How to Practice Kindness with your Kids

From Scary Mommy

 

flowers1. When you see a police officer, thank him for being on duty. This will make his day and also make your kids less afraid to approach an officer should they ever need help.

2. Pay an unsuspecting family’s dinner bill at a restaurant. Their bewildered smiles will make your heart happy.

3. Have your kids use their allowance to help pay for a waiter’s tip.

4. Fill a grocery cart with canned goods and deliver them to a local food shelter. Arrange for your kids to help unload their donations onto the shelves and watch the magic happen.

5. Write funny notes on a pad of Post-its and have your kids leave them around town. We like to use “You don’t suck!” and “Hope you are feeling groovy!”

6. Have your kids write a note to their grandparents about their favorite memories with them.

7. Wash a neighbor’s car on a summer afternoon.

8. If you are in a drive-thru line, pay it forward and purchase the coffee (or burger) for the car behind you.

9. Buy lunch for a soldier you see in an airport. Often, they are traveling with very little cash, are far from home, and are eating alone. Thank the soldier for their service.

10. Lower a flag to half-mast when a tragedy strikes.

11. Visit a nursing home or an elderly neighbor and watch as their faces light up when they see your kids. Let them tell you stories from when they were young.

12. Load groceries into someone’s car or offer to return their cart.

13. Volunteer for a local non-profit organization.

14. Give away your extra ride tickets as you are leaving a carnival. You’ll make a kid’s face smile.

15. Put flowers in a random mailbox. So much better than bills!

16. Weed a neighbor’s garden and plant some pretty flowers.

17. Use chalk to write happy messages on public sidewalks.

18. Collect can tabs and donate them to the Ronald McDonald house.

19. Bring pet supplies to a local animal shelter. And then stay to pet and cuddle animals who don’t have anyone to love them.

20. Pick up garbage when you see it. It seems small, but it makes the world a little prettier.

21. Roll down your windows at a stoplight and yell, “Have a great day!” to the car next to you. They’ll think you are crazy but they’ll smile, too.

22. Donate used books to a local library or take those hardly worn clothes to the local shelter.

23. Adopt or foster a pet.

24. Offer to take someone’s tray to the garbage at a fast food restaurant.

25. Simply say “please” and “thank you” with eye contact and a smile to everyone you meet.

Kindess isn’t hard — it’s free and it’s a choice. Practice a random act of kindness today, and you will find it not only makes someone’s day, it’ll also make yours pretty special too.

-by Christine Burke

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