Do you consciously teach kindness in your preschool classroom? How much importance do you place on teaching kindness? And what are your go-to kindness activities for kids?
I believe teaching kindness in preschool isn’t just nice to do, it’s essential. When we’re purposeful about kindness, we help our students experience what it means to be part of a caring classroom community. By weaving kindness into our daily routines, children begin to see its value, not just as a concept, but as a way of being with others.
So, what is kindness? At its heart, kindness is being friendly, generous, and considerate. But for little learners, those qualities don’t come automatically sometimes, they need to be taught, modeled, and practiced.
Before I dive into my favorite kindness activities for kids, I want to share a free resource with you: Kindness FREEBIE.
Why Kindness Is Important In The Preschool Classroom
Research shows that kindness boosts energy, optimism, and even classroom focus. When preschoolers are part of a culture of kindness, they concentrate better, learn more effectively, and even experience positive mental health benefits like reduced stress and increased happiness.
When children learn to show kindness and gratitude, they begin to appreciate what they have and why helping others matters. Purposefully teaching kindness not only builds a positive classroom culture but also shows students and parents that you deeply value community and connection.
So how do you nurture kindness in your classroom? The best way is to model it daily and give your students lots of chances to practice. That’s where these simple but effective kindness activities for kids come in, they’ll help your preschoolers see firsthand how their words and actions can make a difference.
9 Kindness Activities For Kids
There are a million different ways to teach kindness, but I wanted to share with you my 9 go-to kindness activities for kids I use in my preschool classroom. Each of these activities teaches children exactly how to be kind to others, what empathy is, and how to show appreciation to others. These activities will help your students learn how to spread kindness and be more thoughtful and kind to others.
Activity #1: Brainstorm – What Does Kindness Look Like?
Before you jump into all of the big kindness challenges and projects, you want to ensure your preschoolers understand what kindness is and what it looks like. With your students, brainstorm some ideas of what kindness looks like in the classroom, their home, playground, etc. Use open-ended discussion questions and prompts to invite your children to share what they know about kindness. What does it mean? How does it feel when someone is kind to you? Share memorable times they’ve had, when someone was kind to them, or they were kind to someone, etc.
Activity #2: Use a Sorting Activity to Look at Kindness
A sorting activity is a great kindness activity to move into after your discussion with your class. Using different pictures to help your student sort, ask them questions like:
- Is that What Kindness Looks Like?
- Does this look like a kind activity?
Including an activity like this Kindness Monster Sort allows children to see clear examples of kindness.
Activity #3: Kindness Classroom Challenges
Starting a kindness challenge is a fun way to get your students thinking about how simple acts of kindness can impact the lives of others and, in turn, bring joy to their own lives. Through daily kindness challenges created with the young learner in mind, this challenge will inspire your young students to show kindness and make it a conscious part of their day.
If you want to include a classroom kindness challenge today, check out this classroom kindness challenge perfect for preschoolers. I made sure to include everything you will need to make the kindness challenge work in your classroom.
Activity #4: Read Books on Kindness
Reading books with your preschooler is the best way to introduce and discuss kindness with your preschoolers. There are so many amazing books about kindness; it is hard to pick the best ones to share with your students! To make your life a little easier, I have gathered some great book lists on empathy and friendship and wanted to share some of the books I often use when helping my students learn all about and show kindness to others. Below are a couple of books on kindness I have used in my classroom to get my students thinking and talking about what kindness means.
A Little Spot Of Kindness By Diane Alber
The A Little Spot books are an excellent resource for your classroom. There are many to choose from, and each teaches a lesson! In this one, the little spot is on the quest to spot kindness, and you will learn how to spread kindness in everyday situations.
Kindness Is My Superpower By Alicia Ortego
This book is a great resource for teachers, and your students will start to understand others, accept diversity, accept everyone, and show empathy. Lucas is a little superhero who learns what kindness means and learns to understand what it’s like to be kind, caring, sensitive, and generous.
Pete The Cat’s Groovy Guide To Kindness By James Dean
Cool cat Pete uses well-known classic quotes from Booker T. Washington to Henry James, reminding everyone that “it’s cool to be kind.”
Activity #5: Caught Ya Being Kind
You want your students to know that you and their classmates are looking out for kindness. Whenever you or your students see a classmate completing kind acts, you may add their name and describe the random acts to a kindness jar.
Highlight your student’s kindness using awards, and invite students to share who was kind to them that day at the end of the day or during circle time!
Activity #6: Kindness Scenario Role Play
Prepare some simple scenarios to help your students understand how to be kind and show kindness. Have your students act out each scenario and discuss how they could show kindness in each one. It is always a fun activity because students love to be a part of the little “plays” and the audience to answer questions!
My students and I absolutely love using scenario cards when learning all different social skills, especially kindness. If you haven’t had a chance to download my free Kindness Scenario Cards, grab them here.
Activity #7: Kindness Crafts
Your preschoolers could make many great kindness crafts while learning all about kindness. Your students can make kindness cards for each other or adults within the school. Decorate the school with some kindness posters, or they can make simple friendship bracelets for each other.
My students absolutely loved the friendship bracelets when I showed them how to make them. I wanted to ensure you could create these easy bracelets with your students.
I created these simple friendship bracelets, which are easy to use with lots of design options. Just print the friendship bracelets, cut them out, and color them! Your students will love making them, and it’s an easy friendship craft!
Activity #8: Show Appreciation for People in The Community
A great way to help your preschoolers learn about kindness is to show it to others. Have your students write cards to important people in the community. They will learn that just one simple act of kindness, like a card, can make someone’s day.
Some people in the community, your students, could write to are:
- Lunch workers
- Postal workers
- Principal
- Doctor
- Nurse
- Sanitation Workers
Activity #9: Spread Kindness
You and your students can easily spread kindness around school! Consider starting a kindness club or creating a kindness calendar. You could make cards for the secretary, bring in some drinks and snacks for the teacher’s lounge, color in pictures and hang them on other students’ lockers. Anything to make someone smile!
Kindness Activities For Kids Resource
It can feel overwhelming to decide which kindness activities for kids will really make an impact in your preschool classroom. With so many options out there, the goal isn’t to do them all—it’s to choose activities that help your little learners truly internalize what kindness means, how it looks in action, and why it matters.
By weaving purposeful kindness lessons into your weekly plans, you’ll not only encourage friendly and considerate behavior but also create a classroom culture where every child feels valued and connected.
And if you’d love to save time with a ready-to-go plan, be sure to check out my Kindness Activities for Preschool | BUNDLE. It’s packed with done-for-you lessons and engaging activities that make teaching kindness simple, fun, and effective.
Add these kindness activities to your classroom today!
Want more ideas on teaching kindness and empathy to your preschool, pre-k or kindergarten students? Check these blog posts out:
9 Fun World Kindness Day Activities for Your Preschool Classroom
Teaching Empathy in Preschool … Why should I care?
13 Brilliant Books to Teach Empathy
What is kindness and How do You Really Teach Kindness to Preschoolers?
