As a preschool or kindergarten teacher, you’ve probably said the words “Be kind” more times than you can count.
We often find ourselves reminding our students to be kind for a variety of reasons; when a friend is upset, when someone is left out of a game or when we hear unkind words being said throughout the day to each other. We talk about kindness during group time, read books about kindness, and celebrate kind choices when we see them.
The funny thing is that most of our young children genuinely want to be kind.
They’re just not always sure what that looks and sounds like.
One child wants to join a game but doesn’t know how to ask. Another child wants a turn with the train track and decides grabbing it is the quickest solution. And then there’s the child who is trying so hard to be helpful but somehow manages to make the situation even more complicated.
You know the ones I’m talking about.
Young children are still learning how to navigate friendships, solve problems, manage big feelings, and work alongside others. They don’t always arrive in our classrooms knowing how to invite someone to play, use encouraging words, take turns, or notice when a friend might need help.
And honestly, that’s exactly where our students are at when they enter our classrooms.
These are skills that develop over the year they are with us and continue on in the following years.
That’s why I’ve always believed kindness is more than something we teach explicitly, it’s something our students need opportunities to practise.
After all, we don’t expect children to learn early literacy skills, mathematical concepts, or self-help skills after hearing about them once. We know they need modelling, support, and lots of opportunities to try, make mistakes, and try again.
Kindness is no different.
This is where a classroom kindness challenge can be such a powerful tool.
A kindness challenge takes a big idea and makes it concrete for young children. Instead of simply talking about kindness, children are encouraged to actively look for ways to practise it throughout the day.
One week your class might focus on using kind words. Another week you might challenge children to invite someone to play, be a good listener, or look for ways to be helpful.
Simple. Practical. Meaningful.
And perhaps most importantly, it gives children repeated opportunities to experience what kindness actually looks like in everyday classroom life.
The goal isn’t perfection.
The goal is to help children notice kindness, practise kindness, and begin to understand how their words and actions can affect the people around them.
In this post, I’ll share 16 simple kindness challenge ideas for Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten classrooms, along with a few tips for setting up a classroom kindness challenge of your own.
How to Set Up a Classroom Kindness Challenge
The good news is that a classroom kindness challenge doesn’t need to be complicated.
In fact, I’ve found the simpler it is, the more successful it tends to be.
We have so much going on in our days that if the challenge is too big or too complicated, it can quickly become something that we have to manage rather than something our students are genuinely engaging with.
Below are the steps you could take to create your own classroom kindness challenge.
1. Choose One Kindness Focus
Start with one simple kindness challenge.
That’s it.
You might focus on:
- using kind words
- giving compliments
- inviting someone to play
- being a good listener
One challenge gives children something specific to notice and practise throughout the day or week.
2. Talk About What It Looks Like
Before introducing the challenge, spend a few minutes talking about it together.
For example, if your challenge is Invite Someone to Play, you might ask:
- What could you say if you wanted someone to join your game?
- How might it feel if someone invited you to play?
- When could we do this today?
You’ll often be surprised by the ideas children come up with when given the chance to think about it.
3. Notice Kindness in Action
This is where the magic happens.
As children play, learn, and interact, start noticing examples of the kindness challenge.
“I noticed Liam invited Harper to join his block construction.”
“Did anyone else see how Ava helped her friend pack away the puzzles?”
“That was very thoughtful when you moved over so there was room for someone else.”
The more we notice kindness, the more children begin to notice it too.
4. Reflect Together
At the end of the day or week, spend a few minutes reflecting.
What acts of kindness did we notice?
How did they help others?
How did they make us feel?
These conversations help children connect their actions with the impact they can have on others.
And sometimes they lead to the sweetest discussions.
5. Keep It Light
A kindness challenge isn’t about being perfect.
Some children will embrace it immediately.
Others will need reminders, modelling, and lots of practice.
That’s completely normal.
The goal is simply to create more opportunities for children to notice, practise, and experience kindness in everyday classroom life.
16 Kindness Challenge Ideas for Preschool, Pre-K & Kindergarten
If you’re looking for preschool kindness activities to try with your class, these simple kindness challenge ideas are a great place to start.
1. Use Kind Words
Challenge children to use friendly and respectful words throughout the day.
You might be surprised how often they start reminding each other too.
2. Give Compliments
Encourage children to notice something positive about a friend and tell them.
A genuine compliment can absolutely make someone’s day.
3. Use Encouraging Words
Let’s be honest. Learning new things can be hard.
Encourage children to support their friends with phrases such as “You can do it!” or “Keep trying!”
4. Look for Ways to Be Helpful
This one is always a favourite.
Children love having opportunities to help when they’re given the chance to notice them.
5. Help Someone Who Is Stuck
Whether it’s a tricky puzzle, a zipper that won’t cooperate, or a tower that keeps falling down, encourage children to look for opportunities to help.
6. Help Take Care of Our Classroom
Kindness isn’t only about people.
Taking care of the spaces and materials we share is another way children can show care and respect.
7. Invite Someone to Play
A simple invitation can make a huge difference to a child’s day.
8. Sit Next to Someone New
This challenge encourages children to connect with classmates they might not usually spend time with.
9. Ask Someone to Join In
Sometimes children don’t know how to enter a game.
This challenge encourages children to notice and include others.
10. Be a Good Listener
Listening is an important friendship skill.
Challenge children to listen with their eyes, ears, and bodies.
11. Share with a Friend
Sharing can be tricky when you’re four.
That’s exactly why it can be such a valuable skill to practise.
12. Take Turns
Waiting isn’t always easy for young children.
This challenge helps children practise patience and consideration for others.
13. Draw a Thank You Picture for Someone
A thank you picture is a simple but meaningful way for children to express gratitude.
14. Cheer Someone Up
Encourage children to think about what they could do if a friend was feeling sad or disappointed.
15. Show Care for Our Classroom Materials
Books, puzzles, games, and toys all last longer when children learn how to care for them.
16. Say Please and Thank You
Sometimes the simplest kindness activities are the most powerful.
These little words can have a big impact.
Final Thoughts
Kindness doesn’t grow because we did one amazing lesson on kindness. What I have seen is kindness grow through lots of small moments. When a child inviting someone into a game, or a friend sharing the last purple marker.
Someone helping another child who is struggling.
A child proudly handing over a thank you picture they worked hard to create.
Those moments matter.
A classroom kindness challenge helps create more opportunities for those moments to happen.
Not because children need to be perfect, but because they need opportunities to practise.
And the more opportunities they have to practise kindness, the more likely they are to carry those skills with them beyond the classroom.
Looking for a Ready-to-Use Preschool Kindness Challenge?
If you’d like to make setting up a classroom kindness challenge even easier, my Preschool Kindness Challenge resource includes 16 kindness challenge cards, discussion questions, display pieces, trackers, reflection activities, and teacher support materials designed specifically for Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten classrooms.
Some Kindness Resources and Blog Posts you may find helpful:
💜 Kindness Activities for Preschool
💜 9 Kindness Activities for Kids That Create a Caring Classroom
💜 10 Delightful World Kindness Day Activities for Preschool
