Are you wondering what Random Acts of Kindness Week is all about? Are you curious about how to get involved? Keep reading to learn how you can celebrate Random Acts of Kindness for Kids Week.
Random Acts of Kindness Week (RAK Week) is about spreading kindness in simple, meaningful ways. It occurs each year during the week of Valentine’s Day, making it a great time to focus on love, generosity, and connection. Families, schools, and communities participate by encouraging small, thoughtful acts of kindness.
Random Acts of Kindness Week 2025 will take place from Sunday, February 9, to Saturday, February 15. This is the perfect time to expose and nurture kindness in young children.
Small acts of kindness help children develop critical social-emotional skills, such as empathy, cooperation, and compassion. The best part? These little moments add up to a lifetime of caring for others.
We have included over 70 resources below to help you plan and engage in this week’s activities.
What Is Kindness for Kids?
Kindness, through words and deeds, shows care, empathy, and respect for others. For young children, kindness can be as simple as sharing a toy, helping a friend, or offering a smile. Teaching kindness early helps children build the foundation for lifelong empathy and social skills.
What Does KINDNESS Mean? A Simple Acronym to Teach Kids
According to the Cambridge Dictionary…
Kindness is the quality of being generous, helpful, and caring about others, or an act showing this quality.
So, what does that mean? Let’s use the acronym below to help children understand the meaning of kindness.
Here’s what each letter in the word stands for:
K – Keep Choosing Kindness
Kindness is in the little things—sharing, helping, and using kind words. Even small acts can mean a lot!
I – Include Others
Everyone wants to feel welcome, so invite a friend to play, sit with someone new, or ensure no one feels left out.
N – Notice Feelings
Pay attention to how others feel. If someone looks sad or lonely, ask if they need a friend or a hug.
D – Do Something Helpful
Helping out—like holding the door, picking up toys, or saying “thank you”—shows kindness.
N – Nurture Friendships
Being a good friend means listening, sharing, and treating others with kindness daily.
E – Express Empathy
Try to understand how others feel. Ask, “How would I feel in their shoes?” and respond with kindness.
S – Show Kindness
Use kind words, gentle hands, and a caring heart in everything you do daily.
S – Spread Kindness
Kindness is like a smile—it spreads! When you’re kind, others will want to be kind too.
Why Kindness Matters in Early Childhood
Young children learn through hands-on experiences. Practicing kindness daily builds habits that shape how they treat others as they grow. Research shows that teaching kindness early helps children:
- Develop stronger friendships
- Build better emotional regulation
- Feel more connected to their community
- Learn cooperation and sharing skills
Did you know?
- Studies show that kindness boosts happiness and well-being in both the giver and receiver.
- Kindness is contagious—when children see or experience kindness, they are more likely to pass it on.
- Acts of kindness release oxytocin, the “feel-good” hormone, improving mood and reducing stress.
- Children who practice kindness regularly develop stronger social skills and emotional intelligence.
Kindness Characteristics in Young Children
Kindness is more than just being nice or saying nice words—it’s about actions, choices, and how we treat others. While young children are still learning about emotions and relationships, they can begin to show kindness in simple but meaningful ways.
Here are some qualities that kind children often display:
Empathy and Understanding – Kind children try to see things from another person’s perspective. They notice when a friend is upset and may offer comfort, even if it’s as simple as a hug or sharing a toy.
Patience and Self-Control – Waiting for a turn, listening without interrupting, and managing big feelings are all part of showing kindness. These skills take time to develop, but small moments of patience help children learn to be considerate.
Willingness to Share – Sharing isn’t always easy for young children, but they practice generosity by offering a favorite toy, splitting a snack, or including others in play.
Consideration for Others’ Feelings—Children begin to recognize how their words and actions affect those around them. They may apologize when they hurt someone’s feelings or check in on a sad friend.
A Positive and Helpful Attitude—Kind children enjoy making others feel good, whether picking up toys, helping a younger sibling, or giving a high five to celebrate a friend’s success.
These qualities don’t develop overnight, but with encouragement, modeling, and many opportunities to practice, young children can grow into compassionate, thoughtful individuals who naturally spread kindness.
Teaching kindness also strengthens social skills. Check out these helpful resources:
What are Social Skills, and Why are they Important?
Fun Social-Emotional Activities
40 Acts of Kindness for Kids
Kindness doesn’t have to be a grand gesture—it can be found in simple everyday actions!
Here are over 40 simple ways young children can practice kindness:
Friends & Family Kindness
- Ask a new friend to play.
- Complete these coloring pages and share them with a friend or family member.
- Facetime with a grandparent or other family member.
- Give a high-five to a friend.
- Give someone a big hug.
- Compliment someone.
- Help a friend put on their coat.
- Help a sibling clean up.
- Help make a meal.
- Help set the table.
- Help someone with their chores.
- Invite a friend to play.
- Let a friend go first in line.
- Let someone else choose first.
- Listen when others are speaking.
- Make a card for a grandparent or friend.
- Make a sibling’s bed.
- Offer to push a younger child on the swing.
- Hold your sibling’s hand.
- Play a game with someone new.
- Put your toys away.
- Read a book to a younger sibling.
- Say “I love you” to a family member.
- Say “please” and “thank you” all day.
- Say “thank you” to others.
- Say something kind to everyone in your family today.
- Share a snack or toy with a sibling or friend.
- Sit next to someone who looks lonely.
Community Kindness
- Donate gently used books or toys.
- Help a neighbor clean up their yard.
- Help carry groceries for someone.
- Help feed or care for a pet.
- Help water the plants.
- Help with the trash or recycling.
- Help your teacher clean up.
- Hold the door open for someone.
- Leave a small treat or note on a neighbor’s doorstep.
- Leave a thank you note in the mailbox for the mail carrier.
- Leave your teacher a thank you note.
- Make a picture for someone in your class.
- Offer to help a neighbor with a chore.
- Pick up trash in your neighborhood or park.
- Raise awareness for a charity you care about.
- Say “good morning” to everyone you see.
- Say something nice to a teacher.
- Sing a song to cheer someone up.
- Smile at everyone you see today.
- Take your pet (or your neighbor’s pet) for a walk.
- Tell a joke and make someone laugh.
- Thank a community helper with a drawing.
20 Kindness Activities for Families
Kindness starts at home! Use these fun activities to help your family practice kindness together in everyday ways.
- Bake treats to share with neighbors or friends.
- Build a bird feeder and hang it outdoors for the birds to enjoy.
- Complete the Kind Heart Project.
- Create a Kindness Scavenger Hunt List. Then, have your child complete as many kindness activities as possible over the next week. You can choose a theme, such as home, school, or community.
- Decorate a “Kindness Jar” and fill it with kind actions the family can do together. Pull one out each day or week.
- Donate gently used clothes, jackets, and blankets to a homeless shelter.
- Donate food to a food bank.
- Download these cards and play Kindness Bingo.
- Draw an encouraging message with sidewalk chalk in front of your home to uplift those passing by.
- Give your undivided attention and put away all your phones for an hour.
- Hang a whiteboard in your home to write kind messages for each other.
- Join the Kindness Challenge and complete 10 activities over the next 10 days.
- Organize a community clean-up.
- Print out these bookmarks. Color them and then donate them to your local library.
- Put sticky notes with encouraging words in places for loved ones to see.
- Read and discuss books about kindness.
- Set up a Little Free Library in your neighborhood to share books.
- Start a gratitude list as a family.
- Visit a local senior center and spend time visiting with the residents.
- Volunteer as a family at a local food pantry or animal shelter.
10 Crafts That Encourage Kindness
Kids can learn about kindness in a hands-on way by making and sharing simple crafts. These activities encourage generosity, gratitude, and thoughtfulness—whether creating a special gift, spreading encouraging words, or showing love to family and friends.
Kindness Cards: Use construction paper, stickers, and markers to create handmade cards with kind messages. Give them to friends, family, teachers, or even a neighbor who could use a smile.
Friendship Bracelets: Use yarn, or embroidery floss, and beads to make bracelets for friends or neighbors. Encourage kids to make one for someone they appreciate and include a note about why they’re special.
Kindness Rocks: Gather smooth rocks and paint them with bright colors and uplifting messages. Leave them in a park, on a walking trail, or in your neighborhood.
Hug Coupons: Cut out small paper coupons and write messages like “Good for one big hug” or “Redeem for a cuddle.” Give them to family members so they can use them whenever they need extra love.
Kindness Heart Chain: Cut out paper hearts and write kindness affirmations, such as “I choose kindness” or “Kindness is contagious.” Staple or tape them together to make a chain.
Handprint Hug Cards: Create a card with your child’s handprint and a hug message inside. Then, give the card to someone who needs a hug.
Kindness Collage: Cut out pictures from magazines or draw images of kind acts, such as helping a friend or sharing a toy. Glue them onto a large poster board to remind them of ways to spread kindness.
Helping Hands Wreath: Trace and cut out handprints, then write ways to help others on each one. Glue them into a wreath as a reminder of how kindness matters.
Compliment Chain: Write kind words about family members on paper strips and link them together. Display it as a reminder of the positive things you appreciate about each other.
Kindness Puppets: Make puppets from paper bags or socks by adding eyes, hair, and other decorations. Then, use them to act out ways to be kind, such as helping, sharing, or including others.
15 Kindness Books for Kids
Reading is a great way to explore kindness! Books help kids understand empathy, respect, and caring for others. These stories open conversations about differences, bullying, and everyday kindness, giving kids a strong foundation for growing into caring individuals.
Here are some of our favorite books about kindness.
Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer
Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev
The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
When Charley Met Emma by Amy Webb
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
We’re Different, We’re the Same by Bobbi Kates
The Kindness Book by Todd Parr
If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
What If We Were All The Same! by C.M. Harris
I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët
I Am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde
Print these kindness bookmarks to share with others or hold your place in these books.
Movies & Shows That Model Kindness
Movies can be a great way to spark conversations about kindness. While raising a kind child takes more than just watching films, the stories in these movies can help kids understand friendship, acceptance, and empathy.
They might even inspire your child’s next random act of kindness!
- Sesame Street (TV series)
- Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (TV series)
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Movie)
- The Peanuts Movie (Movie)
- Veggie Tales: Lyle, the Kindly Viking (Movie)
- My Neighbor Totoro (Movie)
- Ponyo (Movie)
- Tangled (Movie)
- Babe (Movie)
- Charlotte’s Web (Movie)
- Inside Out (Movie)
Songs about Kindness for Kids
Music is a great way to help kids understand and practice kindness. Catchy tunes and simple lyrics make it easy for young children to learn about empathy, sharing, and being kind to others. Songs can reinforce positive messages about kindness through sing-alongs, movement songs, or calming melodies.
Check out these resources for kindness-themed songs to enjoy together!
21 Kindness Quotes for Kids
It’s never too early to teach kids about kindness. Even small acts can make a big difference in someone’s day. These quotes encourage children to be kind, thoughtful, and caring in their everyday lives.
- “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Aesop
- “Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference.” – Helen James
- “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” – Henry James
- When words are both true and kind, they can change the world. – Buddha
- “You can always give something, even if it is only kindness!” – Anne Frank
- “Kind words don’t cost much. Yet they accomplish much.” – Blaise Pascal
- “Children learn kindness through experiencing kindness, not by being instructed to perform kindness.” – Rachel Samson –
- “Kindness is having the ability to speak with love, listen with patience, and act with compassion.” – RAKtivist
- Good words bring good feelings to the heart. Speak with kindness, always. -Rod Williams
- “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” – Mother Teresa
- “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear, and the blind can see.” – Mark Twain
- “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” – William Arthur Ward
- “If you see someone without a smile, give them yours.” – Dolly Parton
- “How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it!” – George Elliston
- “Have courage and be kind. Where there is kindness, there is goodness. And where there is goodness, there is magic.” – Cinderella
- “Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.” – Bob Kerrey
- “Remember, there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” – Scott Adams
- “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward.” – Princess Diana
- “Sometimes it only takes one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.” – Jackie Chan
- “How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time.” – Morgan Freeman
- “They invented hugs to let people know you love them without saying anything.” – Bill Keane.
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
The RAK Foundation is the movement’s official founder. It offers excellent tools for families and educators, including kindness bingo printables, kindness calendars, lesson plans, and community challenges.
Keep the Kindness Going!
While RAK Week happens from February 9–15, 2025, National Random Acts of Kindness Day falls separately on Monday, February 17. Unlike RAK Week, which shifts yearly to include Valentine’s Day, Random Acts of Kindness Day is always on the same date.
Think of it as an opportunity to keep kindness going! RAK Week is a great time to focus on smaller daily acts of kindness, while RAK Day allows us to choose a more meaningful gesture.
The goal is to make kindness a natural part of daily life, regardless of when or how you participate.
Even the smallest acts make a difference. A kind word, a thoughtful action, or simply including someone can make their day. By showing kindness ourselves, we help our kids learn to be caring and compassionate—one small act at a time.
Join the Kindness Movement!
We’d love to see how you’re celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Week 2025!
Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for daily kindness, inspiration, and fun! Let’s make the world a kinder place, one small act at a time. Use #RandomActsofKindnessWeek and tag us to share your kindness moments!
Remember to download our FREE Random Acts of Kindness Ideas for Kids Checklist & start today!