore, I thought it better to always assume that a person may act in unacceptable manners as a way to shut people out or as a protective mechanism against emotional attachments.

The Reaction of the Recipient

The teenager had been rude to me in the first instance of our interaction. Offering to pay for his lunch may have expressed my willingness to listen to him and offer assistance. This act may have encouraged him to open up to me and talk about the cause of his sadness. I helped him meet his father, who welcomed him. We exchanged contact information and have been friends since then.

My Experience with the Stranger

In extending an act of kindness to a stranger, I found ways in which I could help him deal with the loss of one of his parents and reconnect with the other. The knowledge that I had brought calmness to the boy was satisfactory emotionally. The act of assisting a stranger gave me a friend with whom I have been close long after the incident despite the nature of our first interaction. The importance of kindness is the psychological impact on the recipient. Their perception about people is changed from negativity towards optimism and positive interactions (Louvau 9).

It is the obligation of every individual to be virtuous and assistive to those around him or her. The reason for this is that different people may have problems that cause their hostility or lack of communication. Positive interaction helps a person who is going through bad situations to see a better side of humanity and have hope that their issues will be resolved. It may prevent a person with suicidal thoughts from proceeding with the act and may comfort one with the loss of a loved one. An act of kindness may be infectious, causing the person to adopt virtues of being friendly and open to interaction with others in the society. There are no negative consequences associated with it. Therefore, such acts should be encouraged within every society in order to develop better interpersonal relationships with people regardless of their relationships.

Works Cited

Louvau, Chaplain Charlie. Beyond Random Acts of Kindness. Xlibris Corporation, 2010.

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How to Answer the 2024-25 Common App Essay Questions

An outstanding college essay can be the x-factor that gets you accepted to the school of your choice – particularly if you’re hoping to attend a prestigious university . As the emphasis on test scores declines , recent data shows that over 56% of colleges place considerable or moderate importance on students’ supplemental essays. So the Common Application, with its variety of essay prompts , can help you showcase your personality, achievements, and aspirations. 

While writing essays about yourself may be an art form, how you approach your answer can be more scientific. Here are our best strategies to select and answer the Common App essay questions for the 2023-2024 admissions year. 

How do you know which prompt to pick? 

Before you start brainstorming, consider the following criteria to choose an essay topic.

• Instinct – When writing a college essay made its way onto your to-do list , was there a personal story that jumped to mind? If so, test out how it feels to trust that instinct. Is there a prompt that this idea aligns with? 
• Passion – Can you write about this topic with excitement? If you’re leaning toward a topic because it feels like the one you “should” choose rather than one you’re amped about, don’t fall for that common mistake . Admissions officers read a ton of essays. If you’re not passionate about your subject matter, it’ll be clear. 
• Understanding – While the Common App essay questions seem fairly straightforward, ensure you understand your prompt and can answer all parts of it. Another mistake students make is forcing something they want to talk about into an existing essay topic. If you have an idea that doesn’t address one of their specific questions, consider prompt 7, which allows you free rein to explore the topic of your choice.
• Dimension – Does your essay give insight into who you are, outside of your GPA, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation? For example, if you were the captain of your school’s varsity soccer team, an essay about soccer may not be your best choice.

The Common App Essay Topics 

According to a study from Yale , the most important thing to college admissions officers isn’t which prompt you choose, but that you write a great essay. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind:

• Craft a compelling, cohesive narrative that relates back to who you are as a person and a student. 
• Be honest , and don’t embellish details nor use AI .
• Avoid clichés that college counselors have seen before .
• Start early , and give yourself plenty of time to perfect your essay.
• Proofread your essay , and ask a friend, teacher, or family member to read it too. 

Common App Prompt #1: Identity essay 

“Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”

Students who have a unique aspect of their identity that isn’t otherwise represented in their application might enjoy this prompt. And remember: identity doesn’t just mean your ethnic background. 

• Choose an aspect of your identity that makes you who you are. Are you the first in your family to go to college? Were you educated outside of a traditional school system? Are you a member of a religious group that has shaped your worldview? Each of these examples represents an aspect of identity that might be interesting to explore.
• Be specific about your background, identity, or interest that you’ve chosen. Explain how your personal experience deviates from the norm. 
• Describe the impact of this facet of your identity on who you are. Reflect on how this has related to your growth and perspective on yourself, your community, and your future. For example, if English wasn’t your first language, how did learning the language influence your interests? Did you turn to movies and television and discover a love of cinema that influenced you to pursue a career in entertainment? 

Get your creative juices flowing by reading other Common App essay prompt 1 examples that worked.

Common App Prompt #2: Overcoming obstacles essay 

“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

Don’t think you can only write on this topic if you’ve experienced some type of significant hardship. No matter who you are or where you’re from, you’ve had to overcome obstacles to get to where you are today. Adversity breeds resilience, which is a great quality to highlight to a college admissions committee. 

• Identify an obstacle that has impacted you. Think back on experiences that required you to persevere. This could be something big, like the loss of a parent or a natural disaster, or something less severe, like a failing grade on an important assignment or losing an election for class president. 
• Detail the experience and your role in it. How did you feel when you first encountered this challenge? If you were overwhelmed or scared, be honest. Specificity around details, emotions, and your mindset will create empathy and paint a full picture. Then, complete the story. How did this event unfold? How did your mindset shift? 
• Highlight what you learned and your eventual success. As you brainstorm, make a list of your takeaways. If you experienced a major illness, did you find a renewed sense of gratitude for your physical health? Then, connect your learnings to some success. If you got fired from a part-time job, did the experience help you identify the career path you actually want to pursue and put you in a position to pursue it? 

Study up on how other determined students have aced Common App essay prompt 2 . 

Common App Prompt #3: Individuality essay 

“Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?”

College campuses are full of students who are eager to expand their horizons and reassess previously held worldviews. If this sounds like you, prompt three might be perfect. 

• Choose a belief or idea that you questioned at some point. This could be anything from your approach to mental health, to your perspective on gender roles or religious beliefs. Explain why you held this belief and the importance of this idea in your life. 
• Explain what prompted you to explore . Was it a book? An article? A conversation with a teacher? Describe the scene – what happened, where you were, and how you felt.
• Detail the experience of your reflection . Did you turn to books to better understand the other side of this issue? Did you engage in conversation with people who thought differently from you? Get into the weeds of your exploration.
• Present your conclusion . If you changed your perspective, what was the evidence that caused this shift? And if you discovered an even greater sense of certainty around your original opinion, how does that feel? Or, if you’re still not sure but continuing to explore, that’s a great answer, too.

Read how other curious high school students explored beliefs in Common App Prompt #3 essay examples . 

Common App Prompt #4: The gratitude essay 

“Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?”

Gratitude can be a powerful source of motivation, particularly when we’re feeling defeated or down. If you’ve experienced an act of kindness that impacted your life in some significant way, reflect on it in prompt #4.

• Pinpoint an act of kindness that someone has done on your behalf. This could be something monumental, like a family member donating an organ, or a small, everyday gesture, like a stranger paying for your coffee. 
• Set the stage for your story. What happened? Why did you need this act of kindness? If you ran out of gas in the middle of the highway, what did that feel like? Then, present the act of kindness in as much detail as you can while staying within the word limit. What prompted the kind stranger to pull over with their gas can? What conversation ensued? 
• Explore your gratitude and reflect upon how the experience affected you. Did this random act of kindness change your perspective? Did you pay it forward through community service? Show how this experience caused you to change in some way, big or small. Don’t stop at gratitude; push yourself to action. 

Read about times other high school students felt inspired by the empathy shown to them.

Common App Prompt #5: The personal growth essay 

“Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.”

High school is a period of deep personal growth. Use this prompt to highlight ways you’ve grown that might not be captured by your GPA or extracurricular activities. 

• Reflect on periods of personal growth and pinpoint the events that might have triggered them. Make a list of these types of occurrences. For example, traveling abroad to a new country, being selected to write for the school newspaper, or overcoming a fear of public speaking to compete in a debate. 
• Narrate your experience . You might think of this as your “before” and “during” snapshot. If you weren’t the best student in your science class, but had an exciting hypothesis to tackle in a science fair project, describe how you approached this project. Then, tell the reader about what happened. Did you succeed? Did you fail? Did you uncover a new skill?  
• Expand on your shift in perspective and how this experience caused you to look at yourself and those around you differently. Think of this as your “after.” If your project went on to win your local science fair, how did this shift your view of your scientific abilities? Underline how you grew from this experience and how it shaped your perspective. 

For inspiration, here are examples of Essay #5 responses from high school students just like you. 

Common App Prompt #6: The passion essay 

“Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?”

Every student, no matter their GPA or collegiate aspirations, has a hobby or pastime they enjoy. Are you particularly passionate about yours? Take this opportunity to write about it, particularly if your passion is unique.

• List the things you love . Ideally, your greatest passion came to mind as soon as you read this prompt. But if you have an affinity for more than one thing, make a list. This could be anything from making pottery to playing chess or trying out new recipes in the kitchen.
• Explain why you have such an affinity for this hobby or pastime. Delve into the history behind this passion. How did you first get interested in rescuing animals? Did a parent or mentor expose you to this work? Did the experience of finding a lonely cat on the street spark your passion? 
• Expand upon your learning process and how you developed your knowledge of this topic. If you love astronomy, what steps did you take to learn about the night sky and types of stars? Did you immerse yourself in YouTube videos about space? Or visit local observatories? Demonstrate your thirst for knowledge and ability to self-motivate. 

Read other passionate essays here that have captivated admissions officers. 

Common App Prompt #7: Topic of your choice 

“Share an essay on any topic of your choice . It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt , or one of your own design.”

Prompt 7 can be divisive. For some, this open-ended prompt is a great opportunity to write a unique, personal essay. Since there are no rules (other than the word limit), there are several ways to approach Prompt 7.

You could choose a topic that is unique to you, write a personal statement, or tell a compelling story that has some broader appeal. Or, you could think totally outside the box and turn your essay into a screenplay, newspaper article, or other artistic form. 

If you’re considering this prompt, try not to recycle an essay you’ve previously written for a high school class. The admissions officer will recognize your junior year English essay on Othello and, most likely, will find this choice lazy. Moreover, the Common App essays are meant to offer insight into who you are – not how you perform academically. 

That said, this prompt does offer you the opportunity to reuse a prior essay as a base and then tweak it. Just be careful. The college admissions process is high-stakes. Don’t ruin your chances because you’re trying to save time on your essay. 

To find inspiration, check out other students’ essays on Prompt 7 . 

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60 Acts of Kindness for Kids to Do to Make the World a Better Place

Random acts of kindness may sound simple, but they’re almost a revolutionary act in our world. Showing kindness requires courage, honesty, and thinking outside the box. It’s so worth it, though, to see the look of appreciation and delight on the recipient’s face. These small acts of service and random acts of kindness for kids can make a huge difference, for both the giver and the receiver. And that’s true whether you’re nine or 99.

Children are naturals when it comes to performing little acts of kindness. In fact, many of us adults take our cues from them! But sometimes kids need a little extra nudge to think about others. Whether it’s showing kindness to their families, friends, communities , animals, or the planet, we’ve got thoughtful ideas for kindhearted kiddos of every age. We’ve also got plenty of kindness memes and kindness quotes to put you in the right frame of mind.

Random acts of kindness for family

Send a get-well card.

Have your child make and send a get-well card to a loved one who isn’t feeling well, or make a batch to drop off at the local hospital. Little artists will particularly love doing this one! Check out these sweet get well wishes you can add onto a message or a card for a loved one.

Text someone a funny meme

Are you always telling your kid to get off their phone? Put their love of tech to good use by having them text a funny meme to a family member. (Just make sure it’s appropriate!) It’s a quick way to put a smile on someone’s face.

Give someone a compliment

Learning how to give a kind, sincere compliment is a skilland now is the perfect time for your child to practice. Start with one of these little compliments you should be giving every day .

Do a chore for a sibling

Kids doing a small chore for a brother or sister is an easy way to show kindness, particularly if they are having a bad day. It can also increase that loving sibling bond.

FaceTime a grandparent

Nothing cheers up a grandparent like seeing the sweet face of their grandchild. Littles already love calling, but it may feel even more meaningful coming from an older child or teen.

Walk the dog

If you have a dog , encourage your child to take it on walks. If you don’t own one, offer to walk the dog of an elderly relative, a disabled neighbor, or a friend who’s out of town.

Make a family member’s bed

Making someone’s bed is a small kindness that can make a big difference in their day. Kids can add a note or small piece of candy on the pillow to make it extra special.

Read a book to a sibling

The “reader” will love being able to share a favorite book , and the listener will enjoy the attention along with the story. Parents will love that it helps kids practice their reading skills.

Put away groceries

Children of all ages can learn about household management and show kindness to their parents by helping to shop for groceries, bring them in from the car, and put them away properly.

Offer to be a “mother’s helper” for an hour

Many kids love to help but aren’t old enough to babysit on their own. One solution is to allow your child to volunteer as a mother’s (or father’s) helper for you or a close loved one. The adult is still present, but the child can do small chores and play with younger children to help keep them busy.

Give a hug to Mom or Dad

A hug from your child is the ultimate kindness! It shows they are thinking about you and they love you.

Organize the plastic containers

Is your Tupperware cabinet a mess? Even very young children enjoy stacking containers and matching things by size and shape. Older kids love organizing things, especially when they get to do it their way, so encourage creativity.

Refill the pet’s water dish

Another way to show kindness and love to animals is to make sure their needs are met. They can’t speak for themselves, so teach your child to regularly check your pet’s food and water bowlsor maybe even clean out the litter box!

Play a board game with a sibling or grandparent

Kids love to play all sorts of games, like board games , card games , and even brain-boosting games . Use this natural desire for fun and have them reach out to a sibling, a grandparent, or anyone else who could use some extra love.

Post a picture of something they are grateful for

Kids can show gratitude for their blessings and kindness to others by taking a picture of something beautiful or happy in their lives and either posting it to social media or texting it to a loved one.

Help cook dinner

Children of all ages love helping out in the kitchen. Let them plan and cook a simple age-appropriate meal or work alongside you. As their skills and confidence grow, so will their ability to provide this kindness in the future.

Random acts of kindness for friends

Write to a pen pal.

Writing via paper or electronically to a pen pal in another place is a great way for kids to learn social skills, learn about other cultures, and practice writing. Talk to your child’s teacher or a local community center, or participate in the Flat Stanley project .

Make a friendship bracelet

Do a kindness craft with letter beads, spelling out a sweet message like “I love you,” “Best friend,” or “Peace.” Kids can make a bracelet to wear and one to share with a new friend or a family member.

Leave five kind comments on social media

Everyone loves getting happy messages on social media, so this is an easy random act of kindness for kids to try. Older kids with social media accounts can like and leave a positive, supportive comment on a friend or family member’s post. Encourage them to reach outside of their normal circle (safely) to include others who may be feeling ignored or left out. As always, monitor your children’s social media activity closely.

Make a friend laugh

Kids can spread joy to their friends by telling a funny joke or sharing a hilarious pun . Let the laughter commence!

Sharing is caring, after all! Encourage your kids to share toys with their friends so everyone can join in on the fun.

Pick a dandelion for a friend

This small but sweet gesture allows kids share something special with their friends. If they don’t want to pick a dandelion, they can always give their friends other types of flowers.

Pay for a friend’s school lunch

If you can swing it, give your child extra money one day to pay for a friend’s school lunch. You never know what another family is going through (financial hardship, a sick family member, etc.), so your child’s kind deed could make a big difference.

Help with homework

Everyone needs help with their homework once in a while. If your child excels in a subject, have them help one of their friends who may be struggling in that same subject.

Give a friend a high five

This act of kindness encourages your child to celebrate their friends’ accomplishments. Who doesn’t love getting a high five after a job well done?

Write a friendship poem

Words are powerful, especially in poetry. Your child can write a poem to a friend to express how much they value their friendship. It’s a creative act of kindness that’s sure to inspire some smiles.

Help a friend with a project

Is your child’s friend working on a project for school, or a special gift for a family member? If so, they can help their friend make it the best it can possibly be.

Random acts for kindness for neighbors

Make cookies for a neighbor.

Kids love making and decorating cookies. Have them put a few extra on a plate to share with a neighbor or a friend. You can even add a note card with an uplifting quote .

Take a neighbor’s newspaper or package up to their porch

Newspapers, packages, and other items often get left at the end of the driveway or on lawns, and that puts them at risk of getting soggy or stolen. Kids can gently move them to a safe spot on the porch.

Shovel the sidewalk

Kids in snowy climes can shovel a neighbor’s driveway or sidewalk. In warmer weather, kids can rake leaves, offer to bag yard waste, or do another small outside chore that may feel hard for someone who is elderly, disabled, pregnant, or overwhelmed.

Give someone a “heart attack”

Have your child cut out paper hearts in various sizes and write sweet notes on them. Tape them to the door of someone who could use cheering up, then ring the doorbell and run.

A child’s smile is one of the most precious things in the world. Teach children to do it in a safe, comfortable way, and that smile could make a person’s whole day.

Make a candy poster

A piece of poster board, some markers, and a collection of candy can be turned into a thoughtful get-well, welcome-home, congratulations, or just-because message. If you have extra treats lying around, you can give them to Operation Gratitude , which sends care packages to our troops.

Take dinner to an elderly neighbor

If you end up with a little extra after dinner, have your kid box up a serving or two and take it to a neighbor who could use a hot meal but may not cook just for themselves.

Use polite manners

Kids can be more polite than we often expect them to be. Saying “please” and “thank you” to both loved ones and neighbors is a simple way to show respect and kindness to others. Other kind phrases for kids may include “I’m so sorry!” and “How can I help?” Find out the daily habits of naturally polite people .

Random acts of kindness for teachers and classmates

Help the teacher put up chairs.

Teachers do so much work outside of their normal classroom hours. One way kids can say thanks is to offer to help with some of those little things. Even very young kids can help pick up trash, stack chairs, put away supplies, or whatever their teacher needs.

Eat lunch with someone who normally eats alone

Nearly everyone has a painful memory of eating alone in the school cafeteria. Teach your child to look for those who may be left out and kindly invite them to eat with them or join them at their table.

Ask another child to play at recess

Playing Groundies or tag or make-believe is so much more fun with friends. Encourage your kiddo to pay attention to those around him or her and invite them to play too.

Have a used-sports-equipment drive

Many kids are kept out of playing sports because they can’t afford the necessary equipment, while other children have garages full of old equipment they no longer use. Help your child collect and donate these items to kids in need.

Tell someone they did a great job

Learning to recognize someone else’s hard work, effort, and accomplishment is a true kindness. Teach kids to see and commend others for doing good things, big or small.

Talk to the new kid

Being the new kid in school is nerve-racking, but having a friend to show you the ropes can make things easier. Encourage kids to welcome new classmates by playing with them at recess and sitting with them during lunch (as long as the new student is OK with it, of course).

Volunteer to hand out assignments

This is a random act of kindness a teacher will surely appreciate. Kids can volunteer to help hand out classroom assignments and save their teacher a little time.

Random acts of kindness for the community

Decorate lunch bags for the food pantry.

Many community kitchens and food pantries serve meals in paper bags or boxes to go. Kids can write kind messages, draw pictures (with non-toxic markers), and decorate them with stickers.

Put grocery carts back in the corral

Put some of that boundless energy to good use by having children retrieve rogue grocery carts left on sidewalks, in handicapped parking spots, or at the edges of the parking lot, and return them to the store or the cart corral.

Donate old books

Have your child go through their gently loved books and choose some that they’ve outgrown to donate to a local library, community center, shelter, church, or school. Here are some more powerful ways to give to charity without breaking the bank.

Make a snack basket for delivery people

Online orders are way up, and delivery folks are busier than ever. Help your child choose appropriate itemsthink bottled water or juice, granola bars, or prepackaged goodiesand make a basket with a sign letting delivery drivers know they’re welcome to take a snack for the road.

Write happy messages on sticky notes

Give your child a stack of sticky notes and some markers and let them fill the pad with happy pictures, kind messages, and compliments. Take the sticky pad with you during the day and let them put the notes where it can brighten someone’s day, like on a public bathroom mirror, a shelf at the store, a car window, or a sibling’s pillow.

Leave a basket of tennis balls or sticks at the dog park

Make a dog’s day (and their owner’s too!) by having your child collect old tennis balls or throwing sticks and placing them in a dog toy bin for everyone to enjoy.

Make cards or drawings for a retirement home

Many people in retirement homes feel isolated, and the pandemic only made that worse. Have kids draw pictures, make paintings, or write notes and deliver them to the elderly.

Give a thank-you card to a service worker

Pick a local teacher, cashier, bus driver, or other worker who helps you and your child on a regular basis and write them a sweet thank-you note. Go as simple or elaborate (glitter!) as your child likes. Hand-deliver the note for extra smiles.

Make homeless kits

Sample-sized toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant can be put in a small Ziploc bag along with a toothbrush, comb, Band-Aids, and other sundry items. Children can help assemble these bags and hand them out to the house-less. One of the things no one tells you about being homeless is that hygiene items are worth their weight in gold.

Hang up fallen clothes at the store

Store hangers can be particularly slippery, and it’s not uncommon to see a few items piled on the floor. Show kindness to tired retail workers by hanging up a few.

Donate toys to a children’s hospital

Have your child pick out a few of the season’s best toys and donate them to a local children’s hospital. Or organize a toy drive to make a larger community contribution.

Write letters to soldiers

Kids can write letters, draw pictures, and/or make care packages for the men and women who sacrifice so much to protect us every day.

Donate old blankets to a pet shelter

Bedding that you no longer use, even if it’s not in tip-top shape, can make the perfect bed for a dog or cat. Many shelters love getting donations of old blankets and towels, but always call first to make sure.

Eco-friendly random acts of kindness

Ride a bike instead of driving.

Have a short errand to run? Turn it into a bike ride and show kindness to the planet by keeping the car at home. You can use it as an opportunity to discuss the importance of taking care of our environment in small but impactful ways.

Plant wildflowers

Many community gardens and nature centers offer packets of local seeds or at least suggestions of what to plant. Teach children about showing kindness to the environment through planting and nurturing wildlife.

Pick up litter at a local park

Make it a game by creating a scavenger-hunt lista soda can, a candy wrapper, a fast-food bagand see how fast your child can find them all. Check out more ways you and your kids can help save the planet in five minutes or less.

Collect recycling and take it to a drop-off center

Kids can easily collect tin cans and plastic bottles at home or at school, then bring them to a nearby recycling center (with your help, of course).

Make a pine-cone bird feeder

This random act of kindness for kids is intended to help Mother Nature. Take a pine cone, cover it in peanut butter, roll it in birdseed, and hang it from a nearby tree. Birds will enjoy the treat, particularly in the wintertime, and you can use it to teach your kiddo about the different types of wildlife in your area.

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The post 60 Acts of Kindness for Kids to Do to Make the World a Better Place appeared first on Reader's Digest .

Have you seen a random act of kindness? Tell us about it!

Has someone made your day? Tell us about it!

Kindness can be all around us, every day! Being a Good Samaritan goes a long way in the community, and we feel that it's special enough to get shout-outs each week in the latest version of our Sunday newspapers. If you or someone you know has performed or witnessed a random act of kindness that is just out of this world, please let us know! Maybe someone stopped to help you jump-start your car or gave you an umbrella on a rainy day. Tell us in 75 words or less how someone made a difference this year.

How to submit

Email Entertainment Editor Emily Rohozen ([email protected]) to submit the random act of kindness that made your day! Please share your name and a photo, if you have it. Let’s celebrate the good things happening in our community.