Kindness in Action Ideas for All Ages

We have put together a list of ideas that are free and some that might involve money if you are wanting to pay for someone’s meal, drink, groceries, etc. This list is just a start to get your mind going. 

If dropping off to places such as senior living, schools, or hospitals, make sure you have brought your identification to get in and go directly to the front desk. If you don’t have a specific person you know, then let them know it is an act of kindness and they will figure out the best person to receive it.  Be prepared, you may even get lots of hugs and smiles! 

These lists can overlap.

• Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.
• Volunteer to walk dogs at an animal shelter. 
• Send a thank you note to someone special.
• Offer to babysit for a friend. 
• Walk your friend’s dog.
• Volunteer 
• Offer to cook or bake for a friend. 
• Let a fellow driver merge.  
• Email or write a thank you to a member of your school faculty and/or staff. 
• Hold a door for a class member you don’t usually talk to. 
• Do a chore without being asked. 
• Pick up something someone else has dropped. 
• Help a teacher erase the board if needed. 
• Offer to get a neighbor’s trash bins. 
• Donate old books/toys in good condition to a younger child in your neighborhood or donate them to people in need. 
• Leave random positive notes. Sounds strange but can actually brighten a day. 
• Thank you notes for people serving in the military. 
• Help a disabled person put groceries in the car or get the door for them. ( I try to remember to say, I know you’ve got this, but let me help today.) 
• Offer to walk a neighbor’s dog. 

• Make a card or drawing for someone in the hospital, or for nurses, a new mom/dad would love a card, etc. 
• Draw and drop off a picture for someone in the nursing home.
• Help a friend clean up what they are playing with.
• Bring in a food item to donate to the food pantry.
• Write a letter to a grandparent, aunt, or uncle that you haven’t seen in a while.
• Let someone go ahead of you in line.
• Write a thank you note to emergency responders, teachers, or any one of your choosing. 
• Bringing your child with you to help do one of the adult/teen ideas is also a great way to do this together. 

• Giving gifts (they don’t have to cost a lot! In fact, they can be gifts you make, or inexpensive gifts found at the Dollar Store.)
• Pay for someone’s lunch at school/work. 
• Pay it forward in a coffee line, sure they may already be paying for their coffee, but this may change their outlook. 
• Donating in memory/honor of someone to a cause of your choosing. 
• Pick up groceries for a new mom/dad, senior citizen, neighbor in need. 
• Make or send a care package. 

Be kind to yourself too and thank you for taking a moment to visit our site!