Tag: kindness

From buying a coffee for the person in line behind you to picking up litter at your local park, small acts of kindness can be just as meaningful as grand gestures. Sure, it can be easy to get caught up in the busyness of everyday life, but being able to spot opportunities to do something nice for someone else can have a positive impact on yourself and others.

Performing random acts of kindness any time of year can make a difference, but if you’re not sure where — or when — to start, might we suggest Random Acts of Kindness Week, which this year is celebrated from Feb. 11-17. The idea behind the week-long celebration is to encourage people to look outside themselves and do something helpful for their fellow man, and then to carry that spirit throughout the rest of the year, until we, as its tagline says, “make kindness the norm.” This random act of kindness can run the gamut, from complimenting a stranger to leaving inspirational notes around town to buying a gift for someone when they were least expecting it.

4 ways performing small acts of kindness is good for us (and those around us)

Being kind has a lot of benefits, both psychological and physical. Here are four ways that performing random acts of kindness can actually make us feel better, and make the world a better place.

1. Performing random acts of kindness boosts our mental health

When we do something kind for someone else, it naturally lifts our mood. “Not only do random acts of kindness help the receiver feel better, but they also help the giver feel better,” says Dr. Rachel Goldman, clinical psychologist and assistant clinical professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. “Participating in simple acts of kindness without expecting anything in return stimulates the reward center of your brain and releases the feel-good hormones, serotonin and dopamine, as well as endorphins,” Goldman says.

2. Performing random acts of kindness improves our physical health

Exhibiting kindness is not just good for our minds but our bodies as well. When we consistently do things that put others before ourselves, it lowers our blood pressure and cortisol, a hormone that directly impacts stress levels. Evidence also shows that being kind contributes to our sense of community and belonging, and that, in turn, can lead to us living longer, healthier lives.

3. Performing random acts of kindness can make us feel more connected

Another unexpected power of performing random acts of kindness is that it can improve our social skills and broaden our social support system. When we express consideration for others, it can cause our bodies to increase production of oxytocin, a hormone that enhances our feeling of connection to each other. “It can also increase one’s self-confidence and even self-worth, as well as their sense of belonging,” Goldman says.

4. Performing random acts of kindness helps spread good in the world

It’s clear that small gestures can brighten someone’s day, but it doesn’t have to end there: The impact of showing compassion can extend far beyond the act itself. When you perform a random act of kindness, you can inspire others — the recipient, those who may have witnessed it — to repeat your good deed, which in turn contributes to a more positive community.

25 ways to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week

Below is a list of random acts of kindness to help you spread smiles this Feb. 11-17, and throughout the year.

1. Text a loved one that you’re thinking about them.
2. Run an errand for a busy family member.
3. Bring your doorman a hot cup of tea.
4. Send a loved one a handwritten letter.
5. Send someone flowers just because they’re on your mind.
6. Let someone go in front of you at the checkout line.
7. Volunteer at an animal shelter, food pantry, senior living center, etc.
8. Bake cookies for your neighbor or local fire or police department.

9. Send a care package to a service member.
10. Put coins in an expired parking meter.
11. Give someone your seat on a crowded bus or train.
12. Pay the toll for the car behind you.
13. Return shopping carts at the grocery store.
14. Pick up litter at your local park.
15. Donate to a charity.
16. Write your partner a list of things you love about them.
17. Compliment a colleague to your boss.

18. Shovel snow for an elderly neighbor.
19. Rake your neighbor’s leaves.
20. Write a thank you note to a teacher.
21. Babysit for a busy parent for free.
22. Leave a positive review for a business you love.
23. Give an extra generous tip.
24. Buy a hot meal for someone in need.
25. Share a positive quote online.

“Being kind” is one of the core values of our society. But, as every parent knows, kindness is something that must be actively taught and fostered starting at a young age.

“Kindness is a critical aspect of social-emotional development,” notes Sally Macaluso, early childhood educator and founder of the parenting resource blog Tenderhearted Teacher. “Teaching a child kindness, compassion, empathy, mindfulness, and other social-emotional learning (SEL) skills in early childhood can help them continue these practices in adulthood.”

While there are many formal ways to teach these skills, setting a good example, Macaluso says, is among the best. “Ultimately, one of the most effective ways to teach a little one — about any topic, really — is through modeling. Kindness is no different,” she says.

In other words, children look to adults to learn what kindness is and how to express it. This means that grown-ups, as caregivers and community members, have the power to show them that kindness lives in the little moments that happen every day and that these little moments can add up to a lifetime of positive experiences and healthy connections. Choosing to smile at a stranger, take a deep breath before losing our temper, or offer the last piece of cake to a friend are small ways we can show kindness in our daily lives.

A week dedicated to kindness

Random Acts of Kindness Week, celebrated this year from Feb. 11-17, was started in 1995 by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation in Colorado with the goal to “make kindness the norm.” Macaluso notes, “While kindness isn’t a time-specific concept, parents and caregivers can certainly use Random Acts of Kindness Week as a jumping-off point to talk to children about what it means to be kind.” Setting aside time to celebrate with kids highlights how important the topic is and supports the organization’s mission of connecting all people through kindness.

5 ways to celebrate National Random Acts of Kindness Week

When it comes to modeling kindness, no act is too small. The ideas below are meant to spark valuable conversations about the many ways kindness positively affects both the giver and receiver. They encourage children to be themselves and celebrate the week in ways inspired by their unique personalities. And, hopefully, they motivate kids to take the lessons they learned and carry them with them throughout their lives.

1. Help our four-legged friends (and their owners)

A great way to show kindness is by volunteering at or donating to a local animal shelter. Macaluso mentioned that one year her students visited a local shelter to donate pet supplies and drop off a homemade poster thanking the staff and volunteers. Another idea is asking around the neighborhood or on social media if any pet owners in your community need their animals walked or fed while they’re home alone during the week. You can also consider buying a gift for the pet lover in your life.

2. Give the gift of nourishment

Cooking and delivering meals or home-baked cookies to a friend or loved one is a thoughtful act. “The way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, so what better way to show someone you’re thinking of them than with a yummy gift?” Macaluso jokes. “I can say with certainty that it always brings a smile to my face whenever a student surprises me with a sweet treat made with care.” She adds that you could also bring a prepared meal or baked goods to a local fire department, hospital, or senior citizens center. Random acts of kindness don’t have to be extravagant — they just have to come from the heart.

3. Clean up their community

Consider having them collect and dispose of trash at a local park or public greenway. You can also have them help older folks tidy up their yard or shovel their driveway, if it’s recently snowed. If weather permits, Macaluso also suggests leaving positive messages in sidewalk chalk for frontline workers and first responders in public places. “These thoughtful acts are appropriate any time of year, to spread kindness and joy throughout our communities,” she notes.

4. Express their feelings through words, pictures, or presents

Little ones crave personal connection. Help them reach out to a person they miss by crafting a handwritten letter, creating an original piece of art, or sending flowers. “We live in a time when staying connected to others is easier than ever,” Macaluso says. “No matter the distance, your child can share a heartfelt message or send a handmade gift to let someone know they’re thinking of them.”

5. Thank a favorite helper

Educators play a large role in modeling behavior, too. Encouraging your child to thank the people who make their day great is an easy gesture that goes a long way. Have them write or decorate a thank-you card to their favorite teacher, staff member, or athletic coach to show their appreciation. Macaluso says, “This simple gesture explaining how this person has made a positive impact on their life can instantly lift someone’s spirits.”