KIND
Looking for ways to incorporate kindness in to your child's day? Check out the kid-friendly suggestions below (no driving to pick up groceries here)!
Note - the suggestions below cover a wide variety of age ranges & encourage connection with others. I leave it up to you, the parent, to determine your comfort level with how your child connects with others. For younger kids (under 12), I suggest keeping sharing, whether live or recorded, to family & close friends. If they want to share with a wider audience, model safe & appropriate sharing by tagging certain individuals (an author or illustrator, for example) in your posts of their work. As kids get older, they may want to share with a wider audience, perhaps on YouTube or TikTok. This can be a really great outlet for them and can lead to some great connections; it also has potential negative consequences, such as trolling, which you should discuss in depth with your child before they begin posting. For more on this topic, see this article by CommonSense Media.
Note - the suggestions below cover a wide variety of age ranges & encourage connection with others. I leave it up to you, the parent, to determine your comfort level with how your child connects with others. For younger kids (under 12), I suggest keeping sharing, whether live or recorded, to family & close friends. If they want to share with a wider audience, model safe & appropriate sharing by tagging certain individuals (an author or illustrator, for example) in your posts of their work. As kids get older, they may want to share with a wider audience, perhaps on YouTube or TikTok. This can be a really great outlet for them and can lead to some great connections; it also has potential negative consequences, such as trolling, which you should discuss in depth with your child before they begin posting. For more on this topic, see this article by CommonSense Media.
HELP
- Offer to pick up mail for a neighbor who can't leave the house
- Offer to mow the lawn, do yard work or pick up dog waste
- Make a meal or treat for your family
- Donate money to a local charity. Everything helps!
CONNECT
- Write a letter, text or email to a grandparent
- Use a messaging app, Facetime or Skype to have a virtual playdate (my kids have been loving this one!)
- Use a messaging app, Facetime or Skype to play virtual charades with friends & family
- Share jokes & funny videos with family & friends.
CREATE
- Make a slideshow of old (or new) photos & share it with family. We find the app Magisto to be easy to use for kids.
- Draw or paint a picture & send it to someone (click here for links to drawing lessons).
- Record yourself playing a piece of music & share it (don't know how to play? YouTube has millions of free videos to help you learn)
- Record yourself doing a play or dance & share it
COLLABORATE
- Play a drawing game with someone. Here are 4 fun games from author Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Play with someone outside your house using a collaborative whiteboarding app like Jamboard.
- Use Google Slides or Google Docs to write a story with someone.
- Build something with a family member. Use Lego, cardboard, blocks, cards...anything goes!
- Create music, dance or sing with your family & friends.
SPREAD JOY & LAUGHTER
All of the activities already listed will spread joy & laughter to your close friends & family. But what about spreading it in your neighborhood?
- Create fun window art for your neighbors to enjoy. See some examples and get a recipe here.
- Create a "window walk" in your neighborhood. Craft hearts, flowers, rainbows, etc and put them in your windows. Encourage others to do the same, then go on a "window walk". How many can you find?
- Post a heart in your window with positive messages for our health care workers.
- Get out the sidewalk chalk and decorate your driveway or the sidewalk with positive messages and pictures.
- Post a "joke of the day" where others will see it. Have fun changing it every day!
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