Kindness Activities for Kids | Empathy = A Chain Reaction

When we experience kindness, we feel good, and in turn, we want to do something kind for someone else. In this way, we use empathy, or envisioning how we might make someone else feel, as motivation to show kindness. 

In this kindness activity, kids will create a visual so they can clearly see how one act of kindness (derived through empathy and self-awareness) promotes more acts of kindness.

For this kindness activity, start by working with kids to cut different colored pieces of construction paper into strips of about eight to 12 inches in length. As you cut the paper, talk to kids about what kindness is and how it makes them feel. You can explore the various types of kindness, like kind words, actions and thoughts, and discuss how acts of kindness make us and others feel. You can also touch on how they might feel when someone does something that is not so kind.

Once you have a good rainbow of strips cut, ask kids what kind things they’ve done or experienced lately and write them on the strips of paper. Write as many acts of kindness as possible on the strips, each strip with its own example. When the kids run out of examples to write down, use tape or glue to start linking the strips into a paper chain.

As the chain is constructed, explore with kids how kindness creates a chain reaction. Discuss how one simple act of kindness can build into many acts of kindness, just as the links build to create the chain. You can also explore how being self-aware and understanding of our own feelings helps us to empathize with the feelings of others and as a result, we naturally become more compassionate.

Once you are finished adding all the strips to your chain, you can hang the chain in a play area or common space in the house where additional links can be added as kids experience and do other kind things. Empower kids to see how long they can make the chain, maybe it can even wrap all the way around the room!

Supplies List

Various colors of construction paper

Kiddo-Safe Scissors 

Markers, Crayons or Colored Pencils 

Tape or Glue 

Steps

Step 1: Cut different colored pieces of construction paper into strips of about eight to 12 inches in length until you have a good rainbow of strips. 

Step 2: As you cut, discuss with kids what kindness is and how it makes them feel.

Step 3: Ask kids what kind things they’ve done or experienced lately and write them on the strips of paper. Write as many acts of kindness as possible on the strips, each strip with its own example. 

Step 4: Use tape or glue to start linking the strips into a paper chain.

Step 5: Discuss with kids about how kindness creates a chain reaction. Talk about how one act of kindness builds into many other acts of kindness, just as the links build to create the chain. 

Step 6: Once you are finished adding all the strips to your chain, hang the chain in a play area or common space in the house where additional links can be added as kids experience and do other kind things.

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Source: Sugar, Spice and Glitter

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