How Kids' Small Actions Can Make a BIG Difference
You already know there are many ways to be kind. Helping others feels good, whether you’re teaching a younger sibling how to tie their shoes, supporting a friend who’s struggling in school study for their next test, or complimenting someone when you know they’re having a tough day.
In this article, we’ll explore why sharing your money and time through acts of kindness can be rewarding for both others and yourself, along with ways to choose charities, find volunteer opportunities, and spread kindness in your community.
Why Helping Others Feels Good
Have you ever done something nice for someone and felt a warm, happy feeling inside? When you do something good for others, your brain releases endorphins that make you feel joy. How cool is that?
In addition to this biological boost, there are other reasons people feel good when they give, including:
- Knowing that you’re making a difference. Even small acts of kindness can make big impacts. Imagine if everyone in your town picked up a piece of trash in a local park or donated $5 to a family who lost their house in a fire. These little gestures add up fast.
- Making connections with others. When you help your community, you build connections with the people around you. Volunteering or supporting an important cause with a donation makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself.
- Developing empathy. When you do things to help others, you think about their lives and the situations they face. This helps you connect and empathize with people whose lives and experiences are different than your own, while also building an awareness of how you are similar.
Making It Count
What are you passionate about? Animals? Sports? The environment?
If you decide to volunteer your time or donate money, you can find a charity that matches your interests. There are charities that protect animal welfare, collect and buy sports equipment for kids who can’t afford it, help people after natural disasters, and much more. Ask your parents or another trusted adult to help you find the right one for you.
Once you’ve found a charity you’d like to support, what’s next? There are several ways to donate.
You can give:
- Money: Even small amounts can make a big difference.
- Items: New or gently worn clothes, toys, and nonperishable food are all helpful things to donate. Many charities also have a list of needed items on their website to help spark donation ideas.
- Time: When you volunteer, you donate your time and talents to a person or group of people who needs your help.
Volunteering Your Time
Volunteering is a great way to make a difference in your community, meet new people, and learn new skills. If you’d like to donate your time and talent, here are some places you can potentially volunteer. Keep in mind that certain organizations have minimum age requirements for volunteers, or you may need to volunteer with a parent or older sibling. Call the organization or visit with a trusted adult first.
- Animal shelters
- Soup kitchens
- Community centers (especially at events for kids)
- Food pantries
- Holiday toy and gift drives
- Park and beach cleanup events
- Your school (through a tutoring program or service club)
Fundraising
Fundraising is also a great way to give money to organizations and people in need. Do you want to raise some funds for your favorite charity? You could try hosting something such as a:
- Car wash
- Lemonade stand
- Bake sale
- Talent show
- Walk-a-thon or race
- Yard sale
Getting Started
Just taking some time to think about and be thankful for what you have can inspire you to give back. When you appreciate the good things in your life, you might feel motivated to share what you have and help bring a smile to someone’s day.
Whether you donate or raise money, volunteer your time, or surprise the people in your life with random acts of kindness, your generosity will make a difference in the world around you – and it’ll feel great!