5 Ways to Celebrate World Kindness Day

Some may be tentative about embracing Friday the 13th, fearing that it might be one of the most unlucky days of the year. However, for those who believe that the glass is half full and that there is no such thing as bad luck, Friday, November 13th will be celebrated with great joy as it’s also World Kindness Day: A global 24-hour celebration dedicated to paying-it-forward and focusing on the good.

With Thanksgiving on tap, World Kindness Day is a great way to get your kids and family thinking about how they can expend their energy doing nice things for others—just because.

Here are five ways your kids can get involved.    

#1. Send a Note of Gratitude

With today’s high-tech world, it’s almost a thing of the past to send snail mail. Take the opportunity of World Kindness Day to sit down with your family and write handwritten notes of gratitude to special people like a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a babysitter, or someone else who they are fond of.

A suggestion from the folks at World Kindness Day is to take the following phrase and fill in the blanks. You might even suggest your child do this for each of his classmates.

“I’m so glad you’re my ________. Every time I think about you, I feel ________. You probably don’t know this, but I’ve always admired ___________ about you. I wanted to take the time to tell you, because ___________.  Just know you have a fan out there in this crazy world and I appreciate you so much!

#2. Send a Positive Text

Sit with your family after dinner and chat about some of the friends and family members you don’t connect with nearly enough. Next, come up with list of names you can send a warm text to and each of you can reach out to a couple of different people. Let your kids come up with little jokes or funny comments that will let these special people know that you are thinking of them and that they are special to you even though you don’t see them as often as you’d like.

#3. Treat Your Neighbors

November can often be the time of year where families start to stress a bit more—the school year is now well underway and activities and homework become more time consuming; it’s the pre-holiday season where the hustle and bustle of life gets more hectic; it’s the beginning of cold and flu season so many families are knocked down for the count with illnesses; and the days are shorter and the nights much longer so fresh air and sunshine are now minimal. This is the perfect time to offer an unexpected treat to one of your neighbors, child’s teacher, or even the mailman. Have your child brainstorm a fun and tasty treat you can make and surprise some of their favorite peeps with. A simple plate of chocolate chip cookies or a loaf of pumpkin bread can spread kindness that will really mean a lot.

#4. Share a Smile

The world can always use more smiles and laughter. Express to your child how simply sharing their beautiful smiles with others is not only easy and free, it might unknowingly have a tremendous impact on a recipient’s day who is really struggling and having a hard time.  

#5. Make a New Friend

We can all use wonderful friendships in our lives, especially during the lonely times. Not all kids make friends easily. Encourage your kids to reach out to one or two kids in their class that they don’t usually hang out with, particularly if there are kids who don’t always have someone to eat lunch with or play with at recess. They can become positive role models for other kids in their classroom to do the same and plenty of budding new friendships could form from this kind and thoughtful gesture.

How are you celebrating World Kindness Day? Let me know on the Mighty Mommy Facebook page.