I am trying to raise my kids to be well-rounded adults and part of that entails inspiring them to think outside of their own personal space and to help those around them. Many people are so occupied with their own drama, their own busy lives, that they forget to look around and take the time to help out a person in need. Today I’m sharing some Random Acts of Kindness Ideas to help inspire you and your children.
One simple way I encourage kindness in my children is to take time every now and again to try to make the day a little brighter for strangers. One of our favorite activities is painting rocks and leaving them for others. My kids have such a great time painting the rocks. But we have an even better time interacting with the people that are on the receiving end!
It’s been a while since we’ve had a planned day of encouraging others, so I thought I would whip up some Random Acts of Kindness cards and we could head out to do some good.
The cards I made can be standalone or they can be taped to an envelope, attached to a bag – whatever you can think up! For ours, we added two quarters to the back of the card with washi tape and taped the card to a toy vending machine outside the grocery store. We also put some drink pouches in a Mason Jar Drinking Glass and placed it in random mailboxes. Lastly, we filled a couple of baggies with Hershey Kisses, attached the card, and left them in random places!
There are so many small things you can do to help make someone smile. Do you make handmade items? How about making a few extra and leaving them around town with a RAOK tag attached? Or keep an eye out for someone’s parking meter that is running low or has expired and insert a coin.
Stop by the laundry mat and leave some change with the card and a note on the back saying “Laundry is on us today.” Or make a bouquet of wildflowers, put them in a vase and place the card in the flowers – leave them in a popular local park.
All of these examples are inexpensive and take very little energy, but can really help restore people’s faith in other humans!
This is not a strictly altruistic act. We get to feel really good about ourselves for helping to brighten someone else’s day, but it is a great reminder that there are lots of people in the world. Some are struggling, some are feeling worthless or unloved, and a small act of kindness can be just what they need!
Download the Random Acts of Kindness Cards by clicking the button below. Print onto 8.5″ x 11″ paper. Cut out and use as you please!
Remember, these are for personal use only and should not be altered.
How big are each of the little tags? We were going to make a little wooden plaque. Just need to know how big to make the wood. Thanks!
There are 4 per 8.5×11 page, so the finished tag is 5.5″w x 4.25″h. I’d love to see the finished result!
Actually, they are a tad under that measurement, so if you make the wood that size, you should be set. 😉
thanks for the info! I’m not sure if we will be able to use these yet. They are slightly larger than we were planning to use. We are thinking about a 4×4 plaque. But I will let you see our end result either way! Thanks!
Do you mind sharing what fonts you used? I love this idea, but want to customize it for Easter.
I don’t remember all of the fonts – one is KG ALL OF ME and another is Ostrich Sans. 🙂
Greetings Kim!!
I am so glad I found your blog on Pinterest and especially this post!! Its rare that you find a parent/Mom wanting their children to do good especially something like this…. I wanted to share something with you and I am so unbeliveable excited to share this with you!! I am part of a group on facebook that does that type of thing as well. We send people all over the world little or even big RAKS!! Random Acts Of Kindness as well but one of a different sort. I/We sent RAKS filled with planner related items. The reason we do that is because we decorate our planners with things such as washi tape, project life cards, stickers, stamps… All things we played with when we were kids but now we get to do it again as adults and have a reason to and cant get yelled at for it or judged for it because we are sending it to people or we are using it in our planners to help each of us become organized!!! I just thought your idea was awesome and was glad to see there were still parents involved with their children to do right in the world!!! I awesome hoped you didnt mind if i used your cards in my own RAKS to people all around the world and bring some joy to their days!!!
I Hope you have a great day!!!
Kelly
Oh my goodness, this is just darling! My daughter is sooo into the random acts of kindness mindset now, she’ll love it if I add these to her craft corner for her to come up with little packages 🙂 Thank you!
I love this! You’re a great mom for encouraging her and her endeavors!
September 12, 2018 …. For a number of years just before Christmas eve I would look through my own heavy clothes to see what I no longer wanted – if I didn’t find anything I would go a local thrift shop & purchase something heavy in the way of a sweater or jacket, sometimes a blanket & take it home & wash it & dry it … then I would do some baking. I’d find some kind of a dish & put fruit, bread, cookies, tea bags or hot chocolate wraped in a clear bag. Then I would get a bigger plastic bag – see through – to put the sweater or jacket in & then had the bag of goodies inside on top of the sweather/jacket … I would take it with me on an early evening walk on Christmas eve & find a place to put it along a walkway, or hand it from a tree, or leave it at the beach or if you see an empty makeshift place – I would leave it there … there are usually signs that someone frequents the area for a place to stay … I would leave a note inside the bag & wish for them to have a good Christmas & a great new year & put my first name … I would say a prayer that whomever was in need would find it … On Christmas Day I would go for a walk to where i left it – it was always gone & I always gave thanks … I think it is something good to do for any holiday or Holy Day … There is always a need somewhere – you usually don’t have too far to look … BLESSINGS for everyone.
What a beautiful act of kindness. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you! These are perfect!! (And I love your blog!! SO much inspiration!) Thanks for sharing!