Summer’s A Perfect Time To Do Kindness

Dear Friends,

It’s summer….a time for outdoor fun, family vacations and summer reading. It’s also a good time for putting some new kindness ideas into action. While our children are at home, in camp or special summer programs they probably have some free time when they can learn the value of doing favors for others. It doesn’t have to be a big thing; small or large it’s the kind actions that matter.

How about setting up a lemonade stand and donating the profits to a local food share? Or making crafts with seniors at the local retirement center? Making a new friend and sharing a special snack is always a fun summer experience when you travel. Middle schoolers can pack up books that may be too young for them now and deliver them to a family resource center, or read them to younger neighborhood children. How about teaching a younger child to play baseball or fly a kite, too? Many High School students want to change the world so why not direct that energy into a kindness brigade that fixes broken bikes, mows lawns or adopts school yards to clean?

Learning that each of us can make a difference by doing one kind act at a time is a great lesson anytime. But the fine summer weather, a slower pace and some unstructured time gives children a perfect opportunity to engage in random acts of kindness. The experience of offering a hand, doing a good deed, and feeling the reward of someone else’s smile, gratitude and happiness will ensure the kind acts continue. It might also make those cheerful summer days last longer.

On our way to making a kinder world, let’s encourage our children to start doing kind acts in their own communities.

Kind Regards,

Marilyn Decalo, Manager
marilyn@actsofkindness.org

Here are some excellent resources for kindness activities that engage children:

The Great Kindness Challenge:
August 14

We are excited to share The Great Kindness Challenge with you, a day where kids around the world do acts of kindness, using a checklist of 50 suggestions. Participation is easy, free and fun. Just visit the website (http://www.greatkindnesschallenge.org) to download the checklist and do what you can on August 14. There are things you can do wherever you are that day, in whatever time you have, by yourself or with others. The organizer, Kids for Peace, is aiming for 1 million youth participants this year. Let’s rock the world with kindness on August 14.

More4kids is a resource for parents dedicated to helping encourage children’s intellectual and growth. Teaching compassion is one of their key messages. Visit their website at more4kids.info.

DoingGoodTogether is a terrific resource to inspire and help families volunteer together. They assist caring families, schools and organizations make a difference in their communities with some great ideas, tools, support and workshops. Check out their site at: doinggoodtogether.org.

Metro Atlanta YMCA Doing Kindness Here’s a short video about some teens from Atlanta who are learning the life long love of giving back:

This Month’s University Spotlight: University of Wisconsin La Crosse

“Reach Beyond Yourself”—That’s the motto of the University of Wisconsin La Crosse Leadership and Involvement Center. The Center organizes volunteer opportunities and plans various events on campus. Their goal is to motivate the UW-L campus to get involved within the La Crosse community. Last Spring they hosted a blood drive and during the blood drive they had their students make Valentine’s day cards for the elderly living in assisted living homes. Way to go Eagles!

Our Sister Foundation

Our sister foundation, The Foundation for a Better Life, is offering a free set of posters promoting positive values plus a free DVD with our public service TV Spots for teachers, youth group leaders and others.

For more information on The Foundation for a Better Life please visit values.com.

To request your a free set of posters and a DVD visit values.com/resource_center. 
Keep in mind they can send only one set of posters per request and there are no substitutions on the poster designs.

Other Information

To ensure delivery of the Kind Times, please add: newsletter@actsofkindness.org to your address book or accepted list.