A Six-Year-Old Kid’s Acts of Kindness to Inspire You

by Rhea Vitto Tabora

“How do we change the world? One act of random kindness at a time.”

Remember this dialogue from the movie Evan Almighty?

We have heard so much about some random acts of kindness. But what is it really that will inspire someone to practice it and spread the power of goodness like wildfire? How do we spark kindness and keep the light burning?

This article is special. My six-year-old son helped me with the ideas based on his personal experiences and as a genuine act of kindness, he even volunteered to write this article, typing one word at a time on my laptop! Although he asked me many times what happened to what he wrote because I corrected his spelling and edited his words.

These are the things he did over the past week, written in present tense as he would like to continuously practice them.

1. Make a handmade card with a personalized greeting. What gift can be better than something you create personally? It’s the effort that makes it more special.  
2. Donate school supplies to a nearby school with underprivileged children. We know how some poor children can barely afford a box of crayons or a good quality pencil. Make them happy with some brand new school supplies.
3. Give your dog a hug. Dogs feel lonely too. A tight hug when you come home will make them feel loved.
4. Send random messages to your relatives on Viber or WhatsApp. We have a Viber group in the family, and my little boy loves sending random messages to his grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
5. Be someone’s cheerleader. When someone accomplished something, be happy and cheer for him or her.
6. Laugh often. Treat yourself nicely. Laugh like a child, again.
7. Say “good morning.” This simple greeting can make a difference to someone who is having a bad start of the day. 
8. Say “thank you” often. Express your gratitude always.
9. Add one more piggy bank – the second one is for a good cause. My little boy got excited purchasing some crayons and pencils for their school’s charity drive. Now he would like to have another piggy bank to support his charity cause and give back to the community. How heartwarming is that for a small child to do?
10. Donate clothing. Your gently-used clothing can be somebody else’s source of comfort.
11. Help set the table for dinner. Make it a family affair. Bonding can start even before you sit around the table.
12. Do what is right. Even when no one is watching.
13. Pick up trash on the road. Some people just don’t care about Mother Earth. We need to be kind to the environment too.
14. Share what you have. Not just the extra, or the things that you don’t need anymore.
15. Before you go to bed, say a prayer for all your loved ones.
16. Let your parents know how much you love them. A hug, a message, a call will mean a lot.
17. Say “I’m sorry” when you did something wrong.
18. Say “I love you.” And mean it.

Imagine how one simple act of kindness can brighten someone’s day and make an impact to the world.

As adults, we can do better, can’t we? If a small kid can show some kindness to the world, we adults should be able to do much more.

Let’s be kind. It’s not difficult. Don’t underestimate the power of a genuine hello, a friendly smile, a caring touch.

Are you ready to put a smile on someone’s face today?