So you may be used to the Elf on the Shelf, who shows up each morning in silly poses, doing mischievous things, hidden for the children to find... Our elf Tutti Fruit Loop showed up with a poem every morning for my son to find him, it always rhymed and it always had a clue for him. Sometimes he was doing something silly, once he planted seeds the night before given to him by the elf and woke up to a garden of candy canes in the back yard, sometimes he brought gifts, sometimes he reminded him of the true meaning of Christmas, reminded him Santa was watching and sometimes he brought suggestions for things my son could do to brighten someone else's day.. spread Christmas cheer and teach him the pure joy of kindness.
This year being the first year that my son has discovered that Santa is a concept and not a real person who flies around and drops of gifts to kids every where in the world...that the Elf on the Shelf doesn't come to life every night and fly back to the North Pole to make gifts and he doesn't have a younger sibling to carry on the magic of Christmas, we have decided to share with you how you can encourage kindness in your kids through the magic of your elf! Pay it forward and ENJOY the JOY you bring to others.
The following are 25 suggestions on how to incorporate kindness through your kids and share it with others, feel free to make this a family affair and please post and share your photos or acts of kindness and tag #AKindElf.
Feel free to use a few or all of them this Season. Maybe your Elf brings a note on the days he/she wants you to be kind, maybe you give the list at the beginning and your kids chose which things they want to do, maybe the elf says chose 5! Feel free to tweak them to fit your family and your kids! Remember that kindness can become a habit and doesn't need to just come out at this Wonderful Time of Year, but should be displayed throughout the year to bring smiles, love and happiness to others.
1.Hold a door open for someone, or offer to return a grocery cart to the cart return or store for someone who is unloading their groceries in their car.
2.Let someone cut in front of you in line at school or the store or anywhere that you are ahead of someone.
3. Surprise your teacher with a donut/muffin/apple, a small gift, a handmade note or some classroom supplies. Just because.
4. Clean out your closet and donate a game, some books in good condition or a toy to a hospital, homeless shelter.
5. Tape $5 cash, or a gift card to a gas pump or self check out at a store with a note of kindness.
6. Make a card or sign for your mail carrier, trash person or UPS delivery driver tape a candy cane to it.
7.Help make dinner and take extra to an elderly neighbor or someone who lives alone.
8. Buy a box of candy canes at the dollar store and put them on cars in a parking lot.
9. Give someone in class, a friend, a sibling or a teacher a compliment.
10. Do an extra chore around your house without being asked.
11. Call a grandparent or family member you haven't talked to in a while and see how they are doing.
12. Put a package of essentials together and give it to a homeless person.
13. Give someone a hug and tell them you love and appreciate them.
14. Put sticky notes with positive messages in random places.
15. Write a Christmas card to a solider and thank them for their service and your freedom.
16. Donate a toy to your local Toys for Tots drive, adopt a child from an Angel Tree, or buy a new pair of pajamas for a foster child.
17. Tell a joke, make someone laugh.
18. Take coffee or hot chocolate to a Salvation Army bell ringer.
19. Look through your pantry and donate items to a local food bank.
20. Clean out your room and donate gently used stuffed animals to a police or fire station to use during emergencies to help calm scared kids.
21. Make something at home, take lunch, cookies or cupcakes to your local fire or police departments .
22. Read a story/book to someone.
23. Ask someone how their day went and be a good listener.
24. Pick up trash or litter and put it in the garbage.
25.Play something with a sibling that they like to do without complaining.
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