Raising Altruistic Kids – Creating Kindness Bags

Raising altruistic kids who want to help others and do nice things for those in need doesn’t require a big orchestration of plans. Altruism is easy to teach to children who are naturally inclined to help others and want to see people happy. Building these kindness bags requires one trip to the store or searching around your house and then guiding your children in the assembly of these bags to store in your car and hand out to someone in need. 

Living near the city, on a daily basis my children point out people standing on the street corners holding signs asking for food, money or simply a smile. They always notice them and ask if I have something to give.

I dig through my wallet for a few dollars or my diaper bag for an apple or snack but what I love more than giving to someone in need, is the fact of them noticing and wanting to help others.

There is no better way for a child to learn than to be involved and do it for themselves, not simply watch me pull out food or money and hand it over, which is why we began creating bags of kindness.

Kindness bags or “nice bags” as my toddler calls them, are seasonal bags the kids assemble in large zip lock baggies and we keep a small supply in the car. The kids do the shopping (supervised of course) to pick out the supplies and then make an assembly line at home. The last round of bags, they were so involved they sat down and made a small note for each bag to slip inside.

When we pull up to a stop light and see someone who might benefit from a kindness bag, the kids can roll down their window and hand them out (or I can too.)

It’s nice to give to others and it creates a sense of community when one person takes care of another, but the benefit is in developing altruism and a taste for charity early on.

Here are what we put in our seasonal kindness bags:

 

SPRING / SUMMER

• $Money
• Bottle of Water
• Food – Power Bar / Apple / Raisins / Trail Mix / Goldfish
• Small Bag of Wet Wipes
• Bandaids
• Chapstick
• Travel Size Sunscreen
• Toothbrush / Toothpaste
• Lotion
• Deodorant
• Hand Sanitizer
• Lollipop

FALL / WINTER

• $Money
• Bottle of Water
• Pair of Socks or a Pair of Gloves
• Food – Power Bar / Apple / Raisins / Trail Mix / Goldfish
• Pocket Hand Heaters
• Small Bag of Wet Wipes
• Bandaids
• Chapstick
• Toothbrush / Toothpaste
• Lotion
• Deodorant
• Hand Sanitizer
• Candy Cane

PET BAGS (for those with animals)

• 5-6c of Dog Food
• Bottle of Water
• Plastic Cup (to pour the water in)
• Dog Treats

 

For 8 years I ran an event on Christmas Day where we fed and gifted to over 2500 displaced individuals. When I would call the shelters to inquiry about the most common needs they were seeing that year before we purchased any products, they always requested hygienic products. People who need, don’t always need clothes or money, they are in need of everyday items we take for granted. A toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant and women’s products were top of the list. If you want to add more to your kindness bag, please consider adding more types of these items.

BONUS: Download Acts of Kindness for Kids Printable

 

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