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Kindness Countdown to the Holidays

Festive Decorations

A Kindness Countdown to Christmas Calendar is a fun way to spread holiday cheer and focus on giving without buying presents. We offer these ideas to help you create your own Kindness Calendar, or to celebrate the Eight Nights of Hanukkah, the 12 Days of Christmas, or ring in the New Year. There are two lists, one for adults and one for children, but we encourage you to use this as a starting point and be creative!

You can create a calendar, or simply write each idea on a piece of paper and draw them from a hat or bowl each day!

Adult List

  1. Tell someone what you appreciate about them

  2. Donate something you don’t need

  3. Do a chore or favor for someone

  4. Smile at everyone you see today

  5. Connect a charity to your Amazon account

  6. Clean up a mess you didn’t make

  7. Send a handwritten note to someone

  8. Pay someone an unexpected compliment

  9. Send a message of encouragement to someone who needs it

  10. Do something to make your home feel festive

  11. Forgive, or apologize to, someone

  12. Leave a surprise for someone

  13. Try not to complain about anything for the whole day

  14. Reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while

  15. Ask someone how their day is going, and listen

  16. Share food with someone who needs it

  17. Write a positive review for a business online

  18. Ask someone else to engage in random kindness

  19. Let someone else take the first turn

  20. Leave an encouraging note in a public place

  21. Pick up some litter

  22. Do something kind for yourself

  23. Pay a stranger a compliment

  24. Next time you eat out, leave an extra big tip

  25. Sit down with your family so everyone can say what they’re thankful for

Children's List

  1. Tell someone why they’re great

  2. Say “hello” to someone new today

  3. Smile at everyone you see today

  4. Read a book with someone

  5. Help someone clean up today

  6. Pay someone an unexpected compliment

  7. Think of a way to show a parent that you love them

  8. Give a sibling a big hug or a kiss

  9. Leave a surprise for someone

  10. Draw a picture for someone special

  11. Call or write to someone you care about

  12. Try not to complain about anything for the whole day

  13. Ask someone how their day is going, and listen

  14. Tell a grandparent that you love them

  15. Help a friend at school today

  16. Clean up a mess you didn’t make

  17. Spend some special time with a pet

  18. Pick up some litter

  19. Take a little surprise to your teacher

  20. Do something kind for yourself

  21. Write a thank you note for your mail carrier

  22. Make someone laugh

  23. Let someone else take the first turn

  24. Help make dinner

  25. Sit down with your family so everyone can say what they’re thankful for

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