Random Act of Kindness Week

Last week was Random Act of Kindness Week at my school and one of our teachers posted a bunch of different Acts that are totally free and hardly take any time- thus making them super easy RAKs! 

I encourage you to try these at your school this week. It really did make me feel better as a person and I could also see my kiddos picking up on it and showing kindness as well. It filled all of our buckets up!

Random Act of Kindness Towards ParentsThere are few compliments more gratifying than when someone praises your child. Having someone tell you that your child has done something above and beyond is one of the best things a parent can hear. When the opportunity arises, compliment someone on the abilities or behavior of their child.
Benefits: When you praise someone’s child, you’ll also be complimenting that person on their parenting, since they are the ones who put time and effort into raising their child. Being a parent isn’t always easy and a little affirmation that you’re doing a great job raising your kids can go a long way.
Step It Up: Go out of your way to let parents know when their children have done something worthy of praise. Send home notes to parents, letting them know what he or she has accomplished or done well.

Smile at Five StrangersSmile at 5 strangers today! A sincere smile can really make a positive difference in someone’s day.· Without saying a word you are letting that person know that you see them and that they matter. People appreciate being noticed and acknowledged! ·As Plato once said, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." Encourage five strangers today by giving them each a smile!

Say "Good Morning"
Saying hello to someone, even if you don't know them, is a common courtesy. It means you are acknowledging their presence; you are saying that they are a person, too, and that they are important enough for you to say hello to.

Encourage SomeoneEncourage someone who needs it. Whether it’s a friend, sibling, parent, child or coworker, a little recognition could make a world of difference in their lives. Let them know that you are thankful for them and that you appreciate having them in your life. You can encourage someone with words, a hug, a gift or even an email or phone call. It is so simple to do; act now and go encourage someone!

Be Kind to Yourself
Be kind to yourself today and do something to treat yourself. Go visit your favorite park with your favorite book, take a long walk to relax your mind and refresh your body, grab a cup of coffee at your favorite coffee shop, maybe pick up your favorite dessert on the way home from work, take that class at the gym you've been trying to make time for or take your loved one on a date tonight...Whatever being kind to yourself looks like to you, do it today!

Make Kindness a Priority
No matter how old you are, where you live, or what you do, we all have the opportunity to make kindness a priority: to see the positive in a difficult situation, to encourage others, to listen to our friends and family, to treat others with respect and to volunteer our time, energy, and resources to help make this world a better place.