6 Arts & Crafts to Spread Kindness
Summer is here! And with it, brings many opportunities for creative acts of kindness. To get you started, here are some of our favorite summer kindness adventures that are full of arts and crafts.
Spread Some Happiness!
Ask your kind kid if they have noticed, if there is anyone that they have seen who might be having trouble making friends (perhaps at summer camp) or if a neighbor or family member has been feeling blue. If so, then send them a happiness kit. Start with an old shoebox, mug, or a spare basket. (Maybe you can rescue a cardboard box before it makes it to your recycling bin!) Next, prompt your kid to fill it with a few things that you think might bring this person joy. Consider including a joke book, a mug with a smiley face on it, some fresh fruit, a kindness rock (see Adventure #46) or other items they think the person might enjoy. Finish it off with a handwritten note of kindness to the person who is feeling blue. When it’s all ready, have your kind kid leave it in a place where they know their friend will find it.
Check out Adventure 10 in the book or this free printable for more inspiration and information on this adventure!
2. Make Homemade Bird Feeders
If your kind kid enjoys hearing the birds chirp outside your window each morning, this next adventure’s for you. Making homemade bird feeders is a fun way to get to know which birds are native to your area and a great way to help little winged friends when their food sources are scarce in the wintertime. This adventure’s good for the environment too, as bird feeders can be made using all-natural items from your yard or recycle bin.
Check out Adventure 27 in the Adventures in Kindness book or this free printable for more details on this adventure!
3. Write a Letter and Draw a Picture to the Author of Your Favorite Book
There’s nothing more special than telling someone how much they mean to you. If there’s a book that your kind kid just loves or a book that they hoped would never end, set up an activity for them to write a letter to that author and tell them how their book made them feel. You can usually find the mailing or email address for the author in the front or back of the book, alongside the name of the publishing company. If that doesn’t work, you can email the publisher and ask if they can pass your letter on to the author.
Check out Adventure 31 in the ‘Adventures in Kindness’ book for more details on this adventure!
4. Interview an Older Relative or Neighbor About Their Life Experiences
Support your kind kid in answering this question, “have you ever felt lonely?” For many aging adults—who may not have friends or family living nearby, or who may no longer drive—this is a very common feeling, and it’s often referred to as social isolation. Some reports note that close to 50 percent of older adults experience social isolation, which can lead to a greater number of falls and broken bones, hospitalizations, and many other health issues. But, by every account, a sense of community can reduce the feeling of social isolation. To help with this problem, we suggest inviting your kind kid to talk with an older person and interview them.
We suggest that your kid chooses a person at least 65 years old. Then, they can come up with a list of questions. They can ask questions about their subject’s experiences as a child, as a young adult, and as an older adult. During the interview, they can record the interview using a journal or an audio recorder to make sure they have captured everything that their subject shares. Then they can write or type up the interview. Your kind kid can even give them a copy when they are done—the interviewee will probably like that it is written down! Feel free to take pictures, if they are comfortable with it or draw pictures of the stories and events that they described. Not only is this a great way to learn about people who have lived experiences different from your own, but it’s a kind gesture for someone who might live alone and may not have as many chances to socialize with family and friends. Here are some questions that might help to guide your interview.
Check out Adventure 38 in the ‘Adventures in Kindness’ book for more information on this adventure!
5. Spread Joy with Kindness Rocks
Does your kind kid love to spread happiness around like sunshine? This is a simple adventure that can do just that! Start by heading outside and collecting some small, smooth rocks from around your yard or neighborhood. Wash and dry them well and then cover them with a full coat of paint. When the paint has dried, use a separate paint color or marker to add words of happiness and encouragement to each rock, such as “you are loved,” “kindness rocks,” “today’s the day,” “stay positive,” or “be brave.” Once the rocks are ready, your kid can deliver them to people in and around your school, neighborhood, or camp: teachers, bus drivers, school counselors and friends. They can either leave them in places where their friends and family will find them or give them directly as gifts. Either way, they'll know that they are spreading sunshine to anyone on the receiving end.
Check out Adventure 46 in the ‘Adventures in Kindness’ book for more information on this adventure!
6. Write a Thank You Letter to Overseas Troops or First Responders
Discuss with your kid, if they have ever been far from home and felt homesick, just wishing they could be in their bed or around their favorite things. For members of our military as well as first responders to natural disasters, they are often far from home for very long periods of time and homesickness is common. That’s why we love Operation Gratitude which has delivered more than 2.5 million care packages and gratitude boxes to active members of the military, veterans, first responders, and military families since its founding. Each care package is filled with items donated by grateful Americans and service-friendly companies who want to express their support for heroes serving overseas and here at home. Your kid can then work with your family or community to host an Operation Gratitude collection and show their thanks in a special way to service members overseas and first responders here at home. Your kind kid can write a letter or draw a picture to be included with these packages and spread some kindness all over the world!
Check out Adventure 53 in the ‘Adventures in Kindness’ book or more details on this adventure!
Looking for more adventures like these? Our Adventures in Kindness book contains 52+ impactful adventures for kids, to make kindness and compassion a daily practice and check our Everyday Kindness Kit even more inspiration for Summer activities! Use code KINDSUMMER22 to receive a free gift with your purchase!