#ExploreTheGood #MakeKindnessTheNorm #RandomActsofKindnessDay
We are upholding this annual tradition of celebrating kindness because we know everyone can use more kindness in their lives. Scientific evidence shows us the positive effects of doing kind acts for others as well as receiving or even witnessing kindness. Even the smallest act of kindness can change a life.
In 2021, we encourage everyone to Explore the Good and Make Kindness the Norm.
Stories come to us on a daily basis. They are beautiful and heartwarming, but mostly they give us hope. We hear of seemingly insignificant moments where a stranger helps another stranger and impacts the rest of their life with a small gesture. When we tune into kindness happening around us, the day seems a little bit brighter. The week seems a little more manageable.
These stories are nothing new or unique. They are YOUR stories. They are OUR stories. Help us Make Kindness the Norm by spreading it in the simplest ways.
Here are three things you can do to get ready for #RandomActsOfKindnessDay:
1. Check out RAKs annual kindness calendars for both work and home and start a daily habit of kindness:
2. Print this year’s colorful 11x17" Random Acts of Kindness Day poster and canvas your community making others aware of the upcoming celebration.
3. Print this year’s black and white coloring page and add your own color and creativity to the Random Acts of Kindness Day Poster.
Share your finished creation on social media and our private Facebook community of RAKtivists.
Here are some fun activities you can do each day of Random Acts of Kindness Week:
Start with an empty jar & decorate it however you'd like. Every time you witness an act of kindness, write it down and place the memory in the jar. Collect memories, observations and unexpected surprises of kindness throughout the week.
On the last day of kindness week, Saturday, February 20, 2021, empty the jar and reflect back on the kindness you experienced, witnessed, or perhaps performed yourself.
Keep the jar going and continue to Explore the Good throughout 2021 and help Make Kindness the Norm.
Find your favorite pen and two nice pieces of paper.
Write a letter to someone who has changed your life for the better. Tell them how they have helped you. Then send it.
Next, write a letter to yourself. Describe all your strengths, skills, values, behaviors and actions that have gotten you to where you are. Seal it in an envelope and put it somewhere that you’ll find later when you really need to hear those words.
Gather items to create a blessing bag for a temporarily displaced resident. Once complete, put in a vehicle you often travel in or your backpack to hand out to the next person who could use a lift me up.
Items to include: Socks, to go wet wipes, travel size tissue, chapstick, face mask(s), travel toothbrush & toothpaste, pads/tampons, small first aid kit, hat, gloves, protein bars, instant oatmeal packets, ready-to-eat cans w/ tab open lids, cash (trust your gut). Place items in a large plastic gallon bag that zips closed or find a plastic water bottle to put items in.
When handing to the recipient don’t forget to make eye contact and smile as human connection helps us all remember to Explore the Good and help Make Kindness the Norm. A few things to consider: don’t include religious literature, please do not throw from your car, and always go with someone else when delivering.
Download this worksheet and list five day-to-day activities you do. Then, next to each activity, write a way you can do the same activity, but with an added element of kindness.
For example, "Floss & brush teeth" might get transformed into "Think of five things I'm grateful for while flossing and brushing." This is an excellent exercise to think of ways to incorporate kindness (for others and yourself) into your daily routine.
If you come up with any clever ideas, please post it to social media with #explorethegood and #makekindnessthenorm to inspire others.
Visit www.careforthree.com and follow the instructions for creating three notes with a short personalized message. Decorate and personalize anyway you want.
We love the power of three. Put your notes out into the world for friends, family or strangers to receive. Let’s remind someone that they are not alone and we are in this together!
Take $5 dollars (even a $1 dollar will work) and within the next 24 hours make a difference with one or five dollars.
Join our RAKtivist community and see how other kindness champions are making a difference with a dollar in their communities.
At The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, we follow a simple kindness framework for everything we do. One of the last steps in that framework is to reflect on how kind acts affect others and yourself.
We are hopeful that thinking back to those good thoughts and feelings you experienced this week will lead to including kindness more in our daily lives.
Even though our kindness celebration is over, you don't have to stop being kind! Commit to doing one small act of kindness each day! You can help make kindness the norm!
Be sure to explore our collection of kindness resources below to inspire you throughout the year.
In 2021, we encourage everyone to Explore the Good and Make Kindness the Norm for Random Acts of Kindness Day. Here is a handy participant toolkit that contains everything to need for a fun week.
Grab these fun images and update your profile images for RAK Day and share the daily activities with your friends & colleagues.
Don't just expect kindness from your kids—teach them! We have taken our CASEL approved, highly effective, evidence-based Kindness in the Classroom® social emotional learning curriculum and made it better. By including a focus on equity, teacher self-care, and digital citizenship, we are excited to share a more engaging, relatable, and inclusive curriculum.
Get Started K-5 Get Started 6-8
See our other resources for schools below...
Transform your workplace with our FREE 12 month kindness calendar. The calendar features monthly themes structured to create a kinder work culture. Each month offers daily ideas for individuals to complete in a few minutes or less. On top of the daily ideas, there is a team-based idea that can be used to celebrate kindness each month as a team!
Download 2021 CalendarSee our other resources for the workplace below...
A poster showing various ways you can be kind while at work. Hang this in the break room to inspire your team!
Recognize your teammates for their kindnesss by presenting them with a Kindness Award Certificate.
Start a fun game of Kindness Tag in your office where you do anonymous acts of kindness for your teammates.
We've designed a fun kindness challenge to help make kindness the norm™ at home & in your neighborhood. Your challenge (if you choose to accept it) is to complete a series of kindness activities to fill in 60 'hearts'. Each act of kindness is worth one, two or three 'hearts' based on how challenging they are: one-heart activities are quick and easy, two-heart activities are more involved, and three-heart activities are challenging & will take more time.
There's a good mix of activities: various random acts of kindness meant to be done in your home & neighborhood, writing prompts, self-care activities and fun coloring pages too. You choose which activities to do and when to do them—so no pressure. Just do the ones that sound fun to you.
Can you complete the challenge & fill in all 60 hearts?
You can also download a paginated PDF so you can make your own booklets at home. Click here for details.
