101 Random Acts of Kindness Ideas & A Printable

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Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day.  While I love that there is a day specifically dedicated to random acts of kindness, I think they should be done daily!  

For some people, random acts of kindness are a way of life.  They do little things to brighten others days without ever asking for any acknowledgment. I have a few friends who excel at this and I love being around them because they make me feel so special. 

For some of us, random acts of kindness don’t come as naturally, but we still desire to do them and to teach our kids to do them as well.  With that in mind, I’ve gathered some random acts of kindness ideas for you.

While there are tons of little things you can do every day (like hold the door or smile at a stranger), there are other things you can do that may have never crossed your mind.  

One of the things I have been working hard to do is to teach my kids to do random acts of kindness.  Most of these random acts of kindness ideas can be done with your kids! It’s great to start them thinking of others when they’re young.

In honor of Random Acts of Kindness Day, here are 101 Random Acts of Kindness Ideas for you to consider!  I’ve also included a FREE Random Acts of Kindness Printable with 52 idea…one for each week of the year! 

101 Random Acts of Kindness Ideas

1. Drop off a toy or game at a homeless shelter.
2. Tape quarters to a parking meter.
3. Tape dollar bills to toys or near toys in the Dollar Store.
4. Bring flowers to a friend or neighbor.
5. Text a friend to say you’re thinking of them.
6. Send a card or handwritten note to a friend.
7. Visit a nursing home.
8. Take cookies to the local fire station.
9. Take brownies to the local police station.
10. Compliment a stranger.
11. Pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru line.
12. Send paper thank you notes. These free printable thank you notes are perfect for teaching your kids how to write thank you notes.
13. Let someone who seems rushed cut in front of you in the checkout line.
14. Hold the door open for someone.
15. Tweet a genuine compliment to someone.
16. Cook a meal or do a load of laundry for someone going through a hard time.
17. Buy a meal for a homeless person.
18. Send an email or write a note to an old teacher thanking them for their impact on your life.
19. Leave a nice server the biggest tip you can afford.
20. If you sponsor a child, write a note to them and send a bookmark or something special with it.
21. Let someone merge in front of you when traffic is crazy.
22. Give away stuff for free on Craigslist!
23. Make little gift baskets for the kids in your neighborhood.
24. Buy a coffee or give a gift card for coffee to your mail carrier.
25. Write a note and put it in your child’s lunchbox. If you’re not creative, these lunchbox notes are perfect!
26. When you get good service at a store or restaurant, ask for the manager and praise the employee.  Most managers only hear the bad stuff and employees will feel special!
27. Give someone a hug.
28. Pay the toll for the car behind you.
29. Help an elderly person cross a street.
30. Offer to help a younger person with their homework or college applications.
31. Put sticky notes with positive encouraging messages on the mirrors in public restrooms.
32. Open the door for someone.
33. Smile at someone.
34. Buy an extra cup of coffee in the morning and give it to a coworker.
35. Mentor someone.
36. Invite someone who may be lonely to dinner.
37. Bring a welcome gift to new neighbors.
38. Let someone have the good parking spot you waited for.
39. Volunteer to read to kids at an afterschool program.
40. Drop off a box of groceries for a family who is struggling.
41. Write a nice comment on a blog you like.
42. Share a great book you’ve read.
43. Bring sweet treats (or healthy ones) to the office to share.
44. Donate blood to a blood drive.
45. Read to an elderly person.
46. Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
47. Donate food to a local shelter.
48. Say thank you to a janitor.
49. Send dessert to another table while you’re dining out.
50. Offer to babysit a friend’s kids for FREE!
51. Mow a neighbor’s lawn.
52. Give an umbrella to a homeless person.
53. Purchase extra cat or dog food and take it to a homeless shelter.
54. Email your boss or a teacher and tell them how much you’re learning from them.
55. Help someone carry groceries to their car.
56. Help someone change their tire.
57. Help a friend move.
58. Wash someone’s car.
59. Make two lunches and give one away.
60. Share a piece of gum.  Better yet, give someone a whole pack.
61. Smile at a stranger.
62. Leave some extra quarters in a public laundry facility.
63. If you print an internet coupon before going to a store, print a few extra and share.
64. Donate a small sum of money to a charity you love.
65. Grant a foster child’s wish.
66. Make a microloan through Kiva.
67. Leave a letter in a library book.
68. Leave a popcorn surprise on a DVD rental machine.
69. Donate new pajamas to foster kids.
70. Donate socks to your local homeless shelter. (This is typically one of the things on their most needed list.)
71. Bring flowers to a teacher or co-worker.
72. Give extra school supplies to a teacher.
73. Leave heads up pennies on the sidewalk. (You’ll most likely make a child’s day!)
74. Offer to babysit for someone whose spouse is deployed.  There are so many great ways to support the family of deployed military.  Check out Operation Homefront.  They provide emotional and financial support for the families of Service Members and Wounded Warriors.
75. Call an old friend!
76. If your child mentions a child at school that is often bullied or teased, set up a play date with that child.
77. Become a Big Brother/Big Sister.
78. Stop at a kid’s lemonade stand and buy something. Leave them a big tip! 🙂
79. Become an organ donor.
80. Send a care package to a soldier.
81. If you notice a child being well-behaved, compliment them and their parents.
82. Bake a cake for someone’s birthday.
83. Shovel the snow off a neighbor’s driveway and sidewalk.
84. Offer a ride to someone who doesn’t have a car.
85. Go support a friend’s kids at one of their events.
86. Adopt an animal from a shelter.
87. Donate used towels or sheets to a shelter.
88. Give your boxes to someone who is moving.
89. Donate art supplies to a local family shelter. Most of those kids will be thrilled to do crafts.
90. Volunteer to do crafts or homework with the kids at a local shelter.
91. Say “Thank You” on a regular basis!
92. Make extra copies of the photos you take and send them to the people who are in them.
93. Be a good listener…even when you don’t want to be.
94. Compliment people in front of others.
95. Let someone else have your seat on a crowded bus, train, or subway ride.
96. Volunteer to teach senior citizens computer skills.
97. Donate a dollar the next time a cashier asks.
98. Buy from a child who is involved in a fundraiser.
99. Tape a few extra quarters to the front of a vending machine.
100. Leave a paperback book or magazine at the doctor’s office.
101. Return your cart (and someone else’s) to the front of the store instead of leaving it in the parking lot to get snowed on and rained on.

Get Your Free Random Acts of Kindness Ideas Printable Below!