random acts of kindness

My kids and I talk about random acts of kindness and I try to give them the opportunity to show random acts of kindness each day. When kids are young, I feel that it is simple, like sharing a bite of ice cream, helping with chores without being asked, holding the door for someone at the store. A lot of it goes hand in hand with teaching them common courtesy and respect for your fellow human being. I also find lots of great advice here on raising a kind kid and here for inspiring articles!

Even though random acts of kindness is intirgrated into daily life, each holiday season I make our Christmas calendar a Random Acts of Kindness calendar and instead of filling it with treats, I fill it with ideas to bring others kindness. I got this idea from the Kindness Elves and we fashioned it into our own Kindness Angels with some creative crafting ... and Target!
I found these really great ornaments and couldn't resist, then came across little fabric wings and viola, the perfect little companion for our new family tradition!

This activity kicks off our new year, and we continue donating what we can to local and national charities, like food banks, homeless shelters, veterans, diaper banks, and animal shelters, or fill helping bags to keep in the car when we cross paths with someone in need. But not all acts of kindness have to be big gestures or big amounts of money, just a a small smile and hello will do just fine. Some other great ideas are,

visit great grand parents, help make sandwiches for a homeless shelter, donate clothes and toys to families in need, keep your local park clean, write thank you notes to the police station or firehouse, set out water and snacks for UPS, FedEx, etc, make a bird feeder, leave a ball at the park for the next kid that comes along, plant a tree, send a care package to a soldier oversees ... 

Another idea that I wanted to do one day with the family was take all our loose change and feed the street parking meters downtown, but they don't exist anymore! Ha! I did that a few times as a kid but now it's just a memory of yesteryear, along with the wall hanging land line phone and ten foot spiral cord! 

I can't tell you how excited my two were to help out with these activities, to get their hands in there and make something with the grown ups or take their own idea for coloring a picture to send to one of the "helpers" (thank you Mr. Rogers Neighborhood!) Getting to be part of the project was just as exciting to them as sending our kindness out into the world, it really leaves an impression on little minds!

So many organizations need help and I have a found that a lot of our friends are good resources when it comes to getting the low down on who is in need or who is a reliable group. I also looked up a list on PBS here to get a few ideas. Not only can you pay it forward in your community, but now there are so many groups that help around the country and the world by sharing unique housewares and jewelry, gifts that give back! Some of my favorite that I've come across are pura vida, beautiful bracelets that are daily reminders of what you want to put out into the world; Expedition Subsahara, amazing baskets and jewelry; and love your melon, great hats that give back to kids fighting cancer! Find more in this post from Real Simple!

DO SMALL THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE

xo