Take Your Child on a Kindness Date!
Here's a way to prioritize meaningful time with your child – and also convey how much you value living generously. Take your child on a kindness date! Surprise them with an idea that matches their interests and passions, or have them pick an outing from the ideas below. (They're all super-simple!) Added bonus: because these projects and the related books tend to spark important conversations about values, these mini-adventures are also a lovely opportunity to get to know your child at a deeper level. Enjoy!
– Jenny Friedman, Executive Director
ACTION + TALK + READ
Whether you choose one of these simple kindness dates or come up with your own, give it extra meaning by asking questions and reading a related book together. The ensuing conversations will make your date even more special. Maybe kindness dates will become a monthly routine!
Walk and Chalk. Pack up some colorful chalk. Then take a walk and leave cheerful sidewalk chalk messages. They could be messages of encouragement on a steep hill, kindness quotes near a school or playground, or notes of
welcome near a new neighbor's house. For an added act of kindness, throw some gloves and plastic bags into your backpack and clean up litter along the way!
Big-Hearted Conversations: What are some fun messages we can share? How do you think people will feel when they see our notes and drawings? What are other simple ways to spread kindness?
Book to Share: Sidewalk Flowers by Jon Arno Lawson. In this beautiful, wordless picture book, a little girl collects wildflowers while her distracted father pays her little attention. Each flower becomes a gift, and whether the gift is noticed or ignored, both giver and recipient are transformed.
Color Kindness. Gather crayons, colored pencils, and other needed supplies. Then sit at an ice cream parlor or coffeeshop and color together. You can work on DGT awards, lunch bags for Meals on Wheels, Color-A-Smile drawings, kindness cards, or tear-off posters.
Big-Hearted Conversations: Can art be a gift? Do you have to be a great artist to cheer people up with your art? How would you feel if you received a gift personally made by someone else?
Book to Share: Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg. In a culture often paralyzed by a fear of failure, we are hearing time and again that children aren't being allowed to make mistakes. This book is certainly part of the cure. Discover the beauty in a mistake, then set out to make a few of your own!
Shop for Good. Got a kid who likes to shop? Turn that passion outward by going together to purchase supplies for hygiene kits or birthday bags. Then stop at a coffee shop, sip hot chocolate, and decorate bags and pack the supplies. Deliver them to your local food pantry or shelter on the way home.
Big-Hearted Conversations: Is it hard to go shopping and not buy anything for yourself? Does it feel good to buy things you know others will like or need? What if they are for a person you've never met? How do you feel when you get an unexpected gift?
Book to Share: Tight Times by Barbara Shook Hazen. We all can relate to this tale of a boy who just wants a puppy of his own. Through his eyes, we watch his parents struggling with hard times – and we better understand the stress families experience when money is tight.
Pet Project. Helping animals is a surefire way to get kids excited about doing good. Create dog toys from leftover fleece strips or cat toys out of crew socks, using these simple instructions. Then head to your local humane society or animal shelter to drop off your creations and visit with the animals. Call ahead to be sure they can use the toys – and to find the best times to visit.
Big-Hearted Conversations: Do you think animals have the same feelings as people? Why or why not? Why is it a good idea to help animals in need? What else can we do to help our non-human friends?
Book to Share: The Little Blue Dog by Karen Roberts. Your family will love this sweet story of life from the perspective of a shelter dog. It's sure to spark big conversations about love, ho
Kindness Hunt. Plot some stealthy kindness activities over a pancake breakfast. Maybe you'll tape quarters to a vending machine, leave a book in a Little Free Library, or don gloves to pick up five pieces of litter. Here's a list of ideas. Brainstorm some of your own as well. Print and decorate these nifty labels to leave at the scene of your generous acts.
Big-Hearted Conversations: Which of these acts of kindness would you like someone to do for you? How would that feel? Do you think receiving a kind gesture makes people more likely to act kindly toward others?
Book to Share: Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson. Mary, who's like any other kid, starts a chain reaction of kindness with a special delivery. In fact, it circles the globe in just a few days! The rhythm and rhyme of this book make it a fun read-aloud experience, too.
Hero Helper. How about celebrating our heroes and thanking them for their service? Decorate lunch bags with markers and stickers and fill them with treats. Include a decorated "thank you" card. You can deliver them to your local fire station, and perhaps get a tour or climb on the fire engine. You may want to call ahead to be sure it's a good time for a visit.
Big-Hearted Conversations: What do firefighters do that's so important? Why is it important to thank the people in our community who help us? Who else could we thank?
Book to Share: The Thank You Letter by Jane Cabera. Grace so enjoyed writing thank-you notes for her birthday gifts, she decided to keep going. Watch what happens as she shares her thank-you notes all over town. For anyone who wonders what thankfulness in action looks like, this sweet story will be an inspiration.
INSPIRATION
“Only the development of compassion and understanding for others will bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.”
Dalai Lama XIV