Christmas Kindness Activities for Kids: 25 Ideas to Spread Christmas Cheer

Christmas is exciting. There are presents to open, Christmas films to watch, decorations to put up and enough chocolate in the house to last until approximately February. But amongst all the excitement, Christmas can also be a lovely opportunity to encourage children to think about kindness, generosity and helping other people.

And kindness doesn't have to mean grand gestures or expensive gifts.

Sometimes it's helping with a chore without being asked. Leaving someone a nice note. Sharing something. Calling a relative. Or simply noticing that someone could do with a little bit of cheering up. So this Christmas, why not turn kindness into a fun family challenge?

We've put together 25 simple Christmas kindness activities for kids that can be done at home, with family, at school or as part of your Christmas countdown.

What Is Christmas Kindness Bingo?

Christmas Kindness Bingo is a simple way to turn acts of kindness into a fun challenge for children. Instead of numbers, the bingo cards are filled with different kind things to do.

Children work their way through the activities, crossing them off as they complete them. You can make it competitive by seeing who completes a row first, or simply use the cards as a fun way to encourage children to look for opportunities to be kind throughout December.

It's less about winning and more about encouraging children to notice the people around them and think about what they can do to make someone else's day a little brighter. And if a little friendly competition helps get them started, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that!

Our Christmas Kindness Bingo includes 12 unique bingo cards, making it easy to give each child their own card to work through. It's a ready-to-print activity that works well at home, in classrooms, for homeschool activities or as part of an Advent countdown.

Tap to learn more about this instant download printable.

25 Christmas Kindness Ideas For Kids

You don't need to spend lots of money or organise elaborate activities to make kindness part of Christmas. In fact, some of the simplest ideas can be the most meaningful. Here are 25 easy Christmas kindness activities to try with children this festive season.

1. Give Someone A Compliment

Think of something genuinely nice to say about someone and tell them. It could be about something they're good at, something you like about them or simply something that makes you happy when you're around them.

2. Help With A Chore Without Being Asked

Choose a job that normally belongs to someone else and get it done before they ask. Tidying your room, putting laundry away or helping with the washing up all count. Yes, even if you normally need three reminders before doing it.

3. Make Someone A Warm Drink

Make a cup of tea, hot chocolate or another favourite drink for someone in your family and take it to them as a surprise. Extra Christmas points for marshmallows.

4. Leave A Kind Note

Write a little note telling someone something you appreciate about them and leave it somewhere they'll find it. It doesn't need to be long. A few genuine words can make someone's day.

5. Share Something

Share a toy, game, snack or something else with someone without being asked. It's a simple way for children to practise generosity during a season that's often very focused on getting things.

6. Call A Relative

Is there a grandparent, aunt, uncle or another relative who would love to hear from you? Give them a call and have a chat. It doesn't need to be a long conversation. Sometimes hearing a familiar voice is enough to brighten someone's day.

7. Make Someone A Christmas Card

Make a Christmas card for someone who might appreciate a little extra festive cheer. It could be a family member, friend, neighbour or someone who might be feeling a little lonely over the holidays.

8. Help With The Christmas Decorations

Let the kids get involved with decorating the house or tree. They can arrange some baubles, make a homemade decoration or help tidy everything away afterwards.

9. Donate Something You No Longer Need

Go through toys, books or clothes and choose something that's still in good condition to donate. It's a useful way to talk to children about giving and remembering that not everyone has the same things they do.

10. Feed The Birds

Put out some suitable bird food and spend a few minutes watching the garden visitors. It's a tiny act of kindness, but it's also a lovely excuse to get outside during the Christmas holidays.

11. Let Someone Go First

Let someone else choose the Christmas film, pick the game or have the first turn. Small acts of consideration count too.

12. Help With The Shopping

Help carry the shopping, unpack the bags or put things away when you get home. Christmas shopping is hard enough without someone leaving everything in bags on the kitchen floor until New Year's Eve.

13. Make A Gift For Someone

A homemade gift can be much more meaningful than something bought from a shop. Draw a picture, make a decoration, create a bookmark or bake something together.

14. Make Someone Laugh

Tell a joke, perform a silly dance or do your best Christmas impression. Kindness doesn't always have to be serious. Sometimes making someone laugh is exactly what they need.

15. Tidy Up After Dinner

Once Christmas dinner or a family meal is finished, help clear the table without being asked. This one may be less glamorous than opening presents, but someone will definitely appreciate it.

16. Tell Someone What You Appreciate About Them

Choose someone in your family and tell them one thing you appreciate about them. It's a lovely way to encourage children to think about the people around them and say the things we sometimes forget to say.

17. Help Someone Who Is Struggling

Look around and see if there's something you can do to make someone's day a little easier. Perhaps they need help carrying something, tidying up or simply having someone to talk to.

18. Write Down Five Things You're Grateful For

Kindness and gratitude go hand in hand. Ask children to write or draw five things they're grateful for this Christmas. You might be surprised by some of the answers.

19. Give Someone A Hug

If they're happy to receive one, give someone a big Christmas hug. Sometimes a little affection is all the kindness someone needs.

20. Make A Kindness Jar

Find a jar and add little slips of paper with kind things children can do. Whenever someone needs an idea, they can pick one out. You could even keep adding ideas throughout December.

21. Thank Someone Who Helps You

Think about all the people who help make Christmas happen. Thank a teacher, neighbour, delivery driver, family member or anyone else who has helped you recently.

22. Do Something Kind For A Neighbour

Make a Christmas card, offer to help or simply wish them a Merry Christmas. Keep it simple and appropriate for your family and neighbourhood.

23. Give Someone Your Full Attention

Put the phone or tablet away, sit down and really listen while someone talks to you. It sounds simple, but giving someone your attention can be a surprisingly meaningful act of kindness.

24. Do A Secret Good Deed

Choose something kind to do without telling anyone that you did it. Leave a little surprise, tidy something up or help someone out without looking for praise. The idea is simply to do something nice because you can.

25. Choose Your Own Kindness Challenge

Let children come up with their own idea. What kind thing would they like to do for someone else?

This is a great way to finish because it encourages children to start spotting their own opportunities to be kind rather than waiting for an adult to suggest one.

How To Turn These Ideas Into A Christmas Kindness Challenge

You could simply choose one kindness activity each day throughout December.

For example, make kindness part of your Advent countdown and choose one small challenge each morning. By Christmas Eve, you'll have a whole collection of thoughtful things you've done for other people.

Or make it more of a game by writing the ideas onto slips of paper and putting them into a jar. Each day, children can pick one challenge to complete.

For families with several children, you could give everyone their own list and see how many they can complete before Christmas.

There's no need to make it a competition if you don't want to. The goal is simply to make kindness something children actively look for during the festive season.

And if they happen to get a little competitive along the way? Well, at least they're competing to see who can be the kindest.

Make It A Christmas Kindness Bingo Game

If you don't want to spend time creating your own bingo cards, we've done the fiddly bit for you.

Our Christmas Kindness Bingo includes 12 unique bingo cards, filled with simple kindness activities for children to complete throughout the Christmas season.

Children can work towards completing a row, a full card or simply see how many kind acts they can tick off. You can use the cards as a family activity, an Advent challenge, a classroom game or a fun addition to a Christmas party.

It's ready to print and use, so there's no need to spend an evening drawing bingo grids and trying to think of enough different kindness ideas yourself.

Why Try A Christmas Kindness Challenge?

The Christmas season can sometimes become very focused on presents and what we're going to receive. A kindness challenge is a simple way to shift some of that attention towards what we can give to other people.

It also gives children practical opportunities to practise things like:

⭐ Generosity – sharing and giving to others.

⭐ Empathy – noticing how someone else might be feeling.

⭐ Responsibility – helping with jobs and looking after other people.

⭐ Gratitude – recognising the good things and people in their lives.

⭐ Consideration – thinking about how small actions can make someone else's day better.

And perhaps most importantly, it shows children that kindness doesn't have to cost anything. A compliment, a helping hand, a phone call or five minutes of someone's time can all make a difference.

Christmas Kindness Activities For The Classroom

Christmas kindness challenges don't have to be limited to home. They can also make a lovely addition to a classroom Christmas countdown or end-of-term activity.

Children could choose a kindness challenge to complete during the school day, think of something kind they could do for a classmate or work together on a larger act of kindness.

You could also use the bingo cards as a fun classroom activity, with children working through their own cards and sharing some of the kind things they've done.

The best part is that the activities don't need to involve buying anything or creating lots of extra work for teachers. Kindness can be as simple as helping someone, saying thank you, sharing or making someone smile.