Random acts of kindness ideas
Some people are naturally kind and will take part in doing random acts of kindness to others. I think it’s a lovely thing to do. Many of these actions can be free to do, but still create a feeling of peace and happiness for the person giving their time or token of kindness. Here I’m sharing random acts of kindness ideas that anyone can do.
For those on the receiving end, hopefully they feel an instance of happiness as well, it may even last for longer. If you’re lucky it might encourage them to pass on their own act of kindness to someone else.
There’s even a national Random Acts of Kindness Day. It was started in New Zealand who hold their day on 1st September. In the US, it’s 17th February. But other countries have their own version at different times of the year.
But why stick to a specific day. It doesn’t take much to offer something positive to either someone you know or a stranger.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
Aesop
40 ideas for random acts of kindness
- Hand out packs of seeds to people to grow
- Leave books in random places saying ‘read me’ – you can use book crossing to track them.
- Give a compliment to a stranger
- Let someone in front of you in a queue
- Go litter picking
- Give blood
- Hand out flowers in the street
- Bake cookies or leave candy canes outside your door for delivery people or neighbours.
- Make extra dinner then take some to a local homeless person
- Pay for the person behind you in the queue
- Let someone jump the queue ahead of you.
- Donate to a local playgroup or nursery school
- Buy an extra coffee and hand it to the next person you see
- Donate or buy some text books or stationery for a local school.
- Offer to pick up groceries for an elderly person near you
- Offer to take someone else’s shopping trolley back to the trolley park.
- Offer to walk someone’s dog for them
- Write a handwritten note or thank you card.
- Take time to listen to someone
- Call someone who isn’t expecting you to call.
- Take in or bake cakes for work colleagues.
- Offer your skills to help others – give music lessons, teach a craft, or help with some gardening
- Forgo your favourite tv show, by letting others have control of the tv for the day.
- Put on a mini concert or recital at a local old people’s home or hospice.
- Do chores you don’t ever do and without being ask to.
- Give your umbrella to someone without one in the rain.
- Help clear snow from people who struggle to do it themselves.
- Water someone else’s flowers
- Take time to listen to someone who needs it
- Visit elderly people in a home
- Always take your supermarket schools vouchers and give them to the person in the queue behind with children for their school
- Babysit for friends with a new baby
- Offer support to a small online business by sharing their social media content or website with friends.
- Donate food to a food bank
- Paint someone’s nails who doesn’t have time or money for a manicure
- Compliment a parent who’s out near you with their children.
- Help at a fundraiser
- Donate unwanted school uniform to the school as a full set for a child who needs it.
- Paint stones with positive words and leave them for people to find.
- Give way and let pedestrians cross when it’s busy traffic and they’re not getting across the road.
“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”
Scott Adams
Obviously many of these random acts of kindness are for any age to do, but some are easier for children to do. If you’re looking for kid specific ideas, then check out Becky’s list at A Beautiful Space.
Do you try random acts of kindness or have you ever experienced anyone offering kindness to you?
What would you add to this list?