15 Kindness Activities for Kids (Plus Tips to Help Kids Practice Kindness)

Children discover the world not only in school but also through the choices they make and the actions they observe each day. There are many things kids can do to grow into caring, thoughtful people, so why not include kindness activities for kids in your family and classroom routines?

After all, kindness isn’t just a nice idea — it’s a valuable life skill that helps children build meaningful friendships, feel happier, and make positive choices.

Research shows that acts of kindness, such as sharing and including others, are linked with healthy social and emotional development in children and teens [*].

Here’s a list of activities kids can try to practice helping others and think about their feelings.

15 Activities That Cultivate Kindness in Kids

A great way to begin is to encourage your child to pick just one activity from the list that feels easy for them. There’s no pressure to do everything at once! The goal is simply to help kindness become a natural part of their everyday life.

1. Read books that teach kindness

We already know that books are wonderful for helping kids grow their vocabulary. Even better, stories can also be a powerful way to inspire kindness.

Through characters and everyday situations, books help kids see what kindness looks like in real life, whether it’s helping someone who feels left out or respecting differences.

When choosing books, look for stories with these clear messages. Picture books work especially well for younger children because the illustrations help bring the emotions and lessons to life.

You can read them during bedtime, after school, or even before playdates. Check out our list of books on kindness to find great stories.

2. Volunteer

Volunteering can be a wonderful way for kids to practice kindness in real life, and it does not need to be something grand or formal. It can look very simple. They can pack donated clothes, help clean up a park, or assist a neighbor with small tasks.

A large U.S. study found that kids and teens who volunteer tend to feel healthier, happier, and may have fewer worries and behavior challenges [*].

You can start small by choosing volunteer opportunities that match your child’s age and interests. The important thing is helping your child feel the happiness that comes from being kind.

3. Create a “Kindness Jar”

Every time your child does something thoughtful — like sharing a toy, helping a sibling, or saying something encouraging — write it down on a small slip of paper and place it in a jar. You can also invite them to add ideas for future kind acts, such as “help set the table” or “draw a picture for grandma.”

Over time, the jar becomes a visual reminder that small actions matter. It also helps children notice their own growth, which can build their confidence.

Here’s a quick tip: Read the notes together at the end of the week or month. This reflection time helps reinforce positive behavior.

4. Practice the “T.H.I.N.K” rule

The T.H.I.N.K rule is a helpful guide for teaching children how to speak with kindness. Before saying something, they need to ask themselves: Is it True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, and Kind?

For example, if they want to comment on a friend’s mistake, this rule can help them pause and choose words that are honest but caring.

This is a great tool for building self-awareness and social skills. It teaches kids that kindness is not only about actions but also about how they communicate.

5. Write thank you notes

Writing thank-you notes is a meaningful way for children to practice gratitude. This can be as simple as drawing a picture for a teacher, writing a short note to a grandparent, or thanking a friend for sharing a snack.

A lovely tip is to keep blank cards or paper at home so your child can easily write one whenever they feel thankful. Sometimes the smallest note can make someone feel deeply appreciated!

6. Do random acts of kindness

Random acts of kindness are small, thoughtful things kids can do without being asked. They may not even realize that these little actions can make someone’s whole day better.

This might look like inviting another child to join their game, sharing crayons or snacks, or saving a seat for a friend. The beauty of this activity is that it teaches children that kindness does not always need a special occasion.

You can try creating a simple kindness challenge, like doing one kind act each day for a week. This keeps it playful and helps kindness become part of everyday habits!

7. Practice conflict resolution

Teach your child that being kind does not mean avoiding problems — it means learning how to work through them respectfully.

For example, if there’s a disagreement over a toy, they can use words like “Can we take turns?” or “How can we solve this together?”

Learning conflict resolution helps children build emotional regulation. This is because they practice pausing, noticing their feelings, and responding thoughtfully instead of reacting right away.

Remember to coach them through calm-down steps first, since kids will need our help regulating their emotions before they can think clearly. Once they feel settled, they are much more able to respond with kindness.

8. Give genuine compliments

Comparison can happen so easily that kids may need extra support in learning to celebrate others rather than comparing themselves to them. Giving genuine compliments teaches them to notice the good in others.

This might sound like, “I like how you shared with me,” or “I love the effort you put into that drawing.” The goal is to help children notice something genuine and specific instead of offering compliments just out of habit.

9. Practice sharing

Research shows that sharing plays an important role in building prosocial behavior and healthy relationships in children. Studies have found that as children grow, their willingness to share often increases, especially when they see kindness modeled around them [*].

Parents can name what they notice in the moment, such as, “I saw how you shared with your friend. That was really kind.” Hearing this helps children link their behavior to kindness.

10. Plant a tree

Planting a tree is a beautiful way to teach kindness that extends beyond people and into the world around us. This might mean planting a small tree in the yard or helping care for a garden at school.

It’s also a wonderful opportunity for kids to spend time in nature, which can help reduce stress and boost mood.

A lovely way to make the activity more meaningful is to dedicate the tree to something kind — perhaps planting it for Earth Day or in honor of a loved one.

11. Learn about empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand how someone else might be feeling. It’s at the heart of kindness because it helps children avoid reacting from their own point of view.

There are many ways for kids to practice and strengthen this skill. One simple way is to listen actively when someone is sharing. They pay attention to the other person’s experience without immediately thinking about themselves or what they want to say next.

12. Role-play kindness scenarios

Sometimes children know what kindness means but need help practicing what it looks like. Role-play is a great way to do this. You might act out situations like seeing someone sitting alone at lunch, a friend dropping their pencils, or someone feeling left out during playtime.

Practicing these moments ahead of time can make it easier for children to respond kindly in real life. This is especially helpful for younger kids who learn well through play. Think of acting out a story from a book or using toys to help someone in need.

13. Practice daily gratitude

Research suggests that gratitude is linked with greater well-being and positive emotions [*].

A simple daily habit, like sharing one thing they are thankful for at dinner or before bedtime, helps children notice the good around them and appreciate the people in their lives.

14. Keep a kindness journal

A kindness journal gives children a space to notice and remember kind moments. They can write or draw about how they helped someone, how someone showed kindness to them, or times when they noticed someone being thoughtful.

Getting started with a kindness journal can be simple.

Younger children can use a notebook or sketchbook to draw or write about moments. Older kids can add more detailed reflections, such as describing how helping someone made them feel, what challenges they faced, or what they might do differently next time.

15. Reflect on kindness

Reflection helps kindness become more intentional since it gives children a chance to think about their actions and understand the impact on others.

Parents can ask questions like, “What was one kind thing you did today?” or “How did someone show kindness to you?” This helps children slow down and connect kind actions to the positive feelings they create.

Tips to Encourage Kids to Practice Kindness

Helping children be kind starts with the adults around them. When we show that we believe in our children’s ability to be kind, it lays the foundation for them to follow suit.

Below are some ways to encourage kindness as a daily habit:

Model kindness in your own actions

Our behaviors have a big influence on how children learn to treat others. Kids are constantly watching how the adults around them speak and handle frustration.

Let your child see you check in on someone, offer help, or speak kindly, even when you’re feeling stressed.

Talk about kindness often

Talk about kind actions you notice at home, at school, in books, or in real life.

Here’s an example: let’s say you’re in a restaurant and you notice the server being especially thoughtful or patient. You might say to your child, “That was so kind of them to make sure we had everything we needed.”

This simple habit helps children understand that kindness is not limited to one place or occasion.

Praise kindness behaviours

Intentionally notice and name the thoughtful things your child does. This could be sharing their toys with a sibling or including a neighbor or classmate who feels left out.

The key is to be specific so your child understands exactly what they did well. Instead of saying “Good job,” try something like, “I noticed you included your classmate in the game. That was such a kind thing to do.”

Be patient and consistent

Some days, children may naturally show empathy and patience, while other days they may struggle with sharing or staying calm during frustration. This is completely normal. Learning kindness is a process.

It helps to give your child daily reminders like, “Let’s use kind words,” or “How can we help someone today?” while continuing to model kindness in your own actions.

The Bottom Line

I hope this article has given you some simple, realistic ways to help your child practice kindness. As a final note, why not start with just one activity from the list that feels easy and doable right now?

And if you’re looking for more ways to support their emotional growth, be sure to check out our Character Education Worksheets collection for activities focused on empathy, patience, gratitude, and more.

References:

1. Jiang, X., Wang, Y., & Green, A. B. (2025). Kindness in Children and Adolescents: Conceptualization and Interventions. Encyclopedia, 5(4), 213. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia5040213
2. Lanza, K., Hunt, E. T., Mantey, D. S., Omega-Njemnobi, O., Cristol, B., & Kelder, S. H. (2023). Volunteering, Health, and Well-being of Children and Adolescents in the United States. JAMA Network Open, 6(5), e2315980. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.15980
3. Shi, Y., Zhang, M., & Zhu, L. (2024). Sharing and Allocation in Preschool Children: The Roles of Theory of Mind, Anticipated Emotions, and Consequential Emotions. Behavioral Sciences, 14(10), 931. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14100931
4. Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2010). Gratitude and Well Being: The Benefits of Appreciation. Psychiatry (Edgmont), 7(11), 18. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3010965/